Spring’s Slow Slide

Pussy Willow Blossoms

Today is the last day of April. Looking out the window, it’s hard to believe the calendar. But slowly, inch by inch, inexorably, spring is emerging like a butterfly emerges from its cocoon.

Spring’s Slow Slide

is reminding me to practice patience and faith and to let go of expectation. Arguing with the weather is always a losing battle. Also arguing with the way the world is, is another losing battle.

Though it seems that spring is taking her own sweet time arriving she continues her slow sweet amble towards summer.

The early morning today was filled with steady rainfall. Then the rain paused mid-morning and the sky lightened just a bit. I grabbed my camera, put on a raincoat (just in case) and drove to East Medicine Lake Park to walk along the lake trail.

Though the air was humid, it was warmer than it has been in many recent days. Ever so slowly the average daily temperature is rising, even though temperatures have been below normal for this time of year.

I saw lots of other people taking advantage of the lull in the rain to walk, run, and bike on the lakeside trail.

Red-winged Blackbirds

Blackbird song filled the air. And the red-winged blackbirds flitted here and there in search of food.

Spring is not yet here, but the song of a solitary, pioneering blackbird when I wake, the smell of something warm and floral on the air in fleeting moments, these signs give me hope.

   — Tracy Rees

I think that the blackbirds like to nest in the cattails that grow along the shoreline. There certainly were lots of birds landing and taking off from spots among the reeds.

Hearing the blackbirds sing this morning reminded me of one of my favorite songs…

Morning Has Broken

Morning has broken like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for them springing fresh from the Word

Sweet the rain’s new fall, sunlit from Heaven
Like the first dew fall on the first grass
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden
Sprung in completeness where His feet pass

Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning
Born of the One Light Eden saw play
Praise with elation, praise every morning
God’s recreation of the new day

   — Eleanor Farjeon, based on an old Scottish Gaelic tune

Let us hope for sunshine, balmy temperatures and green leaves popping any day now.

May you walk in beauty.

A lone mallard swimming in Medicine Lake