I drove down from the ranch yesterday through a wet (and badly needed) six inches of snow. I was so happy to see the mountains decorated in their spring icing and wondered how much snow would be in the valley and in town. No surprise that as I descended from 5800 feet the new snow transitioned to a light rain. In downtown Big Timber, the air was misty and everything was wet. This was a perfect April day. 

I have a routine in the morning that includes opening the gate of our white picket fence and turning our standing “open” sign so folks walking the sidewalks will know to come through the front garden and visit us in the shop. We have three big flower beds that have been left on their own for the past eight years. I knew the lilac bushes had held their positions for a couple of decades but what perennials there might be was a mystery to me. We have only had the space since June 2020 and by that time the spring flowers were gone. 

So what a delight to see not one but seven small groupings of daffodils.  They aren’t exotic but they are gorgeous. And on this misty, rain nourished April day, they made me smile. Spring wasn’t on its way. Spring had arrived.