Thinking spring

Today our high temp was in the negative numbers.  I didn't have to step outside all day, thank god.  It's strange out here on the prairie --all that wind, all that cold.  

The birch garden still looks nice, though, half buried in the snow.  There are some tall grasses that look so pretty blowing around out there, and sedum seed heads standing up strong and dark.

   

The birds are pretty amazing right now too --you can see them so much more with the white snow as a background --cardinals, juncos, and our huge community of goldfinches who are fed so well here they never leave.  I was looking at the long shadows of the white pines today.  It always amazes me how much the shadows change between winter and summer.  

Today is my mom's birthday, and she always says spring should start now.