It’s raining right now

and if all the growing things we have around here right now are any indication it’s (finally) spring.  After what feels like the longest winter of my entire life I am soaking up every bit of new life and enjoying the much-needed feelings of hopefulness.

Our mason bee larvae are hatching and were put out in their house today (with some sugar water since nothing is blooming yet).  Our bedding plants are green and cheerful and we have some chicks (more about the chicks later).  We also have some painted lady butterflies in the waiting (they are forming cocoons right now) and tadpoles on the way.  And just reading that made me realize I guess we really don’t qualify as ‘pet free’ anymore either.