It's Spring

I see swallows everywhere now.   The smell of freshly cut grass is thick on the wind.   I’ve even hung washing on the line.   Some days it’s too warm to wear a coat.  I’m googling smoothie recipes again.   The other day I needed to wind the window down an inch or so on the school run.   I see kids eating ice creams sometimes.   Camping gear is on offer in stores.   It’s First Holy Communion and Confirmation time.   Birds either have wriggling worms in their beaks or nest building material.   When I dress in the morning I leave off a layer.   Sandals are appearing in the shops and you don’t have to look too hard to find sunglasses either.  Before we know it, sun block will out where we can see it and not behind everything else on the shelf.  

It’s spring! 

Our trampoline is dead though.   Never mind, the boys don’t know it but another, bigger and better one, is on the way.   This week I was putting lunches into school bags and I realised one of the boys hadn’t done his homework from the night before.   Because he was too busy playing outside.  The way it should be.   Most nights they go to bed with dirty hands because I haven’t the energy to fight with them to shower.  A baby wipe in the morning will do the job just fine, thank you. 

It’s spring!

These nights I don’t bother lighting the candle in the fireplace nor do I switch on the lights strung from the mantle.   It’s not dark enough.   The boys complain going to bed accusing me of sending them too early because it’s still bright.   Even though they are going half an hour later than they usually would.  The fruit bowl suffers a quick but painless death.  Trousers are ankle length and long sleeved t-shirts skim the tops of jeans.   They’ve all grown. 

It’s spring!

Book lists for 2016/17 have come home and Smallest Boy has received his Induction Day time.   Thoughts are moving towards trips to the Zoo, Tayto Park, picnics and our beloved holiday in Rosslare.  Winter coats are shucked off.  The box of street chalks has been unearthed to fill the hour in between school runs.  Knees are ripped out of jeans, toes scuffed on shoes that are becoming too tight.  Little freckles appear across little noses.  Fingernails are dirty and hangnails complained about.

It’s spring!

The dog is shedding her winter coat.   Her water bowl needs refilling often.   The back door is left open all afternoon.   There are two spring birthdays in the house.   The music begins to change on the radio; a distinct summery sound.  The air smells different; wet earth, silage on the fields.  All around things are growing, creatures are being born as the circle of life begins again.

It’s spring!