...is a cold, windy, wet and soggy one here on the mountain. Residents across the U.S. are experiencing everything from record heat to tornadoes to massive snowstorms. After all the snow we have been getting lately and are supposed to be getting the rest of the week, it is hard to believe spring is officially here.
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| snapped this picture yesterday during a brief pause from the falling snow |
At precisely 1:14 am this morning, the sun passed directly over the equator, marking the vernal equinox (where day and night are nearly equal in length) and the start of spring. That’s as simple astronomically as it gets, but that of course is Mother Earth’s sign to awake from her winter slumber – which is no small thing.
The changeover from winter to spring actually occurred last night here in the Pacific Time zone, according to ‘The Old Farmer’s Almanac’ and ‘Space.com’, which also noted that it’s the earliest vernal equinox since 1896. Wow! Usually the magical moment happens later on the 20th or even on the 21st.
Now that the official start of spring is here (even though it may not look like it when I peek out the window), it holds the promise of new life, blossoming flowers, warmer temperatures, being able to open the windows and let the fresh air blow through, and swapping my muck boots for flip flops!
