A streak

The wind was whistling and the snow...SNOW...was darting around me as I headed out to close up the coop last night. The chickens greeted me en route, ever hopeful for just one more treat. They haven't remembered that the last toss of scratch for the day happens when all good chickens have returned to the roost at night.

As I entered the coop I heard a sound. Could it be? Was that a peep I heard? I peered into momma hen's nesting box and looking up at me was one tiny chick!

One year to the day after losing my grandad, we increased our occupancy count at the old farmhouse by one.

He was Lawrence, but he preferred Laur, and so this little chick, as long as he or she remains discernible from the rest shall be Laurie...a name well suited to whichever sex this little one reveals itself to be.

I wondered to myself this morning, how long ago it was since an animal was born here. Quite some time, I imagine.

Here's to the end of that streak.

~Be well friends!~

{this moment} - hide and seek

It's Friday and that means I'm joining Soulemama and others and with a single photo to capture a

moment from the past week that I want to savour and remember. What's your moment?

~Happy Friday Friends!~

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Also joining: Farmgirl Friday; Give Me Your Best Shot; Photostory Friday;
Fabulous Friday; Farm Photo Friday

This or That Thursday: 21st eDition

It is with deep regret that I come to  you with news of a heavy frost earlier this week.

Those magnolia blooms that were coaxed out of hiding far too early have seen better days.

Much better days.

But things are still greening up around these parts. Just the addition of green on the willows makes things look a little less barren looking.

Did you know willows are a wonderful source of pollen for bees. Me neither, but whoa Nelly they are bringing in lots of it right now.

We're still in waiting mode for chick arrival. I stayed home yesterday just in case the stork decided to arrive.

It was the only warm and sunny day forecasted this week. I figured that was a sign. Apparently sign language isn't my forte.

And where have I been the last few days?

Glad you asked.  I've been recuperating.

I ran my first race over the weekend and like my grandmother used to sing...

the old gray mare ain't what she used to be.

It was fun and just enough to keep me on track. I never pictured myself as a runner

but a family history of heart disease can make you do funny things

and for a day or two I felt like one of those frost-bruised mangolia blossoms.

A run yesterday cured what ailed me and now, how about a game of Where's Waldo, 

with a twist of where is Andrea?

~Happy Thursday Friends!~

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{this moment} - Spring Cleaning

It's Friday and that means I'm joining Soulemama and others and with a single photo to capture a

 moment from the past week that I want to savour and remember. What's your moment?

~Happy Friday Friends!~

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Also joining: Farmgirl Friday; Give Me Your Best Shot; Photostory Friday;
Fabulous Friday; Farm Photo Friday  



This or That Thursday: eDition 20/20

I continue to be astounded by this summer weather in March business. Watching a magnolia bloom in March is pure monkey business but other sightings in the yard seem, although slightly early, just what should be in store at the moment.

The spring glow of forsythia and the over night appearance of crocuses in the yard
 helped to smooth the waters of strangeness in my mind. It could also be the availability
 of evening light and outdoor subjects to photograph were also part of the solution.

Even if we've only just packed up our sugar shack/tent city and scrubbed clean the sap buckets for another year. Our haul this time around was much less than last year but, considering how much prices will likely skyrocket over the next twelve months, it is more valuable than ever before. Thank goodness for honey supplies.

Oh hello beauties; you're back!

We spent Saturday morning at our favourite bee supply store, where we had the owner's sole attention for almost two hours. It was heaven. We chatted up everything to do with bees and when it was all said and done, he showed us his son's sheep herd.

It's a wonder that I only came home with bee supplies. 

~Bee well friends!~

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March Magnolia

The magnolia is perhaps the most beautiful of flowers to appear

in our garden, with a scent beyond compare, but I I did a double

take last night as I glanced outside to see the silhouette of the

blossoms against the sunset and my heart cried, No!

I felt like these beauties are the princess in a fairy tale

tricked into trusting an evil enchantress disguised  as someone

 trustworthy and kind and that a happy ending isn't in the books.

Only time will tell how this fable will end.

~Be well friends~

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joining: Wordless Wednesday; Wordful Wednesday; Wordless/Wordful Wednesday; Wordless Wednesday but with words; Wordless Wednesday @ Naptime Momtog; Wordless Wednesday @ Nola Mommy; Wordless(ish) Wednesday; http://dagmarbleasdale.com/; http://kentweakley.com/blog/

In like a lion

I've read we should treat this unseasonably warm weather as a gift.
I've also read to never, ever trust March.

There's no denying that these exceptionally warm days have put
some spring in my step. What's not to like about sleeping with
the window wide open in March?

I also remember a heavy May frost two years ago that stunted
the growth of the leaves on all of the deciduous trees and
wielded a heavy sword against the strawberry crops.

Perhaps it's a cautious enjoyment with a little bit of  of head shaking
 thrown in, especially as we head for record setting temps in the high
twenties tomorrow. (Low eighties in Fahrenheit.)

In like a lion, out like June.


