Quiet Weekend on The Farm

Although February is the shortest month, it often feels like the longest.  Typically we endure much cold and wintry water in February.  This year, however, the month has sped by.  We've had many days of sunshine and warmer temperatures.  

Now, March sits just two days away - beckoning to us with longer daylight.  In the gardens, daffodils and tulips have emerged through the layer of dry leaves blown there by last Autumn's winds.

We enjoyed a quiet weekend here on the farm.


Greeting the sunrise...


Morning chores...

We take off from farm chores one morning a week - Saturdays.  Our helper and friend, Anna, takes care of  the morning chores for us... feeding and watering and cleaning the animals.  This gives us one morning a week to be lazy and stay in bed beyond sunrise.  We head out mid morning to brind the horses back in from the pasture.

Saturday afternoon, we went to see Anna's oldest daughter play in an indoor soccer game.


This little sprout is Helen, the youngest of Anna's three girls.  Her older girls have spent a lot of time here on there farm... so we look forward to Helen toddling around the farm in the coming months as well.

With cold nights and cold mornings, the numbers of the pond breakfast club have remained steady.


You might notice that Chester is looking a little contrite.  That's because he had quite a bad run-in with a skunk on Saturday evening.  A direct hit - right in the face.  To add insult to injury, we had to bathe him with our special skunk kit in the barn (there's warm water) so as not to stink up our house.


It's breeding season for skunks here in PA.  (just a head's up for fellow dog owners)

Sunday morning, Jack called me back into the barn to see this:


Pete and the two Beas were curled up under one of the heat lamps together... fighting the morning chill.  You might notice Moll on deck above the other three - waiting her turn under the lamp.  As soon as one of the Beas moved, Moll settled into the empty spot.


Meanwhile, on the ladder heading to the hay loft...


she hops, one rung at a time,


until she reaches the top.  I have yet to see her exit the hay loft, but I am sure she just does the same in reverse.


I finished my knitting project and blocked it (wetting it and stretching it into the correct shape),

 
then started another project...


It's white and blue... although the shadows make it look yellow.  This one will be a quick knit (extra chunky wool).

I am so looking forward to all of the changes that March brings.  And though it's not unusual to have some snow during March, this month is the turning point towards spring.  Before long, our monochromatic landscape will begin to awaken and with that the emergence of green once again.  There's nothing like spring on the farm!


Comments

Cappy said…
Your new project reminds me of the sweaters my grandmother used to make for us when we were little. Beautiful work - she loved the cables and popcorns and such. But she always used the scratchiest yarn! :-)
I'd be under that heat lamp too if I were a kitty.
Love the colors in the blocked shawl. So beautiful. I am still teaching myself to knit, with the help of YouTube.
Enjoy your day. We are getting rain and storms all day.
THE BEARDED ONE said…
IT IS QUIET CLEAR THAT YOU TWO HAVE ALL OF YOUR ANIMALS VERY SPOILED...BIG SMILE...THEY ARE HAVING A HEAVEN ON EARTH... IT IS SO AMAZING WHAT THE TWO OF YOU DO...THERE PICS AND COMMENTS SURE LIFT A MANS SPIRIT AND BRINGS SMILES TO OUR FACES...YOU FOLKS ARE SURE AMAZING...SURE HOPE YOU HAVE A TERRIFIC WEEK....KEEP SMILING AND THANK YOU AGAIN AND AGAIN FOR THESE AWESOME POST...YOUR ARE A KNITTING QUEEN...MY OLDEST SISTER WAS LIKE THAT...SHE WENT TO PARADISE ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO...HAVE A TERRIFIC DAY !!!!!!
This N That said…
It's hard to believe that March is on our doorsteps..
I'm sure that you enjoy a quiet weekend from time too time.
So nice that Anna helps you out on Saturdays..Sleeping in is a luxury for you for sure..
You have ton of Mallards.Looks like mostly males..
I have smelled a skunk several times lately when I take Mollie out late at night.
Looks like you need either another bed or another heat lamp..I can probably part with a bed!!
Have you found the eggs in the hay loft yet??
I like your projects...Especially the new one...reminds me of bees...
Oh yes, you said it was blue..no bees...
Have a fun week!! hugs
I love how all your cats seem to get along so well. Sleeping together under the heat lamp! Poor Chester...he does look a little guilty. You folks know what to do in every situation there on the farm. Thank goodness. Can't wait to see some signs of Spring popping up at your place...since it will be a long while before it happens here!
So glad to hear you get a break on Saturday mornings! You deserve it!