Oh Man-in-the-tree, Man-in-the-tree, it's time to open your eyes.
To stop sleeping.
Look it's here. All around.
Daffodils. Tulips. Forget-me-nots.
"It's been the coldest spring in 50 years," you say.
"But.. But.. if you just open your eyes the sunshine will come," I reply.
"Huh," you grumble, and turn away.
Easter Bunny. Easter Bunny.
You came! You came!
Little A believes in you. (I wish I could too).
She found your treasure on the lawn, wedged in branches, hidden in garden urns.
Thump your hind legs together.
Make it go away.
The icy down pours, the frost, the north easterly winds.
"There is nothing I can do, be patient," she says.
Oh Dandelion clock, Dandelion clock, you are my final hope.
You have flowered and gone to seed.
Let me help you spread your wings.
"Make a wish," you say.
Short, sharp puffs.
Upside down umbrellas drifting on a shush of a breeze.
My wish.
Summer come. Summer come. Summer come.
I am still wearing my winter coat and winter jumpers. I am still eating casseroles and pasta. I am still tired and lazy. Little A still sloshes in her wellington boots, walks to nursery in wet drizzle, wears a pair of gloves in-doors.
There are the lighter evenings. That's good. We've had a BBQ. That's good too.
The Mini Milks - vanilla, strawberry, chocolate - have all been demolished.
But I can't help thinking the tide is turning. Cooler, wetter springs and summers. Dry, milder winters. Maybe I should save the bucket and spade and shades for the autumn?
I remember the springs of my youth. Snow men in April. A flurry in June.
Though some thing is different this time. I feel it in my bones.
Do you think the consequences of global warming are now taking effect?
This is the fourth day of the seasonal linky One Week. Until Friday, I'll be posting a photograph(s) and a few words that diarises and distills my experience of spring '13. Take a peep at the details here. You can join in for one, two ... or the full five days. And don't forget to add #oneweek on Twitter, and comment on each others posts...
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Oooh. Interesting. You sound introspective and you're different this time - in this meme! And that's also good - but not in a bad way! Just interesting ;) xx
ReplyDeleteYes, I guess I am a little bit inward looking concerning spring this year - I didn't quite know what to make of it. :o). X.
DeleteHi darling I'm back and transformed ... My bachelormum days are over. Do I think global war,ong is taking effect? Mmm despite being a greenie at heart I think change I. Seasons might be a natural part of our evolution. The ice age happened without our doing I just think we keep evolving. Lovely words kimxx
ReplyDelete'Spirited Mama' - I love it. Your bachelormum days are over? Do tell! You have a very good point there - maybe it's more evolution than anything else? Thank you. X.
DeleteWhat a fabulous post Sarah and the photographs are incredible, I love the man in the tree. Something has definitely changed. For me I notice the wind the most,it seems to be much more common than it used to be. Those completely still days seem to be a thing of the past xx
ReplyDeleteThank you! I really like the man in the tree too. He looks like he's eternally thinking about something. It has certainly been a very windy spring!
DeleteOoh, that's a big topic for a Thursday morning! I'm not so sure myself, I definitely think that the weather goes in waves but....it really was pretty cold this winter! Love your photos, especially the dandelion clock :)
ReplyDeleteI hope it is only going in waves, and that we get a better spring next year. It was very frustratingly cold this year. Glad you like the dandelion :o).
DeleteNo, it's just the weather, as it has always been. Some years are better than others. LOVE the man in the tree x.
ReplyDeleteYou are probably right - the last two springs have been very, very cold. I love the man in the tree too! X.
DeleteThat man-in-the-tree is incredible! So glad the weather has finally turned here too... xx
ReplyDeleteIsn't he just? Nice to have a bit of sunshine isn't it? X.
DeleteLove these pictures...fantastic!! Don't know what's going on with the weather...do think the seasons are changing though, that's for sure! Thanks for hosting xx
ReplyDeleteThank you very much. Weather has been nuts this year. It seems to be colder springs, warmer autumns. My pleasure! X.
DeleteI love dandelion clocks too - that picture will certainly make me look at them afresh! I am not sure about global warming but sure that man's effect is being felt with climate change.
ReplyDeleteAren't they just lovely? I just can't help thinking that change is afoot too.
DeleteWhat an interesting post. I often find myself thinking back to what I was doing exactly a year ago and the year before that etc and there is definitely something going on with the climate. We seem to be consistently disappointed every summer, getting glimpses of it every so often, but never truly enjoying a long warm summer. I wonder if that's a thing of the past now? Maybe you're right and Autumn will be the new Summer. x
ReplyDeleteThank you.... it has been so weird the last couple of springs that I can't help thinking that something is going on. Fingers crossed for better weather with summer and autumn. X.
DeleteIf the weather in Blighty continues like this - I'm off! I can't bear it, 2/3rds of the year is rain/snow/wind. I love the tree man. He's fabulous. x
ReplyDeleteMe too! Can you believe it? 2/3rds of the year really puts it into perspective. Tree man is fab! X.
DeleteSeriously woman your photos are freaking AMAZING. I know how awesome your writing is but when you pair it with such beautiful shots it's just magic :)
ReplyDeleteI think I love you.
there I have said it.
That's so kind - thank you very, very much. Now I'm blushing :o). Wuuv you too! X.
DeleteI think all these light and warm evenings creeping up on us have confused me a bit, I had gotten so used to the dreary and cold, windy, rainy days that I felt a bit like the warm nice days would be fleeting and they're not!! I think Global warming is definitely contributing. I wonder if our seasons are just shifting along for good?
ReplyDeleteI think they might be you know.... let's wait and see what happens next year eh? Here's hoping its just a blip!
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