Member-only story
Why I Haven’t Been Writing Lately
Other voices have been calling out to me
I am considering changing my name to Ben Werkin.
It’s been a busy past week or two. Spring has finally come to Wisconsin, and not gradually. The usual easy slide into spring didn’t happen. Instead, we had a lingering kind of late winter with wet, chilly weather. When springlike weather did arrive, it came on like gangbusters.
Almost overnight, grass that had been dormant all winter came alive and put Jack’s beanstalk to shame. The grass is already higher than my ankles and before long it will be knee high if I don’t cut it. Yesterday’s subdued sepia landscape was quickly replaced by a verdant explosion.
This is the time of year when the migratory birds return and scramble for nesting rights in the most choice locations. The red-winged blackbirds staked out the area around our pond early, and woe unto anyone who invades their space. The tenacious robins like to build their nests near or on our house. Occasionally mating pairs of cardinals will come to our feeders. My personal feeling is that these birds win the award for the best-dressed couple. The male sports his bright red plumage, while the female’s softer hues of brown and red complement the male.
