I got to thinking about that yesterday. You know, seeing the first Canadian geese arrive, the first Red-winged Blackbird, the first Trumpeter Swan, or the first pussy willows budding out. Hearing the first Spring Peepers or Woods Frogs. Seeing the first crocus, then daffodil noses popping up, the first day you can walk in the garden after the snow goes away, the first day you see rhubarb noses sticking up, all pink and pretty.
We really look forward to all of these firsts, and a whole lot more, come to think of it, and have for decades. Renewal, that’s what spring is all about. After a dreary, cold, snowy winter, the appearance of sound and color swells the heart. Such a good time!
On Friday, our friend, Brendan, brought in the two loads of our free swamp mats on his semi flat bed. We were a bit disappointed with the first load as most of it was chiefly firewood, being pallets that were broken, partly rotted, and sad looking. However, the second load was much better. So, Will has his building material. Shew, we were getting worried. There’s no picking your loads there. You get what they load. Period. All in all, we were very happy with our new stack of “material” for who-knows-what projects.
My little containers of petunias and pansies have germinated, and they are now in the little plastic greenhouse in our living room, nice and sunny. I’ll be planting my tomatoes soon. I went through our catalog and marked all the ones I plan on growing this year, all the favorites of customers and us too. We’ll be helping Lynn and Jesse, our new Seed Treasures folks, grow out some seeds, at least for a few years, to help them get a good start with the business. I’m looking forward to having more time to write and just plain homestead again. Happy Spring everyone! — Jackie
We’re having t-storms and hail. At least the hail we got was not ping-pong ball sized. Better half threw some more straw on the garlic.
We’re on the never ending battle for invasive plants/brush (yeesh, garlic mustard has started to pop up). Better half cleared an area on our property last year. We planted some wildflower/native grass seed on it today. The restoration company showed up today and ground up a high percentage of the invasives on our property. They’ll be back for touch up. For the first time since moving here, I can see the field behind our property. I’m sure the deer love it and the clean-up has already removed a lot of cover for not welcome wildlife.
Spay day today (read not inexpensive but they are also micro-chipped). Once home both were pretty comical when they came out of their carriers. Of course both had to try to jump – I caught one but not the other. I’d hope the storms we’re getting would just make them go to bed. Hah not. I did put a couple of beds near the window seat so if they fell they’d have a softer landing. I had to laugh as one thought she could jump into the window seat but fell straight back (I caught her). I did not comment when one of the clinic employees said they’d be kind of out it for 3-4 days.
Evidently both were sweethearts today based on comments when we picked them up. They have helped lessen the hurt of the loss of our other cat last summer.
Time to till the garden so we can plant taters on Good Friday which is a little over 3 weeks away. Grandpa has yet to fail me when it comes to potato planting.
I love seeing your pictures. Your place is beautiful. January is the month for pruning here in far north California. But, we had spring instead; instead of our coldest weather where the sap isn’t running. So I’m pruning our orchard now after February was back to winter! I didn’t want to have a garden this year because it performed so poorly last summer; just let to rest. But, hubby has tilled it with the skidloader forks. The weeds were 2 ft high. We’ve cleaned those out of half the garden. I’ll see if I really do anything. I’ve canned so much and still have it. Probably won’t need to can more for a few more years. Yes, it’s a hobby really!