With constant attention on the economy, Octomom, the extremes in weather, and the ever-present tragedy du jour, how are you all holding up? Personally, I find myself getting a little crabby. I know what’s going on, but do you have to keep telling me the same things over and over . . . ‘the sky is falling, the sky is falling’… I’m tired of hearing it.

So it was with great joy 16 and I noticed the first calf in the field on the way home from church Sunday. It obviously had just stood and was trying those first tentative steps. A most precious sight! Momma cow was standing proudly at its side and several other cows were nervously watching our permanent stray dog who was just as intrigued by the sight as we were. Yes, Spring has come to the farm!

My first Spring sighting had come a few nights before when I drove into Powhattan to fill the gas tank in the car. As I stepped out to the pump I was met with a cacophony of little froggy voices. This endless chirping has lulled me to sleep many a summer night. Welcome back, guys!

Dear hubby has also been busy. With the unknown’s of the economy we decided to put in a much larger garden than we have been. During the first 20 years of marriage I was fortunate enough to be a stay-at-home-mom. We always had a large garden and I spent many, many hours canning and freezing vegetables. Hot and sometimes tedious work, but oh so satisfying when I’d walk past the pantry and see shelves and shelves of jars sparkling in there. It’s going to be much harder to get things taken care of with both of us working full-time off the farm as well as still farming. But we’ll try our best. I’m thinking this year we just may need to provide for ourselves as much as possible.

I mentioned our permanent stray dog. Poor thing showed up just as the weather really got cold. He won’t come near us, but we started feeding him –moving the food slowly into the barn. He watches us and when we get far enough away he will come in and eat, but then leaves again. We’ve seen him in the wind-break out behind the in-laws and think that must be where he sleeps at night. He’s at least part black lab, is starting to look pretty healthy again. It’s frustrating he won’t let us get close to him, as he seems to be a pretty gentle dog. He doesn’t chase the cows or the cats, just watches. Makes you wonder what has happened in his lifetime.

As I’m writing this we are under some extreme weather warnings – for blizzard conditions of all things! Hopefully the snow will all be south of us. We have had two thunderstorms so far this month. Those of you who know me know these are one of my favorite events. I love to sit out on my porch and watch the lightning, hear the thunder roar across the fields, then listen to the rain. I love watching and hearing the birds prepare for storms. The complete and utter silence that happens just minutes before the storm hits. I swear you can hear a unison sigh of relief from every living thing as the storm passes. Can you believe we are so fortunate to live in a world such as this?!

Soon we will have our first litter of kittens. The men will begin spending their days in the fields preparing the soil and planting crops. There will be so many baby calves we’ll stop noticing the new ones, but be entertained by their joyful play. Seedlings will be visible in the garden and the never-ending battle of bugs and weeds will begin. And lilacs! My lilacs will be blooming, their heady fragrance adding the exclamation point to another beautiful Spring!

Life is good! -cindy