What a delicious tease it has been these last two or three days, respite from a long and difficult Northeast winter. The towering snowbanks have receded into tiny white arctic islands amidst a sea of grass and mud. Hopeful spears of daffodils are poking through the earth.

Today a royal purple flush of early crocuses bloomed in a warm spot at the edge of the yard. I admit it was a major thrill to discover.

Little old Rudi finally has been freed from his winter wear to bask in the warm afternoon rays on The Urban Porch.

Down the street the neighbor’s dressed up Fence Dinosaur dons a lion hat for its March attire (March comes in like a lion?)

A new friend brought over her bubble machine, sending joyful streams of orbs across the road and out into Crayola blue heavens.

The iridescent colors on the bubbles didn’t reflect well against the sky in pictures, so I photographed one against her black shirt to give you an idea.

In keeping with the seasonal celebratory theme, after many months of procrastination I finally got together with an old friend to catch up, eat brownies and have afternoon tea using her grandmother’s English bone china teacups.

On a whim I decided to stop at the carwash, having been driving around all season in what began to look like a giant salted-encrusted pumpkin seed on wheels. If you follow this blog, you might know how much I enjoy the rare but momentarily exciting cheap thrill of the car wash. Everybody was out there in the sunshine cleaning the winter off their vehicles. It was my first time driving through this particular one and definitely a different experience. I’ll take you on my brief journey.

We begin as the mighty, salted ship streaks through the atmosphere in a trail of rainbow light,

coming in for a landing on a planet simmering with molten pink lava.

Neon splashdown!

Swirling magenta gasses envelope the Subaru spacecraft, dissolving salt and debris.

At warp speed we then enter into a mouth of darkness,

culminating within pulsing heart chambers of the universe.

And that was it, roundtrip to The Magenta Planet and return to planet Earth. I guess you can tell I’ve been inside a bit too long this winter. But seriously, such art!

Back on The Urban Porch, the first wasp of the season alights on weather-beaten chair.

A Downy Woodpecker hammers relentlessly on the side of the house. While driving on the thruway yesterday, a chevron of geese heading north passed overhead. The House Sparrows have begun their orgies amidst the bushes in earnest.

We are close, but this could just be a Big Tease, merely part of the Spring of Deception, with a few more surprises yet to come.

But soon….so soon….!

~*~