Don’t worry – we still have some more “Winter Wrap-Ups” to post, but I wanted to let you know that SPRING IS HERE!! After a long weekend in the eastern part of the country, we arrived back home Sunday to find the rest of the snow GONE! The temperatures have been in the 50s for the past two weeks, although still chilly at night. Sunday was also the beginning of daylight savings time in Ukraine, so it’s light out from before 7am to after 7pm. It’s like the town has been awakened: people are out and about all day long, enjoying the weather and getting to work!
So, what does it mean when spring comes to Ukraine? Spring cleaning, of course! First of all, everyone is cleaning indoors in preparation for Easter, which will be celebrated April 4th. Secondly, everyone is cleaning outdoors! Individuals in their own yards and town maintenance workers in the parks and streets. They are raking up dead leaves and trash from their yards and the park. They are cutting down trees. They are tilling their gardens in preparation for planting. And at the end of the day, they make small (sometimes large) piles of dead yard waste and trash and burn it. That was something I noticed when we first came to Ukraine – the smell of all this smoke. At that time it was annoying to breath it in all the time, but I don’t mind it this go-round. It’s become a sign of spring to me: we’re getting rid of all the dead stuff and trash and preparing for a fresh, new year!
This time of year can also get pretty dusty, if it doesn’t rain. The snow is gone, the ground has dried, yards and fields are cleared, and only a few flowers are starting to push up through the dirt. But, again, I don’t mind! So long as it’s not snow, ice, or mud that I have to trudge through to get to school every day, it’s all good!
April first marks the anniversary of our arrival in Ukraine! It’s hard to believe, but we’ve experienced a whole year here – we know what each season brings; we know what to expect. Obviously anything can still happen, but it’s nice to be in somewhat familiar territory. Now, for comparison: a few pics of our backyard through the 3 seasons we’ve experienced while living in our town.
I love the bright cloths line poles! You did a great job of showing the back yard in all kinds of weather. I’m glad your snow is gone. It’s gone in NC too – high 70’s today with the sun out. It was fabulous! 4 months and counting……
Love, Momma G
If you write more about this, I can use it in a sermon illustration one day – sounds like a great resurrection account to me! enjoy the warm(-ish, or -er) breeze!
Sara, I was totally thinking the same thing! Not about writing a sermon, but how it sounds almost like a resurrection theme. Cool!
I’m glad we’re coming in July – definitely like the warm, summery picture best!