We just had three days of temps in the low 80s, and I've got my lawn all cleaned up from winter and ready for spring. The birds are so loud every morning (like right now) that 'cacophony' feels like a fair word to describe their chorus.

By the way, I was sure I heard a pileated woodpecker the other day. I see them a lot, so no big surprise. I looked around because I wanted a photo, but I couldn't spot one anywhere. It turned out the pileated calls I kept hearing were coming from a mockingbird!

In other bird news, an eastern bluebird couple have been busy gathering grass trimmings from a small pile I left in the driveway after raking. I hear them constantly, so I know they have to be nesting close by, but I don't know quite where.

And tonight, winter comes back! We have two nights of subfreezing temps predicted, and snow tomorrow.

It'll be a while before we see 80s again. By then, we should haves leaves on the trees. The buds on my maples are red and swollen, ready to burst open any day.

I'm so sorry to hear about your property-insurance spike. If homes cost that much to insure in Florida, I don't know how snowbirds do it, let alone permanent residents.