Some cloudy weather several days this week delivered small amounts of precipitation for a total of 0.58 inches.  Low daily temperatures gradually increased except for Thursday 16 March when the low was recorded at 27 degrees.  High temperatures consistently increased will the Saturday high that remained with a chilly breeze following the rain and cooler overnight temperatures.  Nature may have slowed a bit with the chill, but it didn’t appear so.  Bluebirds have started laying their eggs in nest boxes.  The bees were gathering pollen in a frenzy on the warmest day.  Plant and tree buds look to be safe from freezing despite the low temperatures.  One day windows can be opened in the house and the next day the heat is consistently warming.  Temperature fluctuations are common for this area, but generally not the warming we have experienced the past couple of months.  Honey bee swarms started being reported in our area already for the past few weeks.