Could it be that Spring is right around the corner? We have enjoyed warmer temperatures this week up to mid-high 60"s. An increase in activity is seen all over the place. The Canadian Geese are heard first with their soft cooing then seen as we scan the skies for the familiar V formation. As they push ever northward on their trip back up to their breeding grounds. A sure sign that Spring is not too far away. Who's gonna argue with Geese about the return of Spring? Our own familiar pair has been back on our lake for about 2-3 weeks now and have taken up the old habit of coming up in the yard. Begging for a free handout and giving our granddaughter a real treat each day. They respond to my personal call and I can't help but believe that it is the same pair that nests near our house each year. Many years ago a pair showed up one day and became very tame around us. The male had a missing foot and walked around on a stump. We named him Peg, because as he waddled around he looked just like a pirate would on a peg-leg. His mate was a devoted mother and hatched out several broods over the years. Proud parents they were, and as soon as the babies would hatch out, they were sure to bring them up to the house for us to see and comment on. With each passing year they became more tame and their offspring would come up and visit as well. The last year we saw Peg and his lady, they had aged a lot and Peg lost many a battle that spring and summer with the younger males seeking the refuge on our lake that they had enjoyed. It was apparent that their kids still came to visit as they too would respond to my call and would come near to eat the feed we scattered on the water for them. We now regularly seen this pair on the lake and they too come when called or whenever they get the notion for takeout. Even coming all the way around to the back porch for a handout. I hope they are able to hatch out a brood for themselves this year and continue the cycle that Peg and his lady started.
The warming trend we have been having has triggered growth in some other areas that speak of a Spring on the horizon. Little tuffs of green are being seen on the apple trees and jumping up out of the ground all over the yard. Yellow blossoms are forming on the forsythia, a sure sign in my book that most of the winter like weather is behind us. As soon as they get a little more growth I will cut a few branches to force into full bloom for our table pleasure.
But the surest of signs that winter is not over and a cold freeze is still due is when our plum tree puts out it's blooms. It never fails that we will have a slight warming trend with the plum tree responding to the urge to push forth it's blossoms. Only to have a freeze mid-stream that kills most of the them right off the limbs. Which leaves us with only a few hopefuls for fruit each year. Maybe we will be able to escape a late freeze this year and see a bumper crop of plums for a change. 
My most favorite sign and one that coincides with my birthday each year are the daffodils and jonquils that give the sunniest color to our yard. I have a mixture of several, some purchased, and some shared from my Mom's yard. It is such a joy to cut two or three for a vase of sunshine for my kitchen window each Spring.
Opps! I guess I gave away one off the list of my Spring Favorites too early. You will just have to wait for the rest. Have you started thinking about Spring yet? What signs of it's forthcoming do you see? Start making your "Spring Favorite's" list and we will compare notes next month. It is only 5 weeks away according to the calendar on my desk.
Hopeful Spring is really just around the corner,
Deborah
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