Wednesday, February 18, 2009

spring in our step


Spring is upon us.


The evidence is mixed. The temperatures hover in the low 40s -- as a high. The skies are as fickle as teenage love -- clear one moment, stormy the next.


But the best evidence comes in the form of early buds.


In some areas, crocus trumpet the impending arrival of Persephone. But not here.

At Casa Algodón, spring arrives with the snowdrops -- a little bulb that reproduces with all the facility of a Kennedy. Their strength is not their flower -- a puny little thing -- but in their gregarious nature. They travel in tighter bunches than a flock of bushtits.


Monday morning was a federal holiday -- so, Jiggs and I took the opportunity to be a bit naughty and sleep in. But there was a neighborhood to explore.


For Jiggs, every outing is a buffet of smells -- even if he had visited that very site the previous evening. I often wonder what is going through his mind as he presses his nose further in the ground -- trapping the last hint of what has happened in his absence. I suspect dogs are more Gladys Kravitz, and less Galileo Galilei.


But we are both ready for Mexico. Jiggs may not like the heat, because of his heavy coat, but he will undoubtedly get some relief from his arthritic hips.


Spring can even come in the December of a dog's life.

9 comments:

Islagringo said...

Ok, off to Wikepedia to see if you just made up "bushtits". One never knows with you! You must have watched a lot of TV at some point in your life...I'm guessing the 60's. I wonder how many of your readers will know who Gladys Kravitz was?

Mike Nickell and Cynthia Johnson said...

Mike was forever peeking out of our front window in Mexico, checking up on the activities in the large parking lot...we laughed and laughed as I nicknamed him Gladys! Now that we are more isolated in Salem, "Gladys" has retired...

Steve Cotton said...

Islandgringo -- Old age is interesting. I am turning into a geeky trivia expert on cultural touches from the 50s and 60s. No idea what happened yesterday.

Cynthia -- I hope "Gladys" has found other pursuits that SAlem offers.

Calypso said...

"Spring is upon us."

Oh sure hombre - February in Oregon and Spring is upon you - I lived there - some good days and some bad - wishful thinking to consider the 'good' Spring. Oh my gosh! - Gotta go...

Calypso said...

OH and...Hombre I'm twitching my nose on that Gladys Kravitz question - I must be older than you - because Penny on Sky King would have been a LOT tougher question ;-)

zannie said...

I just recently found your blog and am very much looking forward to following your transition to life in Mexico. My boyfriend and I have been considering the move for some time--though we are relatively young, at 30 and 40, and need to take into consideration how to earn a living and save for retirement while we're there, which is probably our biggest stumbling block right now.

Anyhow, I just thought I would drop you a line and say hello.

Steve Cotton said...

Calypso -- Any time we get clear weather combined with blooming bulbs in Oregon, I am willing to call is spring -- even if it only lasts two days. I was just thinking: I may miss the daffodil bloom this year.

And, yes, I do remember Penny -- and Clipper -- or was it Chipper? I need to look that up.

Zannie -- Even though most of the bloggers are retired in Mexico, there are quite a few younger couples who are making a go of it.

Islagringo said...

OK, I looked it up. Bushtits are legit! I can usually stump people by asking the name of Dale Evans' horse.

Steve Cotton said...

Buttermilk? I should look these things up before I publish.