Wednesday, March 21, 2012

March Madness

No posts for weeks.....what's going on around here? The early arrival of spring has everyone kicking up their heels! It's amazing how a little warm weather has transformed the month from inside pursuits to the mad dash of getting rid of the aftermath of winter.

The geese have moved down to the creek and are having their spring honeymoon. They go for days at a time and have been spotted halfway to the Chippewa River which is a couple miles from our house. They come home all noisy and bossy and after they refuel and rest up they are off again for more hanky panky. It will all be fun and games until the eggs start arriving!

The ponies got out to their down-the-lane pasture and Don got the tractor going to clean up the paddock at home before the flies start up...... like the MOSQUITOES....and TICKS......and GNATS! All the usual suspects have shown up weeks earlier than normal. The vet was out and gave the West Nile and other vaccinations to the herd.

Poor Maggie was in for her heartworm test and she showed up positive for Lymes disease. She's on doxycycline for 30 days and has been a real good girl about taking her pills. Lots of rest for our girl.

Liz Taylor Update:
My little sweetheart, Liz, has been steadily improving. I put her in her outside condo during the day and found she had escaped yesterday and was out mingling with the rest of the flock. This morning she bolted out the barn door to get outside ahead of me! Not wanting her to be attacked again, I gathered her up and put her in her private pen out in the yard. She has gotten so friendly through this ordeal. Her moulted feathers are coming back in and soon she will have a glorious new frock. 

The yard work that didn't get done last year has GOT to get done this spring before the weeds take over. I worked on it most of the day yesterday and my back was really happy to see rain this morning so I can rest up a little! Much more to do. Ditto for the garden..... the garlic is sprouting and my new "walking" onions are marching! I hauled all the hoses through the woods so I could water down the greenhouse last week. Three tick bites later I had it done......and then found four more bear ticks crawling on me. That's what you get when you crawl through the woods around here.

The kale plants that I left in the greenhouse beds are springing to life with new shoots---and they are tasty! I planted a variety of lettuce seeds and other veggies in trays. It's too soon for outside, but I think the greenhouse will be warm enough to get them started even without additional heat. I'm sure we will have more frost....right? But I couldn't resist taking the overwinter plants out of the breezeway over last weekend (80's!!!) and giving them a big drink of water outside. They're still out there and are looking great.

As if there wasn't enough going on already, I'm working on a HUGE pattern for a stained glass window which will feature four eagles. More to come on that.

I've also had some great horse rides I want to write about next time.

So...... it is March Madness around here and we still have lots of March left.






1 comment:

Wanda said...

My Uncle Chris has told me about back when he had dairy cows out West of Luck, the first time that he could let the cows out of the barn after being inside all winter, the cows would hop and jump around in the pasture. He said that it was a sight to see and that it always made my aunt Elsie and him laugh. Horses are not so different I guess.