February Farm Diary: Transitions are Tough

Over the weekend, my crocuses put on a show.  They were bright as the sunshine.  

Saturday was cooler, but the sky cleared and it was a beautiful spring-like day. 

Transitions are tough.  Just ask Mother Nature! 

Last week, we went from 70 and thundershowers on Thursday, to 60 and blustery (a taste of March) on Friday, to cool and pleasant on Saturday, to snow showers on Sunday!  

Spring is on the way, but winter isn't giving up easy.  It happens every year about this time, but I'm always amazed at the variety of weather we can have.  Thank goodness, we haven't had much flooding.  Last year, it was one round after another.  

Also noted during the warm days: a first lunch on the porch, a first morning coffee on the porch, a first bouquet of daffodils picked, and the first sounds of spring peepers!  All are some of my favorite things, but they are not happening right now, as I type at my desk and glance out on occasion to watch the snow fly.  

We made good use of the warm days though.  I cleaned up the Blackstone, and I'm looking forward to the first cookout of the year, which might happen the next time it warms up! 

I continued with my flower bed clean-ups and in the process came away with a few mosquito/bug bites, a seasonal first that I'm not a fan of. 

On Saturday, the first my hubby had been off work for weeks, we were very productive around the farm.  We took down and rolled up fence wire in preparation for a new fence, which is easier said than done. Untangling fencing is a chore! Then we moved a stack of lumber in the barn lot, cleared off a section of the lot to park other equipment, hauled loads of stuff to the burn pile, and generally tidied up over there.  

I cut vines and briars off the bank where I have daffodils coming up by the branch, and I raked all the mess up. I'm excited to see my flowers blooming beside the water.  

I know I'm a little weird, but it's the simple things that excite me.  

On Sunday, we went out for lunch, picked up a few groceries, and visited with Robin's mom.  Winter is especially tough on older folks who don't get out much when it's cold and icy.  They have to be so careful about falls--it causes a lot of anxiety and isolation.  

Despite the cold, it was a pretty day, watching snow showers play peek-a-boo with blue skies and sunshine, which created interesting light and shadows on our beautiful Kentucky hills.  

I'll be glad for the next warm-up though! 

Red Lick Valley is beautiful any time of year, even on a wintry day.