Spring Things

 Ask me what I love about Spring - my reply will most likely be long-winded.  Let me count the ways....  First there is the obvious change in weather.  Second... abundant vegetation with the landscape gradually awash in color!  Spring serves a smorgasbord to the senses.  Sights, sounds, smells abound - and are so dramatically different from those of the past 6 months.  The earth awakens!  How miraculous is all of that!

The first of so many!

As if all of that weren't enough... Everywhere I go around the countryside, I see new born babies.  There are lambs, kids, calves, or foals at just about every farm.   I find myself stopping along the roadside quite often these days - pulling out the camera to take photos like this...

Please excuse the fence... I took this from the car as I was passing by.  Believe it or not... that was the size Ollie was when we brought him home to the farm 13 years ago.  Such a cute little chap!

Thirteen years later... still cute, still little - ok short and fluffy (chubby!).

Yesterday's weather was spectacular.  Still cool and windy - but, that sky... so clear and so blue!  Pete took advantage of the herd's nap time following their pasture time - perching himself on the back of his favorite steed.

He looks like royalty... Prince Pete.

The chickens spent their morning out of the wind - hanging out in the "coffee shop", a run-in shed that sits next to their coop.

It's their favorite hang-out... serving up a good portion of the day's gossip.  I was out in the pasture in front of them cleaning up manure when I took this photo.  Then, a couple hours later, at snack time....  They all do the 50 yard dash beside the gator to see what treats I have brought them.  I never tire of this sight... it makes me chuckle every single day!

Like my new hood ornament?

That's right, I drive a catty. (Cat-i-lac?)

The farm apothecary is busy once again.  Yesterday I started the beginnings of a new salve.  These are dried calendula petals that will soak in oil (in the dark) for the next 8 weeks - after which I will drain the infused oil to make a calendula salve.

The other project in the works for this spring is soap-making.  I have always wanted to learn to make soap from scratch, so I am going to learn the technique for cold-process soap with vegetable oils and lye.  I'll keep you posted on how that goes.

PS:  that Magic Emporium that we built last weekend was a kit.   If you like tedious, puzzle-type, activities - and don't mind having your fingers glued together, I highly recommend these miniature kits.

In case you wondered why Maggie came to the farm this past weekend without her sister Macy… it’s because Macy had made it to the State speech competition.  After 2 days of competitive speaking rounds against high schools from all over the state, Macy placed 10th in the State!!  Kudos to you, kiddo!!