Tuesday Thoughts

It is Tuesday morning, and I know that if I don't jot down a few things now, the rest of this week will run away.  Life can be a whirlwind, yet caught up in that swirl tends to be what makes me thrive.  The quiet early morning moments are when I reflect and many times when the world slows down enough around me that the whole household seems to take a collective exhale.

::  I love that our little homestead, seems to be such an inviting place for wildlife.  The fact that a pair of foxes seems to have taken up residence, hasn't deterred the little herd of deer that seems to grace us with their quiet beauty every dawn and dusk.  I wonder if we will see babies in a couple of months taking their first uncertain steps under our gaze.

::  You would think that the netted roof of the chicken run could withstand anything after making it through our 27 inches of snow in one night last February. Oh no, we get five inches of heavy white stuff and it collapses like a house of cards.  Poor girls are now quarantined inside the barn until we can get in and build a new roof.  I feel bad that they are stuck in doors when the weather has been so mild, yet I know they have had a great winter so far and due to the above wildlife, letting them out un-roofed would be disastrous.

::  I'm so proud that as of last night B is officially on the Board of Directors for the Wild Root Market!  I can't wait to see our co-op come to fruition!

::  My alphabet February in the Postcards to Blog Camp project went really well!  I made it through unscathed, though sometimes perplexed when the day began.  It sure makes the last three 'free shot' days of the month seem like a breeze!

::  My grandmother passed away early last Saturday morning.  This week's swirl is filled with flashes of memory coupled with wrapping up the business month end, and hopping on a plane on Thursday.  Thankfully, the members of my family have been blessed with long and full lives.  Now is the time to remember and celebrate that life, while holding my grandfather's hand.

Finally!

 After a lackluster winter, we wake up this morning to real snow.  A heavy, wet, Spring-like snow that encapsulates everything in wonder.  Today, we can turn the kids out after school to build snowmen, have snow ball fights, and finally they will have some good sledding.  Happy Weekend!

One Task Always Leads To Another

Have you ever noticed that one project always seems to lead into another?  Back in November B and I spent a little time making some pallet shelves that I'd pinned on pinterest.  We had not gotten around to hanging them, so I decided that would be my project today.  As a way to further procrastinate, while in the basement looking for hardware to hang the shelves I came across an old window that I found in the barn while we were building the shelves.  My intention had been to make a project of it on a snowy winter day.   Since winter really hasn't materialized, at least as I had envisioned, I decided that I would start working on that project too.

Windows Cleaned up, Shelving hung, so what's next?  Well put something on those darned shelves!  I look at the adjacent floor to ceiling bookcase and pick a few items to go on the shelves and then decide the bookcase needs a complete overhaul.  Let's just say that I no longer feel guilty for missing the gym today.  Sixty years worth of National Geographics by the armload up to the attic, took care of any calisthenics and weight lifting that I needed today.

So now, our blank little upstairs hallway that has had precious little hanging in it since we moved to the homestead almost 5 years ago is slowly filling up with precious pieces, and everything feels fresh and new.

Silent Sunday~Texture of Spring

Spring?

It's hard to believe that I'm sitting here in the middle of February with a few windows open and listening to the sounds of birds return.  As we headed out to soccer this morning, sure enough, I caught the first glimpse of crocus' peeking through.  That was enough to inspire me to do a little light clean up.   Who wants to be doing indoor chores when the sun is calling? 

I began dead heading a plants that I'd left up for winter interest and with the lack of snow just look dead and scraggly.  Funny how these things start, I did the one bed and then another.  Then decided to walk the yard in the glorious sunshine to pick up the trash that had blown in over the last few months.  As I get close to the barn, I begin to inspect the asparagus bed.  It will be some of the first produce to come up in the spring.  As I look for little tops, I notice not only is the bed almost completely thawed but there are actually weeds growing!  So one thing leads to another, I set down the collected trash and weed.  I had almost forgotten how good it feels to get my hands dirty in the garden.

 Now, do I take all of this back to the fire pit?  No, it occurs to me that maybe a few avian would appreciate a lush green snack.  That they did, attacking it like it was candy.  All the while the rooster kept a watchful eye on his harem to make sure they all got their fill.  I'm sure the winter (though I use that term loosely this year) is not over yet, and maybe I have just jinxed myself by getting my hands dirty early, but it sure feels like Spring outside!