More Fun In The Sun

 We awoke to another spectacular morning.  I cannot tell you how liberating it is to not have to dress in heavy jacket, snow pants, hat, and gloves.  That, alone, is one of the best parts of spring... the feeling of physical freedom after months of being bound by layers and layers!  We walked the horses to the upper pasture and opened the front pasture for the pigs, sheep, and donkeys.  Heaven!  

Because spring grass is so very nutrient rich, we must limit the time that our horses spend grazing to just a couple of hours each morning.  By the time it was time to bring them back to the barn, "the girls" had arrived for a visit. 

 You might remember that Maggie, Macy, and their Momma farm-sit for us quite often.  We love their visits - and they love to visit.  

Their dog, Momma Bernadette loves to visit as well.

We all headed out to bring the horses back to the barn - and found that the horses already were bothered by flies!

That, of course, means that it's once again fly mask season.  Fly masks provide relief from pesky flies who like to congregate around equines' eyes... most annoyingly.  Although it looks as though the fly masks are opaque, they are actually made from mesh - giving the horses the visibility comparable to that of looking through a screen.

Everyone willingly accepted the fly masks... with the exception of Chloe.  She is always the last to get on board with any new program.

Bribery was tried...

Pleading and cajoling...

And finally, she gave up and gave in.  Success!  The thing is... it has to be Chloe's idea!

Later in the afternoon, I planted potatoes in the garden... filling an entire box with pieces of "eyed" potato.  There is no tastier potato than that grown at home and eaten right after being harvested.

Of course, just as I started digging in the soil, rain clouds passed overhead and drizzled on me.

I also picked a good quantity of violets and placed them to soak in white balsamic vinegar.  Then I sealed them and placed them in a dark corner of my pantry for the next couple of weeks.  I should end up with a lovely violet infused, purple vinegar at the end of that time.  A couple spoonfuls of violet vinegar each day boosts the immune system, and equal parts of violet vinegar and honey make a good cough syrup.

It's Friday, and the girls and I are leaving for  a (last-minute) 2 day adventure!  Hubbs will hold down the farm while I am gone.  I'll be back Saturday evening, and we'll be spending Easter Sunday here at the farm.  I'll be back with tales of my weekend adventures on Monday.  Until then... have a lovely weekend!  Happy Easter!