chickens in the grass alas, crabapple o'clock, apple blossom time. The length of vacation is the amount of time it takes to catch up afterwards. spring is astonishing every year. we are now in the 60 day window of maximum light, the month before and after summer solstice, when light takes your brain on a joy ride, and the corrupt state of the country seems a minor annoyance that will be swept away on a wave of green ferns, and the new leaves in Sunkhaze Meadows are as deep as the eye can see.