I woke up before my alarm went off this morning, which has been happening a lot lately. I lay in bed for a few minutes, eyes closed, wondering if I was going to fall back to sleep-- but no such luck. Eventually I got up and did all my normal getting ready things, then put on my coat and gathered up the recycling to take out before the truck came to collect the recycling crates.
 

And, oh my, it was gorgeous outside this morning. I had to take off my coat before I walked over to the recycling dumpster, and then I took a second trip without even a sweater. I forgot to check the temperature, so I don't know what it was exactly, but it was perfect. It felt like spring, now, in the first week of February. The sunrise was beautiful; the air was crisp and breezy and smelled like green things.
 

Now, it's raining and the temperature is dropping-- thus is the nature of the ever-changing weather in Arkansas. But this morning, for just a little bit, the world felt like spring and I walked slower than I usually would to soak it up.