I really did appreciate the snow storm that blew through the day before spring. We had to have at least one more. And I couldn't have asked for a more beautiful first day of spring. Fresh coat of snow, blue sky. The sight of it definitely made me stop and look hard, in case we don't see blue sky over snow covered ground til December.
I was thinking about this past fall, when the last of the corn and tomatoes were coming in, still fresh, and how I could hardly stand to magic them into winter stores. I'm going to try and look hard at all the sights of the growing season this year, all the way through to the end. I don't know if really taking in the growing season would manage to stave my current craving for all that is fresh and tender and bright, but I certainly mean to try. And perhaps that effort will ensure that our winter stores are bountiful enough to hold us through til the first spinach and scallions begin to grow again in our greenhouse in-when would that be? The spring of 2014. And I've gotten ahead of myself.
A few sights from the past couple weeks:
A craving for something sweet and familial: Banana bread. My mother's recipe. Can't make it quite like mama can, but it did satisfy many appetites here on the farm.
The big barn: This tiniest of calves is thriving now after entering the world on a very chilly March morning. Warm mother's milk and good care go a long way.
Early mud season: Our former driveway, now riverbed, now stream-way. It's frozen back up again now, but we're sure to have one more round with the mud.
Lincolnville Farmer's Market: The place to be for your Saturday morning cup of coffe, cup of soup, knitting tips, good food and good company. Join us this Saturday, and all Saturdays year-round from 9 to Noon.
Beech: I love how these young trees hold onto their leaves right up until new ones start to grow. They're beautiful and a warm reminder in the depths of winter that spring will come again.
And then there were two: We bid seven of our winter pigs a fond farewell last week. These last two will live out their final days in the very lap of pig luxury. Plenty of quiet, clean bedding, with no competition for food or water. No one is complaining, pigs nor people. A note for Lincolnville Farmer's Market goers, we will have fresh pork (read: no bacon or ham) this Saturday!
Growing pains: the wee chicks you saw in my last blog post are rapidly outgrowing their box in the bathroom. They took to the edges and now they're on to exploring the bathroom when we're out of the house. The last two days we've come home to a bird outside of the box, thoroughly exhausted from it's explorations of the great world. We're building them a bigger box tomorrow.
For the next post, forgive me for this: Make way for ducklings. Alot of 'em.