They say its spring, but I need proof. So, I’ve been working hard to see beyond the half a foot of snow in my backyard. If I look down, I see the floors in our house are covered in muddy boot prints. I guess that’s a good sign. If I look up, I see crows carrying twigs in their beaks to prepare their nests. And if I listen, I hear the Canada geese are honking in the skies to announce their return to our area.

The calendar says it is Easter. Really? It must be true, since we participated in an egg hunt in Narrowsburg, sponsored by the Tusten Youth Commission (TYC). As with everything the TYC does, it was a well organized opportunity for kids to be kids, complete with a mad dash into a snow-covered playground to gather plastic eggs filled with sweet surprises. I watched Lulu and Pedro clawing at the icy crust on top of the snow to free up the eggs. The kids got a photo op with a slightly terrifying big white bunny, and topped off the fun with a cupcake and “red juice” (aka Hawaiian Punch). We parents stood in a huddle, shivering and trying not to rush the kids too quickly back into the warm car.

Delaware Valley Arts Alliance (DVAA) has announced the lineup of its Spring Cultural Series at the Tusten Theatre (210 Bridge St.), which includes a variety of concerts and a one-man show kicking off at the end of April (tickets and details available at delawarevalleyartsalliance.org). And on Friday, April 6, DVAA will debut an art exhibit of new tin-can sculptures by Cochecton artist Allan Rubin from 7 to 9 p.m. at the gallery (37 Main St.). The show will feature close to 50 works constructed of painted recycled food cans. I’ve seen a preview, and they look amazing. The show will be up through early May.) [The River Reporter will run a Currents feature on the show next week.]

Meanwhile, back at home, I cut bunches of forsythia and pussy-willow branches from my yard to put on vases in the house, forcing their buds to think it’s warm enough to bloom. So I have pretty yellow flowers and soft, furry catkins to brighten up our house. That’ll keep me content until I can see some green outside my windows. Looking at the Narrowsburg forecast for the next 10 days, every day will have a high of at least 40 degrees, some days well into the 50s. I’ll take that as a sign that spring really is (almost) here.