We had such a mild winter this year that spring seemed to arrive almost before we were ready for it. We got only dustings of snow, and even seemed to have some dry sunny periods earlier. The grasses are certainly a bit ahead of normal as well, and are many are already seeding.
A few weeks ago everything was in bloom. Now we are still enjoying the later flowers, but the evenings when the air smelled so sweet from the fruit blossoms in the orchard have passed. While we love the weather that makes it easy to spend the day outside, we are savoring the nights when the air smells of rain and welcome the extra water, especially as we are planting the little trees who need it.
The chickens started laying again just after solstice as usual, but this year there were only one or two days when they stopped again due to cold. The alpacas and chickens are both enjoying the fresh greens, and our first two broody hens have had successful hatchings of peeps that have added greatly to the cuteness on the farm. They definitely are loving the warm weather and sunshine. It does feel good.
Deek didn't really mind staying in when it was raining. Or sunny.
We had an amazing double rainbow over our home one sunny, rainy day:
We could actually see the end of it in our driveway:
Down by the stream in the sun before the leaves grow to shade it:
Mama Hen with her peeps:
Craig with the peonies in full bloom:
Tiny crawdad being fierce:
Tanya with two late hatchers. Our second broody (and ambitious) hen hatched 10 on her own, but was sitting on more so we brought them in to help 4 more hatch, then return them under their Mama once they were vigorous enough:
Peeping away, slowly working its way out:
Second mama of the year, keeping her eyes in 14 places at once:
Cool spider:
Al and Paco enjoying free ranging in the orchard:
Smile!
Lovely little blooms:
A few weeks ago everything was in bloom. Now we are still enjoying the later flowers, but the evenings when the air smelled so sweet from the fruit blossoms in the orchard have passed. While we love the weather that makes it easy to spend the day outside, we are savoring the nights when the air smells of rain and welcome the extra water, especially as we are planting the little trees who need it.
The chickens started laying again just after solstice as usual, but this year there were only one or two days when they stopped again due to cold. The alpacas and chickens are both enjoying the fresh greens, and our first two broody hens have had successful hatchings of peeps that have added greatly to the cuteness on the farm. They definitely are loving the warm weather and sunshine. It does feel good.
Deek didn't really mind staying in when it was raining. Or sunny.
We had an amazing double rainbow over our home one sunny, rainy day:
We could actually see the end of it in our driveway:
Down by the stream in the sun before the leaves grow to shade it:
Mama Hen with her peeps:
Craig with the peonies in full bloom:
Tiny crawdad being fierce:
Tanya with two late hatchers. Our second broody (and ambitious) hen hatched 10 on her own, but was sitting on more so we brought them in to help 4 more hatch, then return them under their Mama once they were vigorous enough:
Peeping away, slowly working its way out:
Second mama of the year, keeping her eyes in 14 places at once:
Cool spider:
Al and Paco enjoying free ranging in the orchard:
Smile!
Lovely little blooms:
