a long and sunny spring

a month ago, we had 18 inches of snow on the ground. now, it is spring. i feel lucky this year because we have had such a drawn-out spring--it was in the 70s in london, and the tulips were blooming, and we got a little sunburned. in paris, the appleblossoms and lilacs and chestnuts were in full bloom and it was in the 80s and we got a little more sunburned. (the above photo is of the churchyard in rye, where everything was also in full bloom.)

and now we are home, and it's in the 70s, and my tulips (such as they are) are blooming, and the apple blossoms at lake como are fat and ready to burst open any day now. we missed the magnolias on the corner (what doug calls the popcorn tree); just a few white flakes falling like snow to the ground.

reports from our trip continue on that other blog. dog stories will resume here tomorrow. for now, the boys and i have one more precious day off work. we are going to go walk around the lake and watch spring roll in.