To the Editor:

March showered lots of snow on the Hilltowns this year. There’s been shoveling, revving up snowblowers, clearing roof avalanche piles, and plowing. Snowshoeing, sledding, and snowpeople building.

Spring showed up on the calendar on March 20, but many birds were thinking spring really began in February with that tease of 60-degree-plus weather.

In sync with the spring season, the “Build Yourself a Bluebird House” workshop, under the keen eye of Brian Stempel, soared into the Berne Library’s community room on March 23. The sound of hammers, laughter, and gentle instructions drifted into the Friday night air.

“Organized chaos” is how Brian aptly described the scene. Racking up nearly 30 hours of preparation for the workshop, Brian carefully measured, cut, drilled and packaged enough rough-cut wood and hardware for 25 bluebird houses.

Laura Chase, first contestant on the scene, combined the jigsaw puzzle of wood sides, roof, back, and front. After completing her house, Laura jumped in to help others with positioning of wood pieces in the correct order.

And so it went. People helping each other, waiting patiently and watching as each patchwork of items materialized into the prescribed whole.

In just under an hour, 17 people assembled their very own bluebird houses and proudly walked off with their prizes.

Thanks are extended to the Berne Public Library for allowing us to sponsor this event. Thanks also to all the now expert bluebird house builders who were a delight to work with. If anyone happens to find a hammer with Stempel marked on it, Brian is looking for it. A look-alike is resting over at the library.

This workshop was in honor and appreciation of our parents, Rudy and Sheila Stempel. They gave us a place to work, live, and be in nature every day. Thank you to our parents and to the spirit of cooperation exhibited during the organized-chaos bluebird-house party.

Sandra Stempel

East Berne