wordless wednesday

~~~~~

the week past

The first thing I do when I step outside in the morning:

open the Poultry Palace, greet the flock, and give them a bowl of clean water. Nearly every day this past week, including today, that has meant first thawing the ice from their water bowl so I can clean and refill it. Winter is certainly tarrying this year.

The snowfall lasted a few days, gradually melting.

From way across the paddock,
Fern and Tansy saw me give Betula a peanut.
They came a-running! Ears flying!

When the snow was almost gone, we had hail.

Twice in one day.

But between the hail showers, there was a bit of blue sky:

I've been making an effort to get out in the woods with Piper on as many days as possible. With the cashmere combing on top of regular chores, most of my "upright and active" time is spent in the barn and paddocks every day. The rest of the time I am, to be honest, quite tired, but I feel it's important that Piper has an interesting life. I don't want her to have to snooze her days away on what she now believes is Piper's Couch Exclusively. (Seriously. You should see her face if I sit down at one end. Imagine having someone reeking of pot sit down next to you on public transportation when you are on your way to a business meeting. The look on your face? That's the look on Piper's face. A bit pained. A bit uneasy. "This is so Not Right.")

Anyway, once I rouse Piper from her couch and jingle the car keys, she is rarin' to go. We usually visit our favorite walking area and trails, and if you've been following my blog for a while (thank you) you may recognize certain trees and stones and views. Of course, there is also a lot of this sort of image:

So much happens at ground level in the woods.

This woodland is about two miles from home. Time was when we would have walked there, then "gone for a walk," then walked home. Haven't done that in a long time. Piper would probably be up for it, but I have to be realistic and would rather reserve my limited energy for the woods.

We usually walk on trails; at least I do. If there is no one else around, I let Piper run and she makes big loops through the woods, up hill and down, then catches up with me. Or backtracks to me. I call her to me now and then, to keep her mind on "our" walk. If I have to call her twice and she hasn't come, I go get her and quietly put her back on lead, then immediately give her a simple command - like "Sit" or "Down" - so that I can praise her for something right away. I don't ever want the lead to seem like a punishment.

This was quite a long walk, though a bit cold and gloomy,
and Piper was off-lead for nearly all of it.

Yesterday we took another long walk, and we both went off-trail. This area consists of many slopes, with a series of small wetlands and connecting drainages.

I felt suddenly transported back to the wooded area I spent hours in as a child. The inland version of tidal pools. Magical.

 Yesterday was an ideal opportunity for exploring little streams and seeps, because the Rubus hasn't leafed out yet with its millions of grabby new thorns, and the biting bugs aren't yet active. I estimate that this glorious state of affairs will last about another five minutes, so no time to waste!

All those vertical stalks are Rubus.
In a very short time, it will be a waist-high mass of thorns.
Even if I wanted to walk through it, I couldn't take Piper there.

It's sunny today, and I'm hoping to head out again this afternoon, for at least a short walk. I may bring a snack, just in case.

Yesterday Piper and I were in full agreement about the lack of planning on my part that meant we had water but no food.

More snow is predicted this coming week.

Here, quick: let's look at something green:

I hope you've had a good week!

~~~~~

good

morning!

~~~~~

sunday snapshots

6AM: a few inches of fresh snow

9AM: snow stopped.

Sunny.

Very cold.

2PM: bitter cold, constant wind.

Still blowing at nightfall.

A full day of snow predicted for tomorrow.

Appropriate action has been taken:

Also, the last gallon of 2015 cider is thawing in the kitchen.

Preparations are complete.

~~~~~

thanks so much

A huge "Thank You!" to everyone who commented or sent an email about the windowbox project! I feel so lucky to have readers who take the time to ponder these things, and then write about their experiences and their ideas for what would or wouldn't work well here. Thank you!!

It's extremely helpful hearing about things like fiberglass boxes that last for decades - who knew? - and using plastic liners inside wooden boxes - which never even crossed my mind! - and the need for daily watering because even in plastic planters the soil may dry out more quickly than I expect and the heat of the sun on the boxes may damage the plants' roots. This last in particular may seem obvious to most of you - except KB, who has a similar closed-canopy situation at her woodsy home as I do here - but having to watch out for the effects of too much sun on the plants will be quite a new experience for me!

I'm still looking at pictures and measuring and deciding, so if anyone feels the urge to add to the comments, please do! With so many excellent ideas and options, I really don't think there can be anything but a satisfying outcome. The project should be underway next week; I'm trying to coordinate with my hired helper to be here one day for other tasks, as that way there'd be an extra hand within hailing distance for windowbox assistance if needed.

~~~

And as I've continued to ponder plants and planters,

there's still a lot of this going on every day:

Turns out you can do quite a lot of garden planning

while combing a goat or two.

We've reached the time of year when things start happening quickly...one day, the slightest tint of green amidst the high grey branches of the maples, and the next morning the air is absolutely full of birdsong. I saw the first flycatcher in the South Paddock yesterday; hopefully they will build a nest under the workshop eaves again and I will see them swooping to and fro when I am filling the water buckets. Today I saw nine goldfinches at the feeder - a record! Several are in the process of trading their serious Winter outfits for a new Spring wardrobe.

We know what that feels like, don't we, Azalea?

"I'm about halfway done with shedding my cashmere!
It's tremendously hard work, but I don't complain.
Just having a bite of hay to keep my strength up."

In fact, it's taking a chance, but this weekend I'm going to shed my own Winter coat. I'll take my ancient calf-length down-filled barn coat off the peg by the back door, mend this year's rips, wash it, dry it in the fresh air, and put it carefully away for the season.

~~~

Piper and I have been going for our usual short walk/wander most days when it isn't actually raining. Everything is right on the brink of massive change; you can feel it in the air and see it in tiny signs everywhere you look. On clear days, it would be hard to take a bad photograph.

Especially when you have the help of a dog like Piper, who has recently begun to insist on being self-walking.

She actually carried that retractable lead all the way out of the woods, walking about 20 feet in front of me the whole time. I think she's finally come up with a solution for a human who stops to take photographs too often. "Fine. I'll walk myself."

You go, Ms. Independence.

:) 

~~~~~