Spring Keeps Springing

 

 

Short Stories

The sun tried to make an appearance just before setting tonight, but wasn't successful.

Then the mists rolled in.

And we lit a bonfire.

The end.

Sour Dough Loveliness

Finally after years of thinking "wouldn't it be nice to make homemade sourdough," I no longer have to wish or dream. It's a reality.

I always thought sourdough was very complicated and while there are a lot of details and some planning ahead, it isn't complicated and so worth the effort.

My dear friend, Krista, shared her recipe for baking the bread at a recent class I attended, along with enough starter to get me, well, started!

I didn't ask her whether I could share the recipe with you, so I won't do that here, but there are recipes for sourdough all over the internet. My recommendation would be to ask someone you know who bakes sourdough bread to share some of their starter and walk you through the finer points.

Oh, my. So yummy!

the starter with some additional water and bread flour added

the dough, ready to rise

forgot to take a picture of this dough all puffed up and fairly falling out of the bowl!

risen loaves

baked loaves

A Girl could Get Used to This

I've really enjoyed working in the garden these past days. The weather is so pleasant, with the exception of the whipping wind. But at least it's a warm wind. Past years when it has been cold and windy I would think twice before going outside to work. Being up on a hill with no protection~it can be brutal.

But, eventually you have to get out there and do what needs to get done. You're from Wisconsin after all: you're tough! Made it through the harsh cold, wicked winter--you can handle a bit of wind!

I had always worn that like a badge of pride: you toughed-out the winter, you've earned your spring.

And I have always enjoyed the changing seasons--each of them bringing something different to see, feel and hear--altering the landscape.

But after these two weeks of beautiful, sun-shiny days I am beginning to wonder if maybe, deep-down, I am a fair-weather kind of gal. Maybe moving south to a more temperate climate isn't such a bad idea. I mean, I don't really like to be out in the cold wintry weather--I like to see it from inside my cozy house.

I think of shedding all of those winter layers and heavy boots. No more shoveling and ice-scraping. No more driving on scary, ice-covered roads.

Warm weather brings a more carefree attitude to everything~less preparation, more spontaneity. Need to go out to the chicken coop? Slap on some shoes and head outdoors--no heavy coat, boots, gloves and hat. Anything you do outdoors requires far fewer garments. Think of the money we'd save on wardrobe alone!

My daughter is all for moving south. She just mentioned that she thought she might move to Florida when she gets older. 

But.

I wonder.

Would I miss winter?

Would I appreciate the beauty of spring--if you can even call it spring if there was no winter to precede it?

Maybe one positive aspect of living through a bitter, cold winter is the sheer joy of seeing nature' s bounty come to life again. Would I take that for granted if I lived in a milder climate? Would I revel in it? Or would it be just another day in utopia?

It's impossible to answer these questions, since I am not going anywhere.

and I know this: I would miss curling up with a book by the fire; winter bonfires and hot cider; the sound of the snowflakes as they fall on a mid-winter night; the full moon turning the snow-covered night into a shadowy mystical land.

The spring that follows a full winter brings an awareness that is often missing during the other days of the year.

Gratitude and hope.

It is no wonder our ancestors celebrated the winter solstice and the coming of the light. It is an affirmation of life itself.

I suppose folks in the south have their own kind of winter and spring.

I hope they do.

Cuz this feeling, this sense of being alive, is not to be missed.

The Circle of Life

We held an abbreviated funeral today for a teensy resident on our property, whose death remains a mystery.

I found him under the dried up remains of last year's asparagus fronds. 

At first I thought he was alive and hiding, but quickly realized that he was in fact no longer living. 

I called the kids to come and look.

It is so rare that you get to see a furtive critter like this up close. 

His wee little paws, delicate whiskers and silky fur.  His funny ears and smooth tail. 

He looks like he is sleeping.

I had thought the kids would be interested in looking at him (from a sciencey-kind of stand point) but Aidan just looked sad and Erica slapped her hands over her eyes.

So much for science.

So I asked them if they would like to bury him. 

Aidan suggested we choose a place where he wouldn't get dug up again and seemed concerned that he should also not be mown-over. Erica found a rock and inscribed the letters RIP.

They're nothing if not tender-hearted.

We said a few words~ like how cute he was and that we were

sad he had died. 

Then we placed him in the small hole and covered him over with dirt.

Erica placed her grave marker on top of the bare earth and that was that.

We went back into the garden and continued our clean-up and planting.

I am still puzzling over the mystery of his death. 

A tiny messenger~ giving pause to my day.

Reminding me~ do not take this life for granted.

March is a Lamb

I know this isn't really a news flash, since everyone seems to be enjoying the unseasonable warmth this year. March really seems to be coming in like a lamb. Let's hope it goes out like one, too!

We slept with our windows open the past two nights. Thankfully the kids and I washed and put in all of the screens or we would have been eaten alive by the mosquitoes, who also seem to be thriving in this weather. It seems so early to be keeping the windows open all night (and for mosquitoes). Well, it is early. But sooo enjoyable to listen to the frogs all night long and feel the soft breeze and be awakened in the middle of the night by a loud "meow"!

Yes, one of our kitties came right up to the bathroom window, which is at ground level on the north side of the house and started calling to us--probably she was leaving an offering from her nighttime hunt. I was asleep, but jolted awake immediately thinking "how did a cat get in the house?" The echo in the bathroom made it that much louder. Funny.

Three nights ago I woke up to flashes of light. Thinking perhaps it was the aurora I got up and looked out the window. It appeared to be lightning, but stars filled the sky and there was no thunder. I walked through the house looking out all of the windows and saw an amazing lightning show to the southwest. The frequency and brightness of the lightning indicated a very intense storm.I watched for awhile and went back to bed. I do love storms.

Our bulb flowers are coming up rapidly and the chickens are actually leaving the crocus alone, so that I have a few little spots of color in the lawn. We'll see how the tulips do--our chickens keep pecking at their tender green leaves~they aren't decimated and actually look better than in years past~ hopefully they will leave the flower petals alone.

HE fenced in our little flower garden and lots of things are greening up beautifully in there. The plants now have a fighting chance without the chickens strong claws digging them right out of the ground~now I just have to get the weeds out of their way and in a few months, it will be a beautiful spot on our property.

We got our seeds going again inside: tomatoes (eight varieties), four types of peppers, lots of herbs, all the brassicas (cauliflower, broccoli, etc), onions (definitely late to be starting these guys, but we'll do some sets, too), flowers and we started some celery for the first time.

We walked around the property last night as the sun went down and looked at what needs to be done--lot's of weeding and cleaning up. The garden has many dead plants that didn't get pulled out last fall--we ran out of time--broccoli plants, brussel sprouts, kale. On our wanderings we discovered something interesting~the kale overwintered. Well, a bit of it anyway--the plants themselves look completely dead, but growing out from a couple of them were some fresh green kale leaves. Remarkable. 

Lots to do on this little place, but plenty of time to do it.

Spring is such a joyful time to remember how much beauty there is in the world.

Morning Serenade

foggy morning
amplifies song
spring peeper
red-winged blackbird
sandhill crane
rooster bob

wake up to spring

Good Reads

What we're reading:

As you can see, we've been learning about the Titanic, Inventions, Genetics, Electricity and all things French.

And for myself:

I am weary.

I am weary of a world in which politicians jockey for votes. Or create mind-numbingly wasteful bills. Or create divisiveness in all of the work they do.

Why is there

so.

much.

hate?

Why do we tolerate it?

Is it okay to tell anyone else how to live their lives?
Even if we think we are doing them a favor?

Where is logic and middle-ground?

One of our esteemed senators has proposed a "wonderful" bill in Wisconsin. One that states single-parent homes are contributing factors in child abuse.

I am trying to figure this out.

For what reason would a person create this bill?

I am assuming that he created this bill out of a "concern" for the welfare of children.

But, what I'm really trying to figure out is how does this bill solve the problem about which he is supposedly so concerned?

Should all single parents now get married? Does that suddenly prevent any child abuse? And what if my spouse dies? Will I become an abusive parent? What about all of the abuse that occurs inside of two-parent households? Maybe we need a new bill for that?

Meanwhile, Wisconsin is the only state in the nation that hasn't had private-sector job growth.

But we're coming down hard on those single parents.

Real work is being done in Wisconsin, people.

Thinking about Gardening

This is a solar-lunar calendar. 

Apart from being quite beautiful to look at ~ a work of art, really ~ it also provides gardening advice.

Various dates are marked with symbols explaining when is the best time, or a good time, or a favorable time for certain gardening activities.

This particular calendar is made by these folks. They've been doing it for many a year and the calendars are always beautiful and creative. 

I have never followed a solar/lunar calendar for gardening ~ usually I'm just trying to get everything in before the end of June (grin).

But it is intriguing and I hope to follow it somewhat this year and see what magic happens in my garden!

Anyone out there ever follow a calendar like this for gardening? I'd love to hear how it seemed to affect your plantings.

Sunday Afternoon

For my birthday I received a sweet, yummy tea:

It is a wonderful tea--fruity with a hint of cinnamon and I find it perfect for an afternoon tea break. It has no caffeine, so it won't keep me up at night. And it's light, bright taste gives me a pick-me-up when I need it most.

Look at the color--it's just gorgeous.

And what would an afternoon cup of tea be without a delicious piece of locally hand-crafted chocolate?

Yes, her name really is Gail Ambrosius and she makes the most divine truffles and chocolate treats. She loves what she does and her passion shines through her products.

Hope your Sunday is relaxing and peaceful.