Feeling the Spring

I have been - for some time now - enraptured with the nest form. Around this time of year when the Northeast (where I live) begins to wake up and become fertile again this interest of mine brings an even deeper poignancy. The cool air starts to have a warm teasing undercurrent and we are tapping both of our freakishly over-producing sugar maples and making caramel-tasting syrup. We also have a small flock of organic laying hens living in our garage-converted-to-a-henhouse. Their laying dwindles to once/week for each of the "ladies" but around the time change the laying picks up. We found a quiet rooster a few months back (we live in what qualifies as a "city" in Vermont - 40,000 people - and roosters are not very welcome) and my ever-fertile husband has started hatching chicks with great success. The one shown is named "Kyrk" after a neighborhood boy with a penchant for dressing in black. My nest jewelry - always popular this time of year with spring, mother's day and Easter - has recently morphed into little baskets. At least I thought I would give it a try. The nests - and now baskets, too - are such treasured reminders of our homes, bounty and family. Rebirth! Awakening! Creativity!