If you’re reading this on April 4 that means you have power or at least internet. Congratulations!

Our back yard, this morning. The snow has buried the raised garden beds we’d hoped to plant early this year.

Today’s yet another spring surprise, an April storm that forecasters promise will yo-yo from rain to snow to sleet to who knows what.  The wind will blow, the precipitation will be heavy, the roads will be treacherous, power lines will come down. If you aren’t able to read this on April 4, I hope you’re tucked in at home with a good book.

To distract us from what’s happening outside the window, here are some thoughts, observations and news about spring:

MAINE CRIME WAVE is going to be amazing this year. Mark your calendars for Friday evening, June 14 and Saturday, June 15, when the ‘wave rolls through the USM campus in Portland. Michael Koryta is this year’s Crime Master. If you haven’t read any of his New York Times bestselling books, you’re missing out. Here’s a link to his website to give you a sense of Michael and his work: https://www.michaelkoryta.com/

Juliet Grames of SoHo Press is the keynote speaker, and our own Kate Flora will be honored with the Lea Wait Award in memory of our departed but never forgotten dear colleague. There’ll be panels and craft workshops and lots of time to schmooze.  Writers with years of  experience and those just starting out are equally welcome, and so are readers of crime fiction (after all, we do it for you). Maine Crime Wave is a not-to-be-missed event, so register early.

Here’s the link:  https://www.mainewriters.org/calendar/crime-wave-early-bird

Tuesday, before the storm. Sigh.

MARCH MADNESS now spills over into April, and that’s fine with me, especially when the likes of Caitlin Clark (41 points, 12 assists, 7 rebounds against a very talented LSU team earlier this week) and her Iowa Hawkeye teammates are on the TV. The Final Four is this weekend, and like most of the nation, I’ll be tuning in to the women’s games—Iowa v. Connecticut and South Carolina v. North Carolina State—what matchups!  The men’s bracket Final Four bracket is fine, but if you enjoy electric basketball, the women are where it’s at this year.

FLOWERS! They’re blooming under the snow and I have it on good authority that crocus and daffodils are resilient as can be. So when this all melts, they’ll still be around to brighten our winter weary yards.

BIRDS!  The goldfinches are turning blaze yellow (a prettier cousin to blaze orange), red-winged blackbirds have been serenading us for nearly a month, we heard a white-throated sparrow singing her heart out one evening last week and a pair of bluebirds have been regular customers at the mealworm feeder in our yard. Get outside with or without binoculars and watch for migrating birds coming home to Maine for the summer. It’ll cure whatever ails you.

THE ECLIPSE!  Monday afternoon. Don’t miss it, but protect your precious eyes, ok?

MECHANICS HALL in Portland is a treasure, a historic space that features a wonderful library and terrific performance space. Over the past decade it’s become a go-to place for readings and musical events, and pretty much everyone who visits is awed by its historic and present-day value to the community. Last week a $2,860,000 federal grant was announced, money that will support restoration work that’s been ongoing for several years. A press release from the Maine Charitable Mechanics Association thanked Maine’s two U.S. Senators for their leadership in obtaining the funding, which the association said will “enable us to address active leaks threatening the integrity of our 165-year-old building and to repair the iconic clerestory roof and granite exterior. This funding, part of a bill for Maine Community and Economic Development Projects for Fiscal Year 2024, has effectively saved our historic landmark building.”  I say hooray for that. For more information about the Maine Charitable Mechanics Association, its beautiful building and the amazing events that happen there, go here:  https://mechanicshallmaine.org/

THE BOSTON RED SOX are seven games into the season and they are 5-2.  All the pundits are down on them, but I believe they’ll be better than expected this season. The Sox always have been my team and they always will be. I’m not going to say more, because I believe in jinxes as much as the next fan, but Go Sox!

THE BEACH, as readers of this blog know, is one of my favorite places to walk and take photos. Here’s a wash of beautiful spring sunshine on the waves that I hope portends a good season ahead once this final storm is behind us.

Crescent Beach in Cape Elizabeth on Sunday, March 31, when spring was in the air.

Brenda Buchanan brings years of experience as a journalist and a lawyer to her crime fiction. She has published three books featuring Joe Gale, a newspaper reporter who covers the crime and courts beat. She is now hard at work on new projects. FMI, go to http://brendabuchananwrites.com