It’s spring here! This winter has been very, very warm compared to what we’re used to – you can hardly call it winter, it was more like a prolonged autumn, slowly transforming into spring. No snow, no ice. So nature is confused. A couple of weeks ago the first spring flowers started blooming, and you can see them more and more.
![Crocuses in the end of January!](http://www.meilindis.nl/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/DSCF8687-800x800.jpg)
![Blossoms](http://www.meilindis.nl/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/DSCF8700-800x800.jpg)
![These are blooming since the beginning of February (or perhaps already before that...)](http://www.meilindis.nl/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/DSCF8706-800x800.jpg)
![I love snowdrops. Today I spotted some in the neighbourhood.](http://www.meilindis.nl/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/DSCF8791-800x800.jpg)
This is all very unusual. Nature is more than a month ahead of schedule. Could be climate change, could be El Niño, but whatever it is, it’s weird. I’m not complaining, but I keep having this feeling that things are not as they are supposed to be.
This morning I heard the birds sing when I was still lying in bed, and this evening I heard them sing again. They also know that spring is here. The sounds and smells outside are waking up. I love spring.
![I'm not even sure how she got into that position](http://www.meilindis.nl/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/DSCF8796-800x800.jpg)
By the way, Freya got a new scratching pole today. She had completely killed the old one, so I went to the pet store to buy her a new one. The lady at the cash register sprayed it with catnip spray, so when I got home, Freya went completely bonkers. She was head butting, bunny kicking, and hugging the tree, rolling around, and generally having a great time.