Getting tired

We are all getting very tired of this endless winter.  It was -4 this morning, and the high will be in the low 20s. Heading out to the sheep this morning, it felt like January, not the last week of March.  The ground remains covered in 1-2 feet of ice and snow; the air is frigid.  Thankfully the last couple of days (after Saturday's dump of another 4-5 inches of snow) have been at least partly sunny.  The sky has been spring-like;  bright, clear blue with a warming sun.  We did take the dogs out for a walk yesterday in the sun and let them run free in the sheep pasture (the sheep were in the barn and run-in, but strolled over to say hi).  They ran and played, and chased and jumped after snowballs (well, at least Ruby did).  It was good to see such exuberance.

The hens and sheep unfortunately have been cooped up (no pun intended) since November; their mobility and grazing restricted to much smaller spaces.  I can't wait to see all of them back out grazing and roaming at will.

This winter has been hard on all of us.

Doves in a snowstorm

Happy First Day of Spring - Ha!

The calendar declares it the first day of spring.  The weather, however, is not on board.  Although I do have to admit it is above freezing today (36 degrees at 8:30am), it is currently raining and will be switching over to snow within a couple of hours.  By Sunday, we expect to be back down into the low 20s as a high and 0 to 3 degrees as a low that evening.  Not exactly spring-like.  But hey, we persevere.  What else can we do?

At least the seedlings I have planted so far indoors seem to be thriving.  I've only planted the seedlings needing a 10-12 week head start -- cauliflower, cabbage, eggplant, onions, lemon balm, valerian (herb), black-eyed Susans and some hollyhock, which are stubbornly resisting germination.  To-date, a single seed has germinated out of the original 5.  I planted 5 more last weekend and so far nothing.  I'd think it was just an old packet of seed, except I've tried my own seeds harvested last fall, as well as some of Tasha Tudor's. Perhaps they truly are happiest when self-seeding outside.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day

This is a ridiculously easy and scrumptiously delicious Irish Soda Bread recipe:

Ingredients

4 c flour

1 Tbs sugar

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

¾ tsp baking soda

1 c raisins

2 Tbs caraway seeds

2 c buttermilk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a round casserole dish. 

Mix well the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder and baking soda in a large bowl. Add the raisins and caraway seed.  Mix into flour with your hands.  Add the buttermilk and mix well.  Turn onto floured surface and knead until smooth (about 5 minutes).  Add dough and cut an X into the top.

Bake 50 minutes to 1 hour (depending on whether you use convection oven).  Remove from oven and rub the top with butter; sprinkle with sugar.  Let sit for 10 minutes.

Served warm with heaps of butter.  Delicious!

Breakfast is important

Just ask our favorite couple.

Take a moment

To recall the song of the mourning dove. It's worth it.

How to weather a storm

Oh Jacques

I was chatting with Embarrassed just a bit ago. She likes to hang out at the feeders and when i come to the window she actually hangs out, she's just cool like that.

Anyhoo, I look out beyond and low and behold it is none other than our favorite nut job, Jacques. (Who has been in rare form today. I guess snow storms incite his manliness) Our moronic hero has found a new enemy....The side door of the garage. That makes the 5th enemy so far. The list of Jacques most wanted is as follows: The bathroom window, the kitchen window, 2 garage doors, and lastly, the side door.

hard to see but the idiot is attacking the lower part of the door window

A much needed rest after the brutal attack

Out like a lion

And to think I have always loved lions. This winter though, not so much. It is March 11 and just last week we had a few mornings hit sub zero temps. As in one morning -22. Really? Not cool. Today into tomorrow we are expecting to receive 10-15 inches of snow and 20-30 mile an hour winds. The first official day of Spring is next Thursday.

You may have noticed are lack of posting recently. That is because we are feeling defeated, tired, and trapped. This winter has made us prisoners. Any day that was not under 10 degrees was met with high wind, snow, rain, or ice. No beautiful sunny winter days snowshoeing or snowmobiling. Not one until this weekend. And although I am prone to exaggeration, I am not in this case.

I am absolutely amazed by how the weather has affected me this season. Usually, I am just mildly annoyed by March. Lynn has always ridden the crazy train from January to April. And this year, I too, am a passenger.

I couldn't help but wonder why the change in attitude. And I believe I know the answer. I live a more agrarian lifestyle, therefor I am more connected to the seasons. And it is a connection more powerful than I imagined. I noticed this winter that I grow tired earlier in the evening. I eat more and more regularly throughout the day. A hibernation of sorts. As the months passed I have become increasingly impatient being inside. I believe that is a necessary motivator for the work that awaits us in the months ahead. Clever management tactic wouldn't you say?

So come on in Lion and do what you gotta do. Then leave this place. Oh, and don't let the door hit ya on the way out.

We decided to hire some Jawa

To look after the gardens. (In case you don't get the reference), http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Jawa

There's gotta be an easier way to eat than this