First Frog of Spring

This has been rather a long winter, but these last few days were mild, and today we have both the first snowdrops and also a few frogs awake in the pond. I think the de-icer may have something to do with this, because the water is a bit warmer than just the sunshine would make it, but at this stage of the game, I am willing to cheat a little. There was a pair of Carolina wrens examining the basswood tree in our back yard this morning. I hope they will stay.

Bastard Rabbit Swine!

Ah, spring! When a young man’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of blowing that bastard bunny rabbit into a million tiny scraps of fur for totally debarking the quince bush and the long-suffering plum tree! Furry little parcel of death! Miserable dark lightning of fruit tree fatality, flashing across the snow banks when I go out for firewood just before dawn! Small, soft angel of how I threw away $50 on those trees! I despise you! I will never again stop the cats from eating your children! I will encourage the cats to eat your children! And may fleas infest the pink satin linings of your ears! And may fruit tree bark upset your tiny stomach! Bastard rabbit swine!