The Puffin saw its shadow this morning.

Spring sprung at 6:29 a.m. as the Sun crossed directly over the Earth’s equator. OK, the Earth tilted so the equator was pointed directly at the Sun, Rufus. Jeez.

For that brief moment in time, there are equal periods of sunshine and darkness all over the world. Assuming the sun is “out.” Not “of the closet,” Rufus. Jeez.

People have recognized the vernal equinox with ritual and traditions for thousands of years. The Puffin is not that old.

The first day of astronomical Spring is a day of special gravity. The ancient (and many modern) Chinese believed that you can stand an egg on its end on the first day of spring. That’s (probably) less violent than the people in Poland who drown the Marzanna or the Swiss who burn a snowman at the stake. Google has a doodle. A smart doodle.

On the other hand, people in Vermont are still betting on when the ice will go out on Joe’s Pond. The ice thickness on was 14 inches a couple of weeks ago and Kyle thinks more ice will form with the coming cold temperatures.

The Puffin saw its shadow on the beach this morning.

Students generally head for sunshine for Spring break, so there are lots of young, bikini clad bodies cavorting on beaches here.

There were a couple of pretty, fair weather clouds early but the temp was hovering at about 69 in sunshine first thing. It will be sunny with a high around 77 again and 10-15 mph of northeast wind. Mostly clear tonight and nice for the rest of the week.

Hmmm. Ice out or beach and beer?

The sun was definitely “out.” The Puffin saw its shadow which means we’re in for four more weeks of sunshine here in South Puffin and, sadly, you’re not.