(Sunrise this morning…sun through the heavy clouds in the east)

A spring storm moved into our area yesterday bringing with it snow in the higher country, splattering of rain around us and on us.

Last night we had a huge wind, thunder storms and lightening.

A spring storm.

Today it’s still cloudy and cold, but the long months of desolation are coming to an end.  Our air is full of bird song

There are Red-Winged Blackbirds in the cattails and in our apple trees!

Along the fence linesThere are Western Meadow Larks adding the joy in the air.

The delightful chirp of the Robin joins into the cacophony.

All replacing the  lonely calling of the Canada Geese and the trill sound of the

Sandhill Cranes. We can hear their calling their way in flight forming Vs of  courage toward the promise of a distant breeding grounds.

The Crows and Raven’s on swirling wings bear them up and away to other parts unknown to me. Leaving our trees available for the song birds.

In winter, we see the raptors;

It is in winter the feathered world is reduced to the brutal hunt and eat.  Dark shadows pass overhead, dip down as the big birds hunt for mice along the ditch banks and fence rows. Sometimes a Ring-Necked Dover or a smaller little brown bird provides food for the owl and the hawk.

(Sunset last night…rain on the plateau with sun bursting through the clouds)

As late winter storms come and leave, the song birds return — even though the air is still cold, but not the bitter cold of winter; the sweet fresh cold of thawing earth, the brightness of sprigs of green and the hope of tiny swelling buds on the trees.

I can handle these storms…for it won’t be long now…not at all until the whole world I live in bursts forth into a riot of color!

From my world to your heart,

Linda