So the calendar reads February, but it looks like mud season and beyond, here on the hill. Most of the snow has melted off the fields. The driveway past the barn and up to the house is soft mud with a still frozen layer underneath. The sap is running and it is all round acting as if we are in late March, not February! It’s great to feel the sun gaining strength again.

The barn is just about closed in and we are continuing to set up the inside with feed, minerals, animal supplies, especially lambing supplies. Lambing begins in 5 short weeks! The girls are looking a bit round but not that “ ready to burst” look yet. Katahdins should start lambing a couple of weeks after the Icelandics. I always so look forward to seeing those little beauties hit the ground!

This is also the time for designing my planting for the season. Rotation is always the key to a healthy, pest free garden. The weeds are another story. This year I plan on adding flowers for cutting.;sunflowers, cosmos, larkspur, black eyed Susan’s, and many others. There will be lots of herbs , as always, and a fragrant lavender garden.

I am also hoping to re-establish a nice strawberry bed and add to the asparagus. So many things to do and it is always so much easier on paper! Once the weather breaks and we are ready for planting, it’s a race to the finish!

With all that said, I am still looking forward to a little more winter. I am one of those crazy people who loves the snow. I am hoping to get some ice skating in before it’s too late. I love skating on our little farm pond and now I have the ability to flood the ice overnight for a smooth skate the next day, if I shovel first. I am going to guess that we will have a few more cold days yet to come. Maybe in May 😉