I could feel spring in every ounce of my being, even though I know that winter would officially be with us for the next three weeks. The sun shone bright. I could hear the wind blowing across the top of the creek valley, and when I stepped off the cabin’s front porch, I smiled to find that the mud was thankfully beginning to dry out.

The dogs ran about chasing each other across the upper field as we did the morning chores. They seemed to be begging us to take them for a walk, and so after the rabbits, goats, and horses were fed, and the pigeons, chickens, and ducks were watered, we decided to head down to the creek. The dogs happily lead the way.

I saw signs of spring everywhere. Two small garter snakes lay stretched out in a patch of sunshine among last fall’s dry leaves. They were still chilly, and I was able to bend down and easily run my fingers along their backs.

I noticed swollen buds all along the branches of the little plum trees that I had planted several years ago by the edge of the first field. Soon it would be time to wonder about the last frost of the season, and worry about all of our flowering fruit trees.

And I was so happy to see the bright green shoots of the daffodils all along the creek road. It is hard to believe that it was 13 years ago that I dug them up from our city backyard and drove them out to the creek and carefully planted them in random patches along the road. Every year when they first greet me, I imagine that they are as content as I am to have left the city life behind. I feel that they are my kindred country transplants.

It was curious though, that the best spring treasure we discovered was close to the water’s edge. I was standing on a rock watching the morning sunlight reflect in silver shimmers on the running water, when Greg called me over to his side. There, lying tangled in the flattened weeds, left by the flooded waters, was a metal bed frame.

I wonder how it is that so many of our creek finds have made their way into the creek water to be washed down to us. Tractor tires that I have filled with compost and turned into raised beds, beautiful stamped bricks that I have used as plant stands, bright colored shards of broken glass, and almost perfect antique soda bottles, that now decorate the front porch, are just a few of our creek found treasures.

But you are probably wondering why we would be so pleased to find a bed frame. It had actually been on our to-do list to head out to the tractor supply store and purchase some angle iron. We needed it to reinforce the bed of Greg’s old farm jeep, but no need to head to the store now. There, at our feet, lay two perfect six foot sections of angle iron. We looked at each other, broad smiles beaming.

Yes indeed, I love to walk along the creek for so many reasons. I know that the exercise helps to keep us young, and with certainly, the water’s beauty will never cease to amaze me, but there is also expectant chance that some wonderful treasure is just waiting to be found. I will never grow tired of heading down to the water’s edge.

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