1st of April are we fooled?

I think March can be as tough as November because we are in that in between stage where we are dealing with some rather drab colors in nature. 

And now we move to April which begins the real season of spring surprises.

But for now? I take the ugly parts of the day and do that never ending job of cleaning up what I didn't take care of in the fall.
I looked back on what I've done in the past few years in March and it is the same fight. Clean up burdock, Motherwort, pile, burn, rake up as many seeds from the sour dock and do the same. 
Hack down elderberry tree sprouts -- more come up from suckers... and generally clean areas up so I don't have equine full of burs when I can start rotating them.

One of the spots that I didn't work on last year proved to be extra nasty come this past fall.

If I had a herd of goats and proper fencing, I'd send them through here a few times a year and let them clean up the nasty weeds.

The Dexter cattle did a good job at that. But we had too many and we all know what overgrazing does to the land.

Charlie and I worked on this one little spot. Well, Charlie supervised, I worked.

I make small piles and wait for an early morning without wind then burn the small brush piles.

Just to the right of where this photo was taken the Buckthorn woods start. The only thing that will rid me of those nasty trees is a bulldozer, then forestry planting and a lot of work bringing the forest back to its glory days. 

This section is only about an acre or so, but it is on a steep hill.

Face it. It is wild.

I have one thought on it. If I were to invest in doing all of that, I'd never live to see the benefit. One more thing to leave to the next generation of owners after I am gone.

I have to admit defeat and let that area go. I am only one person who has no business operating heavy machinery or chainsaws. I don't have the time nor the energy. I feel like I am failing as a steward for my land.

I obsess about it each year. However, I've decided to fix fencing and enjoy my property and all it has to offer. 

I will pick my battles.

This year I have one less grazing animal. Three of our equine are over 25 years old. So it is mostly retirement time for them.

My neighbor is a forester and I am looking forward to a tour of our land with him [and his wife]. 

I'll keep trails open and mark the best places to gather eatable mushrooms, dig parsnip roots, pick berries, and enjoy the beauty of nature.

This is a mental battle I do each spring with good meaning and ideas.

As soon as the wildflowers start though, I feel good again.

Right now? It is snowing and coming down hard. 

Sven thinks it is just fine.

As daylight seeps into the grey morning here, I am putting on my coveralls and heading out to enjoy Mother Nature's Joke on us.

Last night over an inch of rain. This morning, heavy snowfall. Tomorrow? Looks like a beautiful day.

I'll take it!

Take the Long Way Home

With so many appointments on our schedule with the VA coming up on our schedule, I took my camera and some favorite critters to go hunting for some beautiful signs of spring.  I probably should have been raking the yard or some such thing, but a 70 degree day in April?  

We found the skunk cabbage on the east end of the valley in 'its' usual spot and of course a mass of it growing around the spring.

Morris came along to help guide us of course, he knows all of the trails.  And since it was our one very warm day, he decided a walk in the creek was in order.

Siera was again extremely co-operative in leaving home with no issue what-so-ever!  Has she finally decided not to be herd sour?
Probably not.
I think she has learned that I take her out in the woods and travel all over my neighbor's 400 or 500 acres, and I always bring her home.

Here is a shot of our trail.  Yes it goes under that tree and curves around through the woods.
Well if you can't see it, that is all right too.  It is a path I keep cut out just enough for a person to walk through and mules to walk single file in.
You may even think of it as a deer path.

Years ago it was a cow trail.

Here is Siera's 'Trail Necklace' ... one of many I've made over the years.
I first started using a version of this with a mare named Cheyanne.  She was afraid of the noises of vehicles, so I bought bells and hung them on her.
It seemed the jingle of the brass bells calmed her.

Later I saw a fad of these being sold for horses.  I decided to find the old brass bells and make some 'necklaces' for my mules.

I like to put them on my mules sometimes.  I should do it more often.  Siera likes the bells and any wild turkeys or deer that are bedded down are long gone before we hit their area.

Less wildlife to contend with can sometimes be a good thing.

This view was taken when we