Spring

How do you take a photo that does justice to the change of season? 


Today, Leap Day, just felt like Spring had arrived. Overnight it rained and the ground glistened. Along with the rain, the temperature had risen to 45°F, shirt sleeves weather! (By midday it topped out at 56°F.) The sun was shining brightly and I just knew I needed to find the perfect picture. 

With the snow gone, warm temps and wet ground, I remembered growing up in Vermont and decided this photo should be titled
 "Mud Season."

Then I saw a tree and knew the Spring Photo for today should be "Sugar Maple."

As I started to leave I began to wonder if the sap was running, so I looked under the lid, and sure enough, there was a steady drip, drip, drip. A cold night followed by a warm day is a perfect sugaring day, even in Illinois.

Mark

I made a new friend today when I stopped by Kline Creek Farm to see how lambing season was progressing. My last visit was 3 weeks ago. After seeing the new lambs, I met the shepherd. In our conversation I mentioned growing up in Vermont next door to an orchard/sheep farm. He told me he was from Massachusetts and asked what town I was from. To both our surprise, he knew my neighbor and the Dwight Miller Farm. He had even served with Dwight on the national board of the Southdown sheep breed. How fun to make a friend who knew and respected my childhood neighbor. Here's a short interview with Dwight.