At the risk of sounding like some Pollyanna type person (which I am often accused of being) life is just so delightful and wonderful right now, I could sing! Or jump for joy? Well, you know, I’m delighted!

The weather is absolutely PERFECT. The highs are near 80 degrees. And the evenings cool, 50 or so. There has been a lot of sunshine and a few good rainstorms. The grass is growing! Oh my gosh, I can’t believe the rush I get when I see our little yard and the fields around me with that first blush of beautiful green grass growing again. We have had the most dull colorless winter! Ugh! Hardly any snow, just gray, dingy dirty monotones everywhere. Now? Green grass, blue sky and white puffy clouds… it’s eye candy for the soul.

Sleeping at night is so wonderful. No longer do we hear the hum of little space heaters. Everything is off. It’s been a week now, and no need to run for kerosene! In fact, we have half a tank full for just in case we get a really chilly night. But I am suspecting that we won’t need it. I’m so happy that two of our major money drains have just stopped. Plugged up overnight by a lovely early spring!

We have 18 baby chicks in our dining room, all in a HUGE box that Miss Julia brought down. They got a lovely pair of recliners for their living room and gave us one of the boxes! Lucky!!! The peeps are digging their new abode, it’s HUGE and they are running about and practicing their little jump kicks and flying. We cut it in half so we have another box for our meat chicks whenever we get them.

All about me the air is filled with birds and frogs and baas from the happy sheep. They are so pleased with the nice weather, they jump and buck and frolic like little lambs. They are so adorable when they chase each other and then stop and turn to head butt each other in play. Little Molly is the queen of play, she just plays and plays! She gets into tussles with her two brothers so often we almost don’t stop to watch. Almost.

What I really like is the nice full days of activity. Nothing super stressful, just a project after a project after a chore and then an errand and then a visit and more projects. It’s wonderful to see things happening. Even just cleaning up, it’s a delight.

No one tells you just how DIRTY a little farm can be! Especially in the late winter. There is mud and mud and dirt and mud and more mud and oh yes, did I mention… MUD. The animals are muddy and dirty… oh goodness, the dogs are filthy! And bathing them is just pointless. Half an hour later, they are muddy again. Even the chickens are muddy! It’s definately a challenge without running water to keep the place clean but we’re managing to keep things tolerable. When that water gets back on… soon…. it’s going to be a delight to really get everything nice again!

Speaking of water… I do believe that we have finally saved up enough to call the fellow out! Yahoo!!! Yes, it’s taken almost three months, but I’m proud that we did not have to beg and borrow and that we have not gone into debt. It’s been okay, hauling water. In fact, a little part of me will miss it… just a little part! I suppose that we can always go and revisit the spring and fill up jugs for old time’s sake! Obviously, running water means convience and we will love that again! But it hasn’t been that hard, just an adaption. We made it!

We peeled off some of the plastic on the windows and that just makes me happy. I know that it really helped to keep the warmth in but at the same time, it was cloudy and just well, plasticy looking. Now it’s delightful to be able to see outside and get that nice clear sunshine in the house. Wonderful!

Oh, things are finally feeling good and routine, we have lovely friends about us and lots of new projects and fun things in our lives. New plants, gardens, all the critters… it’s wonderful. Everyone is happy and healthy, even Jack’s boo boo is all healed up and he’s growing his hair back! Work is doing well, I just have a few little things to finish up for clients and then I get to work on some fun new projects for the farm and for us! Nothing stressful on the horizon! Bills are nearly caught up, and we’re getting our taxes ready to be paid. (Yeah, the only bummer about working for yourself is that we rarely get refunds! We always have to pay! But, hey, that’s okay… the rest of the perks are fantastic!)

Well, my busy day and weekend are about to start. Just finished up breakfast and all, need to get out and get started on chores and all that. Just felt like stating the obvious… springtime at the homestead is just absolutely wonderful! We made it! A whole first year… Our anniversary is coming up fast.. we signed the papers on the 25th of March. Just nine more days! What a whirlwind year it’s been!!!