Last night the phoebes that nest in the eves just outside our bedroom window returned-- chattering into my dreams. They have nested as a pair here for years. I imagined them having a marital squabble about the late night arrival and the nest being clearly unfit for rearing chicks. It has been an incredibly long winter and I am quite positive their little nest, years old, took a beating.
The geese too, have flown in and on, northward. The wind and sun have whipped away the snow, and the garden has become a flowing stream of run-off, in spite of our water-slowing terraces. Butterflies have floated by and the earth is coming alive with sprouts, insects, and new sounds.
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| Treasures in the Forest |
The snow did hang on for a few days of spring weather, letting us ski ourselves into sunshiny locations as the sun magnified snow-amped vitamin D into our winter weary faces. It must be how the first wintery flowers feel as they burst through the snow to bloom, in spite of (or because of?) obstacles that seem insurmountable.
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| Open Mic in our Kitchen |
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| Second Saturday Open Mic at Bald Mountain Community Center |
Song too, has filled the house, along with sunshine, as the girls sing themselves through mud season, studies & farm chores. It has been so beautiful to see their confidence build and to find that connection with their Dad.
Days have been filled with dark, dark sap collecting and boiling, planting seeds and transplanting seedlings, harvesting food (always ongoing), clearing land for new pastures, making needed changes to one of our rentals, and finding delicious ways to use the last of our canned and frozen foods. Aside from our roasting chickens, we have been having quiches and pestos, green bean casseroles and edamame snacks, pumpkin soups and pies and deer and veggie stews. We did really well with our preserves this year-- only purchasing staples (flours, spices, pastas, rice) a few veggies (brassicas & onions), dairy and then some life-easing unnecessary things like bananas and organic corn chips. The grocery bill was much lower and we all feel pretty healthy!
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| Organic chickens being processed |