Heavy Dry Winds and Fires

2-11-08 A day of long, heavy winds, maintaining at 30 mps and gusting to 55, have spread brush fires across the southeaster VA/NC area. We can see columns of smoke along the horizon and the sun set fiery red in the haze. The wind brought cold and robins, both from the north? At the feeder, the goldfinches are turning true to their name, the males starting to shine gold along their backs. Snow geese have already passed through in their elegant, angled configurations. Daffodils are beginning to bloom. Despite the clear, cold air (when the smoke turns away from us), the sun is warmer every day, longer every day and spring is faintly but firmly in the air.