April so far has been a lesson in patience. Another bird population has made its appearance — the Dark-eyed Junco — and now that the melting has paused and our view is still blanketed in white, we’re finding ourselves more attuned to the small signs that spring is still just around the corner.

In an unprecedented move (for Karen and me, anyway), we made the decision to push back some of our scheduled home openings by about a week. Between the amount of snow and ice we received this year and the cost and difficulty of clearing driveways to properly access homes, it simply made the most sense.

It’s not the way we usually like to do things. We’re planners. We prepare. We try to stay ahead of the season. But this year has been a reminder that, up here, you don’t always get to set the pace — the island does. And the more we lean into that rhythm, instead of pushing against it, the easier it becomes to adjust, recalibrate, and trust that things will unfold when they’re supposed to.

So for now, we wait. We watch for the small signs — a little more daylight, a little less ice, the quiet return of birds like the Junco.

They show up when they’re meant to.

And maybe that’s the shift.

Patience isn’t just waiting — it’s paying attention.

Warmest regards,

Amy & Karen