Nine days

We've had nine straight days of rain or snow in the Northwest, so we're happy to put the last week behind us. Out of sheer housebound boredom, I finally taught myself how to crochet granny squares. Other than that creative breakthrough, it feels like the entire week was condensed into one long snowy day. Schools and businesses were closed, streets were nearly impassable (or not worth trying) and normal routines (like exercise and healthy eating) were left by the wayside. I'm probably not the only one in Seattle feeling a bit out of it this morning as I head out for exercise class.

Saturday brought steady rain and a relatively balmy 40 degrees. The crushed bamboo and shrubs in our yard sprang up green and fresh as if the ice storm never even happened. There are a just few patches of dirty snow left. The outlying areas were not so lucky, and many yards look like this picture my brother sent from Enumclaw, where some folks are still without power.

But the early signs of spring are here, like these alliums poking up through the mulch and the flocks of excited little birds feeding in the yard all weekend.