Ahh, springtime in Nebraska never gets old

No matter how many times you’ve lived through it, spring fever and all that comes with it is such an invigorating phenomenon, which I discovered yet again this weekend with some much-needed outdoor therapy, otherwise known as yard work. It represents new life, a season of hope and a palpable explosion of energy that spreads smiles as wide as the morning horizon.
Signs of spring were everywhere this past week. With a new application of fertilizer on our yard I made the decision to turn the sprinkler system on a bit early, and man did it make a difference. If only Mother Nature would do her job and open her rain spigot, the landscape would change colors in a heartbeat. After just one mowing our yard has come to life, which of course means there is more work to be done, which is just fine by me.
The older I get, the more I notice these little seasonal mile markers, both individually and as a collective whole.
Farmers are chomping at the bit to get seed in the ground, which could start on a grand scale this week. The soil is dry, yet there is always that sense of optimism that rain will eventually fall, and if not we are blessed beyond measure by an underwater aquifer that makes Hamilton County soil some of the most productive in the world.
On a much smaller scale, Paula and I got on our hands and knees this weekend, getting dirt under our fingernails prepping the garden and getting rid of all remaining signs of fall and winter. Paula is the green thumb in our family, no doubt about it, but I do enjoy getting my hands dirty and working up a sweat, if for no other reason than to get work off the brain and reconnect with some good ol’ Nebraska soil. There is just something therapeutic about going green with Mother Nature to create and maintain a space that grounds you in more ways than one.
Big Red football was also in the spotlight with Saturday’s spring game, though truth be told I caught just a few highlights on the radio. Husker Nation is always ready for an early look at next year’s team, with the arrival of a new coach who brings a refreshing new attitude to the program pushing the anticipation higher than usual this year.
Ahhh, springtime in Nebraska!
KURT JOHNSON can be reached at kjohnson@ hamilton.net