March is blowing by with some sun and some rain and spring is officially here. My delight in the transition to spring always surprises me a bit. Its approach is subtle and I haven't yet tired of winters' grey cold when it starts, but suddenly I am delighted by the sun on my arms and the sweet smelling evenings. This is in contrast to summer when I find myself excitedly awaiting the start of cool and crisp at least a month before the heat abates.
This past weekend we spent a lot of time walking around and enjoying so much spring newness. Our early plum tree has burst into bloom and the forest floor is covered in fresh oxalis. The alpacas are enjoying young grass shoots in the pasture and the hens are laying eggs like crazy. At the same time I feel a bit melancholy as the new life of spring stands in sharp contrast to some of the old.
We had a changing of the guard as Friend Rooster dethroned Main Rooster as the head of the flock. Both are excellent roosters but Main Rooster had many years as alpha so it's been a rough adjustment for him. After about a week he's starting to be less dejected and seems to be settling into his new role. Friend Rooster fought long and hard to earn his new ranking and he is a good alpha rooster - big and strong and gentle with the hens, but it's hard not to feel a little bad for Main Rooster.
The other, heavier feeling comes from the very obvious old age of our now very old dogs. Deek will be 14 years old in a couple weeks followed by Tux in late July. Tux is somewhat smaller and still pretty spry, but only able to run with me for less than a mile and unwilling to stay out in the field working with Craig. Deek sleeps 22-23 hours a day and has a hard time getting up, but once out the door he does really well on his twice daily walk around the upper trails. Both are mostly deaf now.
This weekend was such beautiful weather that we took them down to the creek. Tux can do this easily although he doesn't really want to stay down at the water very long. For Deek, however, this hike was a challenge in places where he definitely struggled. There is one spot specifically where we cross a wet section on a balancy log and Deek's rear legs just sunk down into the mud. He was able to pull out and hike up with us, but it was hard for him and he was very tired afterwards.
We probably won't bring him down again to the stream, which he loves, until Craig lays a bridge that is easy for an old dog to cross. Meanwhile, the forest is swathed in newness as it wakes up from winter.
This past weekend we spent a lot of time walking around and enjoying so much spring newness. Our early plum tree has burst into bloom and the forest floor is covered in fresh oxalis. The alpacas are enjoying young grass shoots in the pasture and the hens are laying eggs like crazy. At the same time I feel a bit melancholy as the new life of spring stands in sharp contrast to some of the old.
We had a changing of the guard as Friend Rooster dethroned Main Rooster as the head of the flock. Both are excellent roosters but Main Rooster had many years as alpha so it's been a rough adjustment for him. After about a week he's starting to be less dejected and seems to be settling into his new role. Friend Rooster fought long and hard to earn his new ranking and he is a good alpha rooster - big and strong and gentle with the hens, but it's hard not to feel a little bad for Main Rooster.
The other, heavier feeling comes from the very obvious old age of our now very old dogs. Deek will be 14 years old in a couple weeks followed by Tux in late July. Tux is somewhat smaller and still pretty spry, but only able to run with me for less than a mile and unwilling to stay out in the field working with Craig. Deek sleeps 22-23 hours a day and has a hard time getting up, but once out the door he does really well on his twice daily walk around the upper trails. Both are mostly deaf now.
This weekend was such beautiful weather that we took them down to the creek. Tux can do this easily although he doesn't really want to stay down at the water very long. For Deek, however, this hike was a challenge in places where he definitely struggled. There is one spot specifically where we cross a wet section on a balancy log and Deek's rear legs just sunk down into the mud. He was able to pull out and hike up with us, but it was hard for him and he was very tired afterwards.
We probably won't bring him down again to the stream, which he loves, until Craig lays a bridge that is easy for an old dog to cross. Meanwhile, the forest is swathed in newness as it wakes up from winter.
Alpacas and chickens grazing in the field:
Alpacas watching our evening campfire:
I am not a good enough photographer to get a quality moon shot, but I like this one enough to share:
Chickens chickening under Friend Rooster's (big rooster in the upper right) watch:
Tux went swimming but Deek just smelled the smells:
Deek and Tux waiting to go back up from the creek:
Our very old man dog:
