Sláinte!

 On this fine St. Patrick's Day, our girls are wearing the green and toasting their Guinness to your good health!!

I can say with certainty, that Spring has made a slightly early appearance here on the farm.  The crocus have begun to open between the stones on the path to the shed.

So many familiar bird songs fill the air - songs we've missed for months.  The predominant song is that of the robins, but I've heard a Phoebe chiming in, as well as a couple of mockingbirds.  We have a resident mockingbird that nests in the garden fence and serenades me whenever I am at the barn.  I noticed yesterday, that he has once again taken his position atop the weathervane on the cupola of the indoor arena.  It's a favorite spot for this feathered crooner.

I walked the horses up to the upper pastures yesterday morning.

First Moonie, then one of these little guys on each side of me, followed, lastly by the two ponies.

By the time I have everyone out to pasture, I feel like I've walked a mile.

Before we can walk to the pastures, I put everyone's halters on.  As I buckle the strap on Ollies halter,  Red nibbles on my pants, my sleeve, my gloves.  He's an impatient little chap... chomping at the bit to get out and run free.

And that's exactly what he does as soon as the halters come off.  He races off, kicking up his heels in glee!  He literally flies... no hooves on the ground - my little red flying horse.

As I walk back to the barn, a flock of blackbirds crosses the pastures and the air is filled with bird chatter.

It is also obvious to me that I have much work to do to get my gardens in any semblance of order.  Ivy trimming, weeding and general clean up are high on my list.

My bunny fence has been engulfed by ivy.  A few hours will be spent in taming this ivy (which, by the way, grew from one single plant that I tried to train on a wire pumpkin in order to make a topiary.  You can see the pumpkin to the right of what used to be my bunny fence.)

This was the first order of business as soon as it was warm enough to work outside.  What is a jungle now will actually be a lovely perennial garden in a few weeks.... after a few hours of work!

Yesterday was the perfect day for dust baths.

Dust baths are a chicken's protection against skin parasites.

You should see the dust fly as they flap around trying to cover their entire body with dust.

Sadly, Sally goat left us yesterday to join her Mamma and twin brother in the big pasture beyond the veil.  She was the sweetest goat and will be greatly missed.  If there is one thing that life on the farm teaches us... it's acceptance of the cycle of life.  And so, we celebrate all of the years that this sweet, gentle soul spent with us.  She gave us many smiles.

Look who came for a visit last evening. 

 I saw her/him on the back deck, so I ran and got a bowl of food.  It left the deck when I walked towards it, but came back up and started eating when I went back to the door.

Finger crossed we can tame this sweetheart.