Last week I was walking the dogs — it was the 18th or 19th, as I recall — and something significant happened: The chill in the air was gone. Just like that.
After a long winter that got a late start — our first big snow storm wasn’t until Valentine’s Day, followed by another on St. Patty’s Day, then another couple inches here and there in April — spring is finally here. And it’s awesome.
The weekend was just perfect — one wonderful, warm sunny day after another. It was in the 70s and even low 80s all weekend and yesterday. There were lots of “firsts of the season” this weekend.
Thursday evening was our first wine and cheese European-style porch dinner.
Friday evening was the first extended happy hour on the patio of Gaffney’s.
Jen and I spent all weekend porch sitting. We busted out the BBQ for the first time of the season on Sunday. We had our first brunch on the porch. We had our first dinner on the porch.
We spent a good deal of Saturday doing yard work and cleaning up after the winter.
I visited Alex and Cati Sunday to enjoy their yard then walk to the Spectrum (for Hot Fuzz) for the first time this season. And this morning I turned off the heater, which wasn’t really on anyway since it doesn’t kick in unless it needs to, but it’s symbolic no less.
I wrote last year, too, about how April is the best month, and I’ll say it again this year. It’s a time of renewal. A time to get outside and enjoy the sunshine and the outdoors and friends and food and fun again. As I often say, a long winter makes one appreciate the sun that much more.
Happy spring!
