Spring is in the air! :)

Despite the lingering sore throat today, I couldn't not go outside and sit under the perfectly blue sky and soak up some sun in the 15+ degree weather. It was the first real taste of spring, as evidenced by the first white crocus blooming in front of the house, the first butterfly of the season (both KB and I saw a colorful one, meaning it will be a colorful summer for us), the many birds hanging out in our birdhouse and birdfeeder (a source of great entertainment for Mims from her window seat), and the large variety of insects finding their way already into our house (there is something to be said for the screens on windows in the US). So I got out my thickest scarf, made myself a cup of tea, and sat outside reading for a good part of the afternoon.
In the following picture you can see the fountain we uncovered earlier in the week when most of the snow finally melted! The owners of the house let us know that they have had goldfish swimming around in there summers past. I thought Bubbles (the class fish) might have an interesting summer vacation except they did also warn that the goldfish sometimes get eaten by birds... As well, in the past they've had a chair in the fountain as a place to sit down and cool off after pirts (sauna). :)
A slightly wider view of the yard, including the swingset and sandbox (great attraction for godchildren!) and the shed in the corner which also has a meat smoker in front of it.
Our patio with the door to the garage, which connects to the house. To the very left you can see the white outdoor fireplace where we grill out.
A view of the back of the house against today's beautiful blue sky...
So there is a bit of a sneak peek from the outside - anyone want to come visit? :) We've had guests every weekend since moving in and we're looking forward to a great spring and summer of being able to spend time outdoors, in our very own backyard!