~Happy Spring Friends!~

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joining: Texture Tuesday, Sweet Shot Tuesday, Tones on Tuesday, and Show off Your Shot

We're Expecting!

THE EXPECTANT MOTHER

 

THE MIDWIVES

THE FATHER-TO-BE

Is it just me or does he look a bit shell shocked?

He ain't seen nothing yet!

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Now that we are safely into the second trimester, we're are delighted to

announce that we're expecting at Rural Revival Farm!

We're new at this chicken stuff, so it took us a few days to realize that we

had a broody hen on our hands but we wasted no time in tucking three eggs

under her, once we knew what the game was.

She has been a devoted mother, rarely leaving her post except for a brief foray

for scratch and water in the morning. Having read not to feed her while on the

nest, so that she is encouraged to get off and do her business, I still give her a treat

later in the day whenever the rest of the flock is having some. I can see she appreciates

 it even if she does wait until I have the left the coop before she partakes of the day's treat.

Eggs were placed under our Mama Hen on March 8th.

(A special day in our family!)

Hence, our expected due date is March 29th.

We're really not sure if we should be leaving the chicks with the hen once hatched,

either in a separate area with mama hen, or with the rest of the flock,

or remove them altogether and raise them in a brooder box.

Any suggestions, advice, or tips is appreciated.

~Be well friends!~

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{this moment} - finishing off

I'm linking to Soulemama for a Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savour and remember.

~Happy Weekending Friends!~

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Also joining: Farmgirl Friday; Give Me Your Best Shot; Photostory Friday;
 Fabulous Friday;  Farm Photo Friday 

This or That Thursday: the 19th eDition

My bones never steer me wrong.

Spring is here.

It takes a little adjusting to seeing ripples on the pond again. It takes no adjusting at all
to hanging sheets out on the line, flannel sheets no less. It's a rare and special treat to curl up in
bed on a Sunday night with a book and sweet smelling winter sheets.

The chickens have been displaying their natural surfing abilities as they stretch out one wing 

while coasting along the sun's rays and making the oddest cooing noises.

While the bees have just proven that they're still alive.

Whew!

I can not tell you how much of a burden has been lifted just knowing that they made it through

 their first winter. I did a quick hive inspection and there is more than ample honey stores

 available and these little ladies are no less than thriving. We may just have a hive split this spring.

These warm days also mean lots of play for a certain cat celeb around here.
I told her she was a famous putty tat after yesterday's post.

She just gave me this look.

~Happy Thursday Friends!~

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Anatomy of a Farm Cat

~Be well friends~

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joining: Wordless Wednesday; Wordful Wednesday; Wordless/Wordful Wednesday; Wordless Wednesday but with words; Wordless Wednesday @ Naptime Momtog; Wordless Wednesday @ Nola Mommy; Wordless(ish) Wednesday 

Tulip Tuesday

edited using Kim Klassen's 'just cause' texture

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Orange you glad Monday's over?

I sure am!

~Be well friends~

joining: Texture Tuesday, Sweet Shot Tuesday, Tones on Tuesday, The Creative Exchange and Show off Your Shot



Sugar Shack?

The mercury has been rising steadily the last few days, and we've been receiving

predictions of reaching 20C by Thursday. Stored sap will spoil at temperatures in that

 range, so the rush  is on to get what little we've been able to collect this year and turn it into syrup.

It was a beautiful weekend and there is much news regarding chickens and bees in these parts,

 but for today, how about a tour of our 'sugar shack'?

~Be well friends~

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{this moment} - Who's hungry?

Linking to Soulemama for a Friday ritual.

A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week

that I want to pause, savour and remember.

~Happy Friday Friends!~

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Also joining: Farmgirl Friday; Give Me Your Best Shot; Photostory Friday; Fabulous Friday

This or That Thursday: eDition 18

 

 

Since last Thursday, the pond has frozen and thawed more times than there are days 

of the week, temperatures have ranged from plus fourteen to minus fourteen Celsius while

we've had wind gusts that nearly toppled me over on one occasion only to be followed by days of soothing stillness.

Hello Spring.

 The good side to all of this is that we're going to have an early spring. I can feel it in

 my bones and I'm ready to get an early start on cold weather crops in the garden.

This near non-existent winter has taught me it's no fun to hibernate indoors 

if it's not snowy, blowy and cold outdoors. So while I don't feel I've had

the winter respite I needed, I'm more than ready for the outdoor season to begin.

 The downside to having such a rapid spring thrust upon us will be most noticeable in our pantry.

We're not likely to have a good maple syrup producing year. We haven't given up, we're doing

 our darnedest to make as much as we can, but it can be tricky business trying to collect sap when

 the wind steals your buckets and hides them in the swampy brush across the road. Tricky indeed.

And I may not be the only one itching to get outside, Ember is quite pleased about the 

recent turn in the weather; she's able to supervise the sap boiling and chase the chickens, when 

nobody is watching. And nobody is happier to have a red headed bully out of their hair then this little girl.

I know it's hard to tell, but this is her happy face!

~Happy Thursday Friends!~

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