In the heart of winter, it's hard to even remember what the world felt like when it was warm and green. But slowly and inexorably the earth turns and the seasons begin to shift.
The temperatures have climbed up to the 60s!
This year, due to being over scheduled and overwhelmed, we decided to take off a year from maple syrup production. It looks like we picked the proper year for it because I think the season is going to be (sadly, for the producers) very short. The warm temperatures will make the trees get buds and the sap gets yucky. It gets a slimy look to it and a kind of nasty smell and that's the end of the season.
The red wing blackbirds are back and their familiar trill can be heard throughout the day. And I had heard that there were robin sightings, but didn't believe it until I finally saw some myself. The red breast of robins and their cheerful little chirps definitely mean spring is on it's way.
Then there's one final sign of spring. All the animals are shedding. Violet the goat, looks like a refugee from a yarn factory. She has long, angora-like fur and it comes off her in ropes. Yesterday, I gave Bandit a good combing and I think I could have made another horse out of the hair I took off him!
Happy, Happy Spring!
Awake, thou wintry earth -
Fling off thy sadness!
Fair vernal flowers, laugh forth
Your ancient gladness!
~Thomas Blackburn, "An Easter Hymn"
Now, I'm waiting for that one more wintery blast.......
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