Spring Walk

I can’t help but be drawn outside on the first warm spring days. I’d rather get up really early or stay up late after the sun has gone down to do my work than stay inside during the most beautiful part of the day. Remember our fall and winter walks together? How would you like to come outside and walk with me as I spend some time with the girls in the beautiful creation?

First we have to stop and visit my favorite tree in the front yard. It only blossoms this brightly for about 3 or 4 days, then the blossoms fade to a dull pink. We don’t visit for too long because the bees aren’t very friendly!

Iliana pauses to drink in the sweet fragrance

Abigail takes one of the thousands of dandelions that dot our yard and helps some seeds begin their journey.

The girls love a cozy corner, and I catch them peeking out at me from one.

Abigail shows me how her little sunflower plant is starting to pop out of the dirt.

As we come up through the front yard toward the goat barn, we walk nice and close to the lilacs…breathing in….breathing in…

 Stopping to rest in the shade, the girls play peek-a-boo

Abigail fills her lungs with the fresh air while Little Guy grazes.

Where will you find me at 7:00AM every morning?
In my cozy little milking corner in the barn

We walk past Rex who is enjoying the spring breeze

Abigail looks down into her bucket full of treasures…

…near some old abandoned birdhouses.

Time to walk Rex and check on the chickens…

It’s a bit of a walk down to the green door…

Abigail’s Chicken Report: “I think one of the hens has gone broody!”

Time to play under the apple trees for awhile.
Iliana loves to climb the ladder.

My girls are growing so big – I can’t believe it!

The apple trees are just about ready to burst into their white blooms…

Abigail wants to touch the sky!

On our way back, we let the chickens out to run around and scratch. Then we dash back to the house before the rooster decides to chase us!

Rarely can I start out for a walk around my backyard in a bad mood and return in the same spirit. Seeing the wonder and beauty in the creation around me always puts things into perspective. People often comment to me that “the country is such a great place to raise children“, but you know what? I think that living in the country is great for adults, too! Being close to the natural world teaches many lessons and brings much joy.

Thanks for joining us on our spring walk!

Farmers

Early in the morning hours, before the girls even rise, there’s important farm work to be done with Daddy…

(Notice how Jonathan keeps his hand on his sippy cup just like Daddy does on his cofffee. )

Here the two farmers quietly peruse used farm equipment, with Jonathan providing appropriate sound effects (“vroom, vroom!”) when necessary. I’d better not disturb their hard work!

What a mess!

When both Abigail and Iliana were around one year old, the only finger foods they were allowed to eat were dry and clean ones, like Cheerios, bread chunks, cheese chunks, etc.

Either I’m becoming more laid back as mom or I’m just getting lazy.

Take a look:

Yes, I knowingly let Jonathan feed himself turkey, mashed potatoes with gravy, stuffing, broccoli, a biscuit and pumpkin pie (complete with whipped cream) last night.

Scary.

Brrrr….it’s cold

Tell me, are you a person who likes to spend time OUTSIDE during the winter or do you prefer to enjoy your winter weather from INSIDE?

I used to prefer to be exclusively INSIDE during the winter, but I’m actually starting to appreciate and enjoy the unique aspects of the outdoors in wintertime (but really only because I’ve been forced to).

Being outside when it’s so cold is not only refreshing, but it makes the coming in and curling up in a warm spot all the more wonderful. I’m sure that I’ll spend a good share of my time this weekend indoors with my stack of new library books that includes Animal Farm, Cheaper by the Dozen and The Private World of Tasha Tudor.

Have a wonderful weekend, whether you are indoors or out!

Picture: The girls and Rex have fun scaling our snow “mountains”

Winter Walk

Yesterday was such a beautiful sunny winter’s day, that I could not help but bring my camera outside with me as I walked.

Whenever I grab my camera on an ordinary day, Dan usually laughs at me and wonders what I could possibly have in mind to photograph. After all, I’ve walked the same paths in the backyard hundreds of times - what could possibly be different about them today?

I have no real knowledge of photography. That’s probably why my pictures don’t ever turn out how I envision that they will. Even so, it’s so fun for me - it’s my playtime.

Taking pictures causes me to look at things in different ways as I immerse myself in the surrounding creation. I look up-close at things that I would normally pass by. And even if my less-than-up-to-date camera cannot capture the image exactly as I see it, my mind captures it and stores it away.

Care to join me for another walk? It’s very cold, so I hope that you are dressed warmly. Winter walks are, to me, some of the most strangely beautiful ones. The silence is palpable. Except for the  occasional rooster crow, the birds are silent. The hum of the insect world has ceased. The wind blows through empty branches instead of rustling leaves. I hear the crunch of snow with each and every step I take. The sunlight sparkles and I’m amazed that it can be brighter outside during the coldest part of the year than it is during the warmest.

Ok, my walking companion is waiting eagerly to get started, so I’d better stop talking…

I never get tired of the simple beauty of icicles, do you?

Oh, look! Some deer visited last night,

 To me, these needles look draped in snowy blankets:

I wonder what wildlife has made a snug home
in those evergreens over there…

Seedpods droop sadly, having missed their autumn flight: 

 I pause in the woods, now transformed into a cathedral of white. 
The creek is almost frozen through. 

On our way back from the creek, my eye catches the sleeping
beauty - our garden – quietly awaiting spring’s return

And to think that if I didn’t have any farm chores, I would still be in my warm house, missing all this beauty (like I did last year)!

Thanks for joining me!

The North Wind Doth Blow

“The north wind doth blow,
And we shall have snow,
And what will the dormouse do then,
Poor thing?
Roll’d up like a ball,
In his nest snug and small,
He’ll sleep till warm weather comes in,
Poor thing.

 - from The North Wind Doth Blow

The snow has already arrived on our farm and oh, how I wish that I could curl up nice and warm like the mouse in the nursery rhyme! Unfortunately, there are chores to be done on even the coldest of days, and therefore I reluctantly venture outside each morning. However, if you happen to visit my home this weekend, this is where you will find me once the chores are done:

“roll’d up like a ball, in a place snug and small”

Have a cozy weekend with your families, dear friends!

Look Out!

At 10 months, Jonathan has decided that he wants to get moving!

Rainy Day Fun

We were surprised that we felt the effects of the hurricanes even as far north as we are. It was warm and rainy here for 48 hours straight over the weekend. After being inside for the first half of the monsoon, as we jokingly called it, the girls just had to get out!

Can you ever remember playing in the rain as a child? Do you ever wish that you could do it as an adult?