Monday, March 20, 2017

Happy Spring!


Dear Friends,

Spring is in the air! The hens are laying again, proving how interesting they can be. The hen in the top photo is Madeleine, who refuses to lay her egg in a nest box, but instead comes around to the front door, waiting until we notice. Evangeline usually finds her and sticks her in a small cardboard box with a gold ball in it, on top of the kitchen table. Madeleine happily sits there for up to two hours, until her egg is laid, and then she lets us know that she wants back out. Like I said, INTERESTING!

We've been enjoying the wild greens in the yard, along with goodies from the grocery store. This salad has dandelion, wild carrot, and speedwell greens, in addition to arugula and lettuce. Nothing brings a feeling of energy into the body like lots of fresh greens. They have a vitality to them, like nothing else, and are the perfect antidote to winter's heavy meals and lack of fresh air.



We've been studying birds lately, and thought it would be fun to have everyone make a different type of bird's nest in the backyard, to gain sympathy for how difficult it must be. It was quite an experiment, and everyone had a lot of fun.

Here we see the beginnings of the nest of a kiwi bird~


The completed nest.

~A robin's nest will be made on this platform,


The completed robin's nest.


And here a pair of eagles decided to use the picnic table as an eyrie.



This spring certainly has had its ups and downs as far as the temperature goes! It reminds us of this old Disney cartoon (from back when Disney was clean family enertainment)~


Love,

Marqueta

Saturday, March 11, 2017

I Wander'd Lonely As a Cloud


"I wandered lonely as a cloud
   That floats on high o’er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
   A host, of golden daffodils;"


Okay, so it's not quite a host, but our little daffodil patch has begun blooming, bringing a little sunshine to our hearts!

The crocuses are also making a show, although you about have to get down on your hands and knees to see them. :)


The lone trillium (the chickens killed its friends) is about to bloom as well, which means that morel mushrooms will be popping up in the woods.


Ground ivy is blooming, and its flowers have a sweet, dainty fragrance,



And the primrose on the dining table has inspired a beautiful nature journal entry by an older daughter~


It is snowing right now in our neck of the woods, and we are praying that the cold weather will spare our flowers, peas, and greens coming up in the garden!

Love,

Marqueta