spring is here!

Almost three weeks ago one of my students stopped me and wished me "Chestita Baba Marta" ("Happy Baba Marta Day", a Bulgarian holiday), and tied a martenitsa around my wrist. According to the aforelinked wikipedia article, one wears the martenitsa until either a stork, swallow, or a budding/bloomed tree is seen (these marking the beginning of spring). I took my martenitsa off this morning, as I looked out the window and saw that the willow tree on the canal has budded. Spring is here!

Another way I know spring is here: Today will be the first load of laundry of the year to get hung up in the rack in the sun in the livingroom, rather than put into the dryer.

And last weekend, I could tell spring had arrived when I stepped outside the SP Sunday evening; one good whiff and it was obvious that the cows are out to pasture.