We got a gift Sunday morning, at the start of daylight savings time – bright sun and a springlike breeze. Ah, that sun. It is clearly moving north, heading for next week’s equinox. Its journey will take it both higher and farther into the northern sky for the next three months. Shadows really stand out; they are brighter, bolder, more distinct, creating twins of trees and fences.

The breeze is not warm yet, but was not cold. Sunday morning it was a tease, whispering winter is over, which it almost is. At 9:30 a.m., which is really 8:30 a.m. standard time, that gentle breeze was mild in its kiss, not cold.

Next week it will be spring. The daffodils are in full bloom, their bright yellow duration partly based on how sunny and warm lasting the weather is. In any case, tourists are in the fields, too, the tulips are on their way and soon snow geese and swans will be on the wing heading north for their summer homes in Alaska, Canada and Siberia.