the not-so-long now

sometimes things take generations (see this wonderful story about the long now) while other things happen with grace at a fierce rate. 

these pictures are of the same plant - it is a tree in our backyard we call "isaac's tree".  5 short weeks of temperatures ranging from way below to freezing to 70F and now buds pop out where ice was layered thick like icing on a cake.  what a recovery!