Gas prices are going up; we had the threat of bad storms earlier in the week; we are still wearing masks and social distancing but today is the first day of spring and that should make us all just a little more optimistic.
We had a tornado in the area last year at the end of March (March 28) which took down many businesses, including many located at the Turtle Creek Mall in Jonesboro. The damage only a tornado can do was left behind and many of those business owners are still rebuilding or will not be back.
Back to spring. Spring does make us think of new beginnings, bringing an end to the cold, winter weather.
Flowers are starting to bloom, the grass is turning green, baseball games are being played and the birds seem to be singing in a good mood.
I started feeding the birds during the recent ice and snow storm that kept us in for several days. I have always enjoyed the birds in passing but during the inside days, I really started watching the birds from my front window. I found them to be fascinating. I remembered a bird book on the shelf and I spent time identifying the different birds. I started feeding the birds during the snowy weather and it seems now they are waiting on me every morning to fill the pots I placed around the front yard.
I have Cardinals, finches, blue birds, doves, robins, black birds and others I am still looking in the book to identify. I discovered those little birds eat like horses and evidently they invite their friends to join them. In their defense, I have seen rabbits and squirrels helping themselves to the food.
Watching the birds made me realize that I stayed so busy through the years, I had been missing out on a simple pleasure — bird watching.
I have seen tractors in the fields preparing the ground and that is a sure sign spring is here and planting season is just around the corner. People who live in the large cities would have no idea how exciting it can be to see the farmers in the fields for the first time each year.
For me the tractors, even though they are much larger than the ones from my youth, take me back to my days on the farm.
Dad and Grandpa worked on the tractors all winter and couldn’t wait to get in the fields as soon as the weather permitted.
Farming has changed through the years. Like I said the equipment is much larger and everything is technology driven but I still enjoy seeing the dirt turned in preparation for a new crop just like I did years ago. Some things never change. Even though weed control is better, I see people chopping cotton just like I did 50+ years ago.
The end of the day yesterday was the beginning of spring break for many area schools. Many will be at the beaches and others will just enjoy sleeping in. Regardless of the plans, I am sure the break will be welcomed by students of all ages.
I am so ready to put away the coats and scarves. I try not to complain because I really do like living where we get a taste of all four seasons. I don’t think I would enjoy living in one temperature year round.
I hope spring motivates me to work in the yard and do all of those things I said I would do when the weather gets better.