The End of Winter?

This week was just another shift in the weather and our mindsets that this winter has had in store for us. We all were beginning to feel as if the trend had begun from coldest, to colder to sunny to warmer. The snow on the southern pastures had melted. We were taking walks to the top of the hill without getting our feet wet and then it snowed all over again (twice) and is quite cold and windy. Last week, once we got the delivery out the door, was a great time here. My sister Bev and niece Laura came to the farm for the whole school vacation week. They got me out each day to take a walk and the sunshine felt very good and full of vitamin D. The snow was still crusty in the woods and the northern exposures. We found an area of pine trees where there were about 5 woodcocks sitting in the boughs above our heads. As we got close to each one (without our seeing them), they exploded from the branches with beating wings and flew off. We found mostly deer tracks and in places they really have some highways through the woods to the streams and springs. Each day Laura would help to tame the barn cats and by the end of the week she was almost able to touch the Mystery Girl cat. The photo above shows Circles and Goldy. We took the pigs for a walk in the woods; they are very happy to follow along to see where you are going. The little stream in the uppermost point of their pastures was running freely and the snow was up to their bellies. When they first saw us walking, they were digging in the dirt around the hedgerow where the snow had melted and their noses were all muddy. By the time they investigated the stream and the snow around the bases of all trees nearby, the noses were a shiny bright pink.

Midweek we went skiing at Bromley Mtn and had a great time. The snow was groomed and not icy and the crowds in the liftlines were quite small. We were pretty tired out by the time it started snowing. We were almost glad to quit a bit early as we had some trouble seeing where we were going. This snow covered all the bare ground over again and took us back to feeling like mid-winter. It snowed again most of the day Sunday while we were at the farmers market and today is cold and quite windy. We even let the cows use the barn shed to try to stay dry and be out of the wind. The shed also warms up a bit when there are 80 animals in there. I'll bet they are ready for spring.

Bev and Laura even helped me get started in the greenhouse without seedlings. The first things planted were 2 varieties of kale and two varieties of arugula. I hope this cold snap does not stop them from sprouting! The greenhouse seemed a warm and cozy space last week - at least when the sun is out. By early April or maybe even late March, I could set these in the garden with row cover or a cold frame and hope for the best of the early greens. In the next few weeks I'll start spinach, cabbage and leeks too. We are looking forward to eating out of the garden again even though the root cellar still has potatoes, beets, leeks, garlic and the freezer still has tomatoes, blueberries and currants.

By the weekend, the girls had gone back to Wellesley and my nephew Chris from Philadelphia had arrived. He came for a winter get away drive as the poor guy spent as much time in the car as he got to spend visiting. We did however have a great farm meal and even opened the first bottle of the rhubarb wine. It was pretty good! We'll have to try that recipe again. It was great to catch up on the family news all week long and now it's back to business and the routine of the season. Hope you all are staying warm.