Spring Fun

This is our driveway with a rather large puddle.

 One of the things that I have always loved about spring is the mud puddles.  Even up here in sand country with the spring rains and the melting snow we occasionally have puddles.  I still find it fun to make channels for the water to drain from one puddle to another and then off to where ever it will be absorbed into the earth faster.

Here is my channel.

Us adults can play in muddles too, as my son has called them.  This is how I spent my 5 minutes while I was waiting for my kids to get home on the bus yesterday.

How do you enjoy the spring?

April Showers.... Um.... April Blizzards?

It just doesn't seem like April in Wisconsin without a blizzard at some point.  Yes this winter is getting long, but it's days are numbered.  Thursday and Friday were lovely this week, well not really.  I think in the 18 hour period we got well over 12 inches of snow (my sister got over 18 - so I'm not complaining) but now the sun is shining and the slush and puddles are forming and the snow piles are shrinking.  The blizzardy drive on Friday morning is now only a memory and I am thinking green growth.  I have some seeds sitting in my sun room that are itching to get planted and start growing.  I had planned on starting them a few weeks ago, but there was just too much snow outside.  Now, I don't care.  Gardening is relaxing for me, my escape, and I need an escape right now.  Is anyone trying anything new this year?  I am going to try sugar beets.  Just for something interesting and to see if I can actually make sugar.  I know it can be done and is done, obviously, but I want to see if "I" can do it.  If it doesn't work, I'll just feed them to the deer or chickens or what ever other critter wants them, "Pigs" if that happens this summer.  Who knows yet.  Someday.  Our list of "someday" things keeps growing: pigs, green house, shelves in my root cellar, fencing in part of the side yard & field for the dogs.  It just seems like more important things keep popping up: new brakes on the car or truck, new tires, back surgery, broken arm on a little girl, school.  At least we have a plan and are working toward it.  So... April Showers/blizzards bring something.... that is just yet to be determined.  Happy Spring all.

Will Winter End?

This is a question that my kids ask me on a daily basis.  I also believe that the chickens are also asking this every time I stick my head in the coop.  I answer my kids, "Yes, it will end."  They ask "When?"  I say "June!"  I hope that it ends much earlier then June, but this way I have a pretty strong feeling that I won't be letting them down.

Adin is in the middle, the other two boys are my nephews.

Some things that we have been doing to keep us entertained with all this snow (when there isn't Arctic Temps blowing) is teaching the kids to cross country ski and snowshoe.  My sister brought down some smaller skis that the boys don't fit into any more and a pair that is just too big for them jet.  The kids love them, especially Adin.  Every chance he has gotten since January 25 he has been skiing.  He even skied in Ashland's Book It (the kid's version of the Book Across The Bay.) While the Olympics were on, we watched every cross country ski race and biathlon that was on.  Ole Einar Bjorndalen from Norway became a favorite in our house.  I think Adin may become a future bi-athlete.  The girls are getting pretty good also.  We just have to switch between skiing and snow showing with them.  I tried to break out my old old old skis and I need different boots.  I have decided that snow shoeing is more my style with my weak right ankle, much harder to roll the ankle with snow shoes.

There has also been lots of sledding, shoveling and snow-blowing/plowing.  We are running out of room.

We have also been enjoying some snuggle time with the 3 beagle ladies.  No bunny hunting this year, we would loose these 3 girls in the snow.

 They will take all the snuggling that they can get.

 

I have found my self on Pinterest more often looking at gardeny things.  I NEED to get my hands in the soil.  Soon I'll be able to start some seeds and pray the cat doesn't make a mess.  He can be trouble.  Here is a happy summer garden picture to warm us all up.  Hope it helps.  I know it brings a smile to my face.

No Sugaring This Year

The family has decided to forgo the Sugaring season this year.  We have much to much snow and we still have about 3/4 of the syrup that we canned last year left.  Time to give the trees a year off, they deserve it after this winter.