Snow Days

We finally managed some snow. Shimmering powder. Being born and raised in WA I am used to the icky wet stuff. While it lends itself nicely for the making of jolly snowmen, it's plain ole' wet. The 6" we had last week was like powdered sugar. Ruby Mae was the only hen brave enough to "wet her feet" so to speak. The rest of the hens refused to leave the chicken coop...that is until a path was cleared for them with a snow shovel. The things some people do for their animals. ;-)

Speaking of animals. I have no idea how many times I walked past this fleece and never noticed the dog. He knew where to go to find warmth.

Despite freezing temps, snow, and now rain, I have been spending time pounding out garden details. This is the first year that I'm attempting to keep records of our vegetable gardens. Generally I plant with only the awareness of x shouldn't go next to y because it will cast too much shade. This year, gasp, the garden beds are actually drawn out. Seriously! Once planting time begins, I'll be able to go out to different beds (hopefully 10 in all) and plant. I decided that for maximum yield, it was high time that I keep records, amend the soil according to what has grown in particular areas, ensure that I don't replant something in a place where it was grown the season before and monitor the amount of sun and average temp of each bed. Speaking of gardening, I do believe it's time to get my broccoli seeds planted and hope that I'll have many transplants in the next 4-6 weeks.

Girlies Weekend

This was my Bess with one of the triplets she bore that year.

Little Miss and I headed south Friday evening as soon as the Mister was home from work. Just me and my girl. The excitement of an evening with her (and her excitement of a hotel stay) and a morning shearing sheep filled us with glee. Farm Girl was very clear that she wanted to play Sorry on the hotel bed when we got in. Saturday morning she and I headed to the farm to watch the shearing. Being me, I left the camera in the truck. While the shearer was hired, I was all too happy to help keep track of tag numbers and climb fences to grab sheep and keep them where they were supposed to be. I proudly walked into Safeway with sheep crud, lanolin, and dirt on my pants. Being at the farm was inspiring and convicting. Watching Farm Girl do what she could on the sheep farm and witnessing her immediate help with chores was more than I had thought would happen and yet at the same time is exactly what I had hoped would happen. When we had begun or journey towards home, I asked her if a farm was still what she wanted. Her answer was a resounding "yes" and she specifically wants a sheep farm. She could do it. If ever there was a soul to join me on my quest for sheep, she's it.

Today was beautiful. No, not the kind of beautiful that allows for gardens like the picture above. It was the kind of beautiful that allows one to remember that winter is not forever. The kind of day that allows a body to get outside and begin to prep for the coming spring and summer. The kind of day that fosters dreams and aspirations. Big dreams are being dreamed up right here in Plum House (so dubbed by Farmgirl). Plans of dinner on the back patio graced with the heady scent of honeysuckle. A dinner that is created from a new kitchen garden off the patio. Last year we managed to create 4 large raised gardens, added 2 types of berries to our plot of land and a couple plum trees. Chickens also became part of our daily routine and have supplied us with countless eggs. This year will be no different. There are more trees to plant, more berry plants to nurse, new gardens to create and evenings filled with laughter while we sit and relax in the calm that comes from a hard day's work and dreams fulfilled.

*just because the little miss (aka farmgirl) has dubbed our home Plum house does not in anyway give us the idea that she is a dreamer, schemer and romantic at heart

That's my girl!

Who else but my daughter would be excited about a sea of a freshly washed fleece lying in front of the space heater? She is most definitely a farm girl/crafter in the making. So much so how will she and her Mamma spend a "girls" day together? Heading to a farm to watch the sheep shearing.

A journey may change your location,

but a process changes you.

~ Gary Heavin