my winter friend came for a visit again last night, in fact it’s still visiting. it feels less like a friend though this morning. you see i take a lot of comfort when i look at the calendar and see that spring is ‘officially’ here. this time of year can always be a bit tortuous for the spring/summer enthusiast. nearly each day greets us with a little rain/sleet/snow/wind/hail/sun and often all of the above yet i can’t help but watch for a receding snow/ice line. lately i’ve been letting my chickens free range and with each new day they are drawn to the small areas that are opened up to them…those newly opened areas encourage me to get out my seed packets and plot my garden but when i look at the garden it is still covered in a heavy layer of snow and ice.  [sigh]  it’s ok…this too shall pass…it always does.

the finch, chickadees and red-winged black birds don’t slow down at all. their songs are of spring.

yesterday i purchased the ‘perfect ingredients’ [so they say] for a new soil recipe to make soil blocks for my garden seeds. the snow cannot deter me from getting those made for new seedlings to ‘spring’ forth. i wish i could bottle up some of my emotional energy for gardening that i have right now to get me through the hard work that summer really brings. i just can’t wait to get my toes and fingers dirty but i must say, i fizzle…each year brings a determination to do better. truth be told:: it’s the weeds…they are my joy suckers… therefore, life suckers!  [what can i say]

for now, we will keep the fire stoked and i will make allowances for this fresh blanket to bring comfort as i get ready for a gathering of gals to celebrate spring and friendship this afternoon.  we’ll sip tea, exchange seed packets and talk of gardening with some special tips slipped in for herb gardening.

when our spring weather arrives my momentum of energy will allow for productive energy. i can feel it generating!