Rainy Solitude

 Despite a weekend of showers and temperatures that hovered between 40 and 50 degrees, we are in the midst of a spectacularly colorful time of year.

The weather necessitated a relatively quiet weekend here on the farm.

We sneaked outside between raindrops to tend to animals...

 for whom life goes on as usual, for the most part, no matter the weather.

Some wisely choose to stay inside and use the time to recharge their batteries.

Not ready to stop planting flowers quite yet, I ran to the greenhouse and picked up enough plants to fill my old wash tubs.  We used to use these tubs for ice and drinks when we would have large picnics; but have since handled that a little differently... leaving these old wash tubs with no use.

I'm in such a flower-planting mood, that just about anything that doesn't have another function is in danger of being turned into a planter!

Every garden is begninning to burst into color, and I couldn't be happier!  That swing is covered in a canopy of small wisteria blossoms. 

 If it weren't raining, I'd be sitting here enjoying the sights and smells!

Did I mention that the greenhouse I went to on Saturday is one of our fabulous Amish greenhouses and they just happened to be having a chicken BBQ and donut sale.  Well, yes, of course I had a donut!!  If I had to pick a "last meal", it just might have to be Amish donuts... a dozen of them!  I'll die with a smile on my face.

This coming week is an exciting one.  Finally after weeks of being cooped up in their own yards, our chickens and ducks will be back out on pasture.  We are hoping that the foxes, having weaned their kits, will not be hunting as they do in earlier springtime.

Do you have the Brood 10 Cicadas where you are?  Oh, my goodness.... we sure do.... everywhere!

How many can you find on this flower (in the center of one of my chair planters)?  Look closely! (clicking on a picture enlarges it)

Luckily, they don't eat anything or do any damage.  They just add a little interest to the picture.  But, wow, can they sing!  Before the weekend's cold weather, the cicadas were singing loudly in the treetops all day long.  It's a rather melodic, high pitched din that is heard... with the occasionally scratchy song of one close by.  It's quite remarkable.  I will definitely include the sound in the next video that I make.

The word that describes this spring the best is "bountiful".  Bountiful flowers.  Bountiful colors.  Even bountiful fruit in the orchard.  After enduring the previous year and all of its difficulties, "bountiful" is definitely something to celebrate!

Today, the sun is to return and the temperatures will rise.  We are going to a Memorial Day picnic this afternoon.  I am definitely appreciating life after vaccine.  It's good to be with people again!