Under the Wire

If today’s title seems a bit indecisive, trust me, you got it right! The seasons have been a little hard to identify here on the Hodgson Ranch. The year, like everyone else’s began with January, followed by February, both supposed to be identified by cold days. We had 50 to 70 degree days instead. Guess we just got our months mixed up. Next came March, usually the spring door opener. This year it featured a mixture of some freezing nights and 70 degree days. Must not be spring after all, I thought. March would soon be replaced by April, a sure shot spring month. You guessed it. Spring seemed to be playing games with us. Some mornings before going out to do chores, I doned bib Carhartt® coveralls, a neck scarf, some days even an ear flap down, scotch cap.

In about 10 minutes the thermometer was at 65 and I was about to have a heat stroke. Did sweat enough before I peeled my unneeded winter wear off to lose 20 pounds, a good thing. The final spring hold out month, May, is about to burst out, along with spring flowers, flies and all variety of weeds. If it looks like a traditional May, complete with consistent warm weather, the straw hat will replace my battered old black felt hat. I’d love to get up, pull on my jean jacket, straw hat and comfortable boots, replacing the insulated muck boots I have pulled on and off about 150 times so far, and walk out into a wonderful 70 degree day, blue cloudless sky, no wind.

Come on May, I’m depending on you!