Yesterday the weather was amazing--temperatures in the low 60s, and the smell and feel of spring in the air everywhere. Sometimes you can feel the change in the seasons in your bones, or on the ends of your hair as the wind lifts it up. The daffodils at the bottom of the yard have opened, there are purple crocuses along the rocky path in the front yard, and on the way home from work yesterday I noticed that some of the cherry blossom tree buds had opened up into flowers. Despite how springy everything is I feel a little sad about what might be a "false start" and can't quite give myself over to it. It is, after all, only February 1st today, and I worry about what will happen to the new flowers if we get a wintry cold spell, or snow or sleet.

And while baking on a balmy winter day seems contradictory somehow, I did it anyway, while T. was hard at work on her math problems.

In her thinking cap. Math was hard yesterday.

I made cookies--chocolate chip cherry ones, and they're healthy, to boot!

Chocolate Chip Cherry Cookies (Vegan)

1/2 cup Earth Balance, softened in the microwave

3/4 cup turbinado sugar

1/4 cup chia egg (I just added a tablespoon of chia seeds to my 1/4 cup measuring cup filled with water to create the "egg")

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 3/4 cups spelt flour

1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips

1/2 cup chopped dried cherries 

Preheat the oven to 350. In a large bowl, add flour and baking soda. Mix in melted Earth Balance, sugar, chia egg, and vanilla. Stir until combined. Fold in chocolate chips and cherries. Drop in balls on an oiled baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the bottom edges are lightly brown.

When kids are learning about weather and other things that are familiar but hard to hold in their little hands making a manipulative to hold is helpful.  While singing songs and talking about today's weather playing with a manipulative is a great way to round out the lesson.

I love cupcakes. So does my son. I hope my husband's office does too because they are usually the recipients of our creations. Here is what we made for them to celebrate Spring!

This is a simple craft that can be made by an older child to use themselves or for a younger sibling. My son loved how this made flowers so easy for him.

1. Gather your materials. You will need some cardboard, pointed scissors ( not for young kids), markers,a hole punch and some construction paper.

Is your school age child home for March break? Racking your brain trying to find something to do? I picked up these plastic Easter eggs at a store over the weekend and couldn't wait to make something with them. This craft is simple, but pretty and offers lots of extra opportunity to draw and color too.

1. Gather your materials. You will need some paper, doilies, bottom half of plastic Faster eggs, green pipe cleaners, glue and markers to embellish.

As is typical for North Carolina this time of the year, the weather changed very abruptly from spring to summer in the space of one day. Sunday the temperatures reached 90, bees were seen everywhere, hanging drunkenly in the hot air, and we even caught sight of the dreaded first mosquitoes of the summer. We held out as long as we could, then sparked up the air-conditioning on Friday evening, only to discover that it wasn't working.

Isn't that nice?

Yesterday afternoon I was chatting with a colleague and commiserating with her over how little we've been getting done these days. The work has been piling up, yet our energy and motivation seems to be grinding slowly to a halt--winding down, notch by notch. I'll sit at the computer and try and work, then look up and see the sunlight filtering in through the tall holly trees and oaks in the backyard.

I have learned to appreciate recently that one of the most sensible, truthful, meaningful bits of wisdom out there for me this semester is this: sometimes what doesn't break you will make you stronger.

It doesn't seem fair somehow that the first official day of spring should have come on the last official day of my Spring Break. I spent most of Friday in a funk, mourning all the things that I wanted to get done over break (sleep was on the list, and even THAT didn't get done). But it's hard to stay droopy for long when you're given the gift of a spectacular spring weekend; when you stand outside on the front porch to breathe in a little crisp fresh air on a Saturday morning, sip your hot coffee, and discover your favorite azalea plant peppered in little tight pink buds.

Finally, that blessed day has arrived! Almost everyone in the northern hemisphere has been looking forward to this day for the past several months. No, I'm not talking about the release of the Paul Rudd-Jason Segal bromantic comedy, I Love You, Man. Today is the first day of spring!

Oh, spring. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.