Crocus Hill

We were up to Devils Lake on April 17 to celebrate my Mom's 90th birthday. Of course, we went to the Cove for lunch. It was great! Then we drove around the lake...well, some of the lake. It has become very large and we would have to get up very early in the morning to drive around ALL of the lake. We did drive out to the side of the lake where my grandparents had their farm and where my mom grew up. Of course, the farm is long gone and the shore line is now just a few feet from the farm house's previous location. It was once about 2 miles away! We drove around what was left of the farm land and pastures and had the thrill of climbing Crocus Hill, a place my mom eight decades ago picked the lovely harbinger of Spring. It was with a haunting joy that I huffed and puffed to the top.

We found an old dump hay rake and each took a turn sitting on it. I imagined my grandpa making hay on a hot July day and I could almost smell the sweet fragrance of fresh-cut grass.

Making hay and Crocus Hill...what a sweet treat. What a joy to spend the day with Mom.