Here in NH we are always hoping for an early spring. But we rarely get one. I was just talking to a friend about how winter outstays its welcome every year and a beloved season in December and January, we are cursing it in April if it continues to snow on our crocuses and daffodils that are emerging from the warming ground.

Here in the Northeast we are accustomed to long winters. And although I'm a big fan of the 4 seasons sometimes winter overstays its welcome! And like most New Englanders, I look for signs of an early spring, which means mid-April.

When we first moved into our home, we had a neighbor whose property we passed on our walk. They had a barn with a couple of horses. If we were lucky they were out in the field and I brought my camera to take a few photos.

I know a lot of people living in my neck of the woods (to quote Al Roker) are sick of winter by February, but I'm here to embrace it. Although I'm not a fan of the cold and the harsh winds that accompany the cold, I do enjoy snowshoeing and think it is so pretty when I look out at it falling down and covering our trees with the pure white flakes that make everything look clean and magical.

It seems that Groundhogs are popular around this time of year and it has everything to do with his shadow and whether or not we see it. But on their own, looking at Groundhogs just as Groundhogs and not as prophets who can foretell the future, they are pretty cute. We had one living out back of our house for awhile and she even had some babies.