More springing up at the farmette

It is a cold but sunny day at the farmette. About 2C. Very 'fresh'.

I was out early taking more shots around the property. Everything is absolutely exploding with life. As I walked around, the sounds of spring was also definitely in the air. Red-wing blackbirds screeing, sparrows chirping, grackles squawking, geese honking. Yesterday, I saw my first rose-breasted grosbeak. He flitted off really quickly, and I didn't have my smartphone, but what a beautiful bird, with its starkly contrasting colours: black head, white belly and red bib!

Here's our plum tree in the back acreage. Looks like we'll have a bumper crop if it doesn't get a hard frost. Beauty, eh? The plum symbolizes hope and perseverance and beauty in the face of adversity. Appropriate for our times, I'm thinking.

I have to brag a bit, since I've been working my tail off on my new raised vegetable beds.

On Friday, our handyman Bill and his helper Jared moved the four yards of top soil we had delivered from beside the garage to the beds Bill built.

The whole idea behind these beds is to cut down on weeds, so yesterday, I got down on my hands and knees and took out the quack grass, dandelions and other invasives in the path between the beds. Then tacked down a double layer of landscape fabric and topped it off with wood shavings. Nice, eh? It doesn't look like much, but it took me a couple of hours.

Actually, it would have taken less time, but Hobbes decided to go wandering, so Rob and I spent half an hour desperately looking for him. He's not that great health-wise, so we worry when he doesn't come when we call. Little shit was in the barn, visiting his old haunt.

Anyhow. We planted these larches along the fence line behind the barn about eight or ten years ago. Little saplings we got from the conservation authority for about a buck a piece.

They're really thriving, and are about 12 or 13 feet tall now. They look so spectacular in the fall when their leaves turn a golden yellow.

Larches are supposed to protect against evil spirits. Maybe we should put a ring of them around the White House? Finally, the biggest and best sign of spring is taking the deck furniture out of storage.

No one is happier than Hobbes, whose favourite spring pastime is sitting beside me on the loveseat soaking up the sun. Until next week.