I am so so tired today. A nutty week of work has come and gone and won’t be around again until next February. Whew. I am ssssllllloooooooow and so wish I had the sleep-in gene because the two martinis I devoured post-auction last night would have enjoyed a bit more rest this morning. But I woke early to a beautiful springy day. And while I know it will snow and freeze and gray-up for many more weeks, I got that welcome itch to be in my backyard.
I nearly blew my knee out desperately trying to turn my compost. The frozen mass of egg shells, chicken poop, coffee grounds and leaves was unyielding despite my best efforts. I cleaned out the coop, made bread and drank coffee.
Everywhere I glance, signs of spring abound.
More eggs.
Clem’s neck is fine. She moulted and got all scraggly and way more awful looking and now her shiny new feathers perk her right up. The hens are loving the warmer, longer days as evidenced by increased egg production and clicking of hen heels. We will be adding two more chicks to our urban flock this spring (don’t tell Andy).
Crumbly, melty ice.
Peek-a-boo green.
Box elder bugs in my house.
Hands without mittens.
Kitties venturing outside.
Wheel barrow tracks in mud.
Next comes seed ordering, rain barrel installing and bare leg running. Yay spring.
49 Comments
so many signs … but the boxelder bugs (or BUD!!! in cora-speak) NEVER stopped around here this year. ugh.
we had a few days of spring glimpses and then snow on friday. funny. i like the snow more when i know it’s on it’s way out.
i miss my sandals.
I am so ready for spring too sweetie…kinda hard for me to envision as I just did my first solo run with the snow blower to remove the newly fallen’ 6″ of snow here. I have to remind myself IT is only February. I did meet a sweet lady who invited me to come and dig up as much glorious Pampas grass from her yard that I wanted….so I will call on you, since you graciously volunteered and your keen eye to help me design my ornamental grass burm.
Love these photos! So glad Clem is perfectly coiffed once again…I do love redheads!…..how do hens click their heels?! I hope to visit you soon and chase Margot’s sweet bare legs around your yard! Enjoy your Monday.
xoxo, Mom
Box elder bugs. I hate them. HATE them. (Is there a way to get rid of them? Our entire town is literally plagued with them.)
Box elder bugs are a nuisance but as far as I know they are harmless. Super annoying though. I agree.
A few years back, I did research on how to deter them without killing them and can’t find a dang thing, so we coexist with our bugs year round after they make their way into our house every fall.
For some reason I just can’t bring myself to ever smoosh one as he crawls across our kitchen counter…I even give them water. It is probably crueler because I am sure they die at some point over the winter. Anywho, box elders. Maybe I was one in my former life.
I love that Bug is STILL holding onto the maraca–how many months has it been?
I continue to torture myself by reading my old garden journals and estimating early and late dates for Spring’s arrival. I could see crocus blooms in 4 weeks, or 8. It just depends….
I’m so looking forward to spring that it’s making me incredibly anxious! I was super excited the other day when I discovered several crocus’s attempting to push their way through the ground, only to have my excitment crushed by the layer of snow I woke up to the next day 🙁
I’m so excited for spring. We had a nice warm day a few weeks ago (I even harvested spinach from my garden) but this morning there is once again several inches of snow on the ground. Spring will still be a few weeks or months away here in NE Ohio.
I woke up this morning with the same idea – to search for signs of spring. In Portland, we have a leg up on you in Montana. But we miss out on the big Montana sky.
I also wanted to let you know that my grandfather was named Clement and called Clem. I think it is a great name for a chicken. No offense, Grandpa.
this post freaks me out about moving to maine! i biked to work today and was a little warm when i got there. i fear winter!
Hi there – I found your blog a few weeks ago while scouring the internet for chicken blogs, as I am in the beginning stages of keeping chickens myself. Since then, I have gotten hooked, and I went back through and read the whole thing from the beginning! Anyway, I have a chicken question for you: you mention that your chickens love to be scratched, which I have read and heard everywhere, but my chicks won’t let me touch them at all. How did yours get used to it? Any tips? I am worried that I am somehow developing unsocial chickens and they will stay that way!
My blog is only about chickens (I have plans to do ones about gardening and cooking too but we’ll see), and is probably overly-detailed and boring for someone who has already gone through it, but it is here if you’d like to check it out (lots of pics if nothing else): http://lisahaschickens.wordpress.com
Bare leg running INDEED!
I ran in tights again this Saturday and it sucked. I hate long pants. I am ready for shorts.
Your chickens are looking hot.
it’s funny but I read the same thing from all these days. We all love those sunny days and want the spring come soon.
Thank you so much for your response to my chicken question! It definitely gives me hope. I was a little sad because the lady who split the chick order with me already has chicks that like to be held. But, she is retired and can spend all day every day with them, which probably makes a big difference. I do my best, which isn’t too bad since I work from home!
Anyway, while reading your blog, I had a thought about a book you should read if you haven’t already. I would guess you have, but if not, I think you would really enjoy it. It is called Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. It is the true account of how she moves with her husband and two daughters to an old farm in rural Virginia and tries to live and eat as locally as possible – gardening, canning, chickens, turkeys, etc. It also has lots of great research and is very informative.
Thanks again for your response! I will continue to follow your blogs 🙂 You do a great job with them 🙂
oh and you might also enjoy “Buffalo for the Broken Heart” by Dan O’Brian. One of my favorites – he talks about his journey in changing his Black Hills, SD cattle ranch into a Buffalo Ranch and the effect it has on the ecosystems on his property. It’s a great read and reads like fiction – the buffalo all haVe personalities, etc. Fantastic book. I buy all my buffalo meat from him – http://www.wildideabuffalo.com
Oh we are all so ready for spring!
Judy, bug will not let go of that maraca. In fact it broke and I ordered an entire band set because that is the only way to get that particular maraca because others won’t do. SO, now she has two. Little music maker. Love it.
I sat out on our deck on Saturday afternoon, just soaking up the sunshine. My friend Becky came over and we plotted gardens and drank coffee. It was fabulous and mad me so excited for spring in a new house. However, our yard is a giant mud hole right now from neglect. Blech!
I found your blog from Paige Green’s site and read it from start to finish. We know Arann too and my son Grady is his biggest fan.
We’re also getting chickens this Spring and I plan on checking out the books you mentioned. I am also starting a garden and was very inspired by your words and images. We live in Valley Ford, CA and the population is approx. 126.
Thanks for sharing yourself, your work, your home with me on your blog. You seem to have a very beautiful life.
Spot on with this write-up, I really feel this site requirements a lot more consideration.
Hi Dig: I heard about your blog from Jean Albus. Love your shots of life in Missoula winter. Will go look at your Etsy shop. I was there for the condom-dress-wearing show that night. Were you one of the moms with a baby? Anyway, it was a hoot. I’m a Missoula blogger too. Come check mine out if you like. Look forward to coming back.
sallymandy
thebluekimono.blogspot.com
I got a couple of seed catalogs in the mail and this sunshine is making me so excited for a “real” garden this summer. Hope the rest of your week was good!
Hi!
Thank you so much for your lovely comment on my blog. I really loved everything thing about my wedding day… if that wasn’t obvious. 🙂
Like I said to Kelle, can I be your blog stalker? Of course, I mean it in a fun blog nice prerson way.
I am loving the aprons and the kiddie skirts. Can you send orders to HI and MI?
Hip: Let’s get together and talk seeds! It’s days like today that make me swoon for sowing seeds.
Looooove some of these photos of the eggs, chickens, etc. How about a couple of new postcard series: “garden,” “farm” and “bug” (insect, not cute baby!)
cheap replica watches
replica Montblanc
movado replica
ebel watch for sale
Rolex watch for sale
replica Rolex Day Date
Ferrari replica
Tiffany & Co Loving Heart Earrings
Christian Louboutin Lolo Ballerina Pump
Christian Louboutin Champagne Chiffon Ambrosina Pump Black
Christian Louboutin Rolando Hidden Platform Pump Suede Black
Christian Louboutin Eugenie blue
Burberry replica handbags
Cartier replica handbags
Celine replica handbags
Chanel replica handbags
Chloe replica handbags
Coach replica handbags
Dior replica handbags
Dolce & Gabbana replica handbags
Dooney & Bourke replica handbags
What’s up, just wanted to tell you, I enjoyed this post. It was funny. Keep on posting!
Hi. I wanted to thank you for the great details youve posted on your internet site. I will definitelycome back to check it out again and have subscribedto your RSS feed. Have an excellent day. windows 7 key http://windows7keycode.webs.com/
Has anyone used Streamtorrent as their peer to peer application? Any comments about it?
auto insurance quotes 8[ cheap car insurance lrxgn cheapest auto insurance 919 affordable health insurance 234
There are many beautiful women in the world, in the end the countrys beauty which is most compelling? I recently found a cell phone a lot of beautiful sites, I share this web site points everyone.Hot internet marketers Free Pics
Hello!ha ha ha side effects , nexium.cheap nexium , cheap clomid , purchase cialis , cialis side effects ,
Thank you so much for the post. mersin web tasar?mOto kiralamada birinci tercihiniz adana oto kiralama. mersin ara? kiralamaNice post 😉 keep goingadana rent a car
Sorry to be off topic, but I like your posts and I wanted some feedback for my blog. I have a hard time writing, but I do want to share my experiences. Am I stuck between a rock and a hard place? Or should I just do it?
magnificent.article, would love to read a bit more.
Oferte low cost pentru vacante in Turcia, oferte de turism pentru o vacanta reusita la cele mai bune conditii in Turcia
Hey very nice blog!! Man .. Beautiful .. Amazing .. I will bookmark your blog and take the feeds also
Hello, I just wanted to take some time today to make a comment and say I have really enjoyed reading your blog. Thanks for all your work!
And Nutrition Do, A Magnum no?Number the legitimate, a social imperative.Releases On the, of ones ignorance.Learn something new loan modification made easy, be the Vivadi feeling of choking.Your local insurance, read cover-to-cover in.,
Youareawesome! This blog is so excellent. I certainly hope a lot more people browse this and get what youre declaring, cause let me tell you, its crucial stuff. I never wouldve thought about this this way unless Id run into your weblog. Thanks for posting it. I hope you have great accomplishment.
it’s definitely an awesome feeling
Good post, Id thank to admin becaus ive found many interesting knowledge. Keep it going! :). Bye!:)
Pupils which are undergoing homeschooling may additionally elect to go on arranged fieldtrips alongside with other kids who’re also staying homeschooled.
Hey, nice blog with good info. I really like coming back here often. There?s only one thing that annoys me and that is the misfunctioning of comment posting. I usually get to 500 error page, and have to do the post twice. – Don’t improve it into a flop! – Samuel Goldwyn 1882 – 1974
Hey could I quote some of the content from this entry if I link back to you?
ha ha ha kosten cialis levitra einnehmen cialis original cialis
The good vibe for everybody.Problems of health blogging me at home (for the moment) I take of come here, participate a little good grow has all !
Nice job on the pic
hair-free skin with six sessions of IPL E-light laser hair removal at Skin Like Silk – Save 86% Skin Like Silkvoucher deal. Unwanted body and facial hair has been a huge social and emotional concern for men and women for centuries.