Ahhhh, Spring!

Well Spring has finally sprung! After a very long and very cold winter, I couldn't be happier to see Spring! Spring is a time when the world that was once black and white changes to color.  It's like waking up one day and suddenly seeing everything in HD; vivid greens in the grass and on on the newly budding trees, pinks and blues in the watercolor sky, yellows and golds on the forsythia bushes, and deep reds and purples on the first tulips and crocus bulbs. Somehow it makes everything feel happier. Cranes and geese that wintered in the South start flying back, calling overhead to their flight leaders. Other birds start building their nests and appearing at the feeders, hungry and busy. It seems that all the wildlife and domestic animals are focused on raising families. It is also the time for baby chicks. Starting in March, we usually have some chicks in a brooder in our dining room, and some older chicks in the brooder in the larger coop. We also have eggs in the incubator. There are new baby goats to watch as they play and romp in the goat pen. There are orders for baby Guinea hens and Indian Runner ducklings coming any day at the feed store. It is a constant flow of baby raising at the farm, and I love watching each one grow and change into a unique adult. Of course the outdoor chores pick up pace as well. After the frost, there are fences to mend, stalls and coops to deep clean and lots of yard clean up. It's a never ending task, but it keeps us active and outside, which is something we truly enjoy. I will always treasure the beauty and renewal that Spring offers. It is such a welcome relief after the dark, "polar vortex" of this winter. I was starting to think that warmer days would never come, but they did. And now I can appreciate all that this season has to offer: the sweet smell of fresh cut grass, the symphony of pond frogs from across the street, the cool breeze blowing through the screens, and the bright, cheerful bursts of color popping up all around us. Spring has finally sprung. Hallelujah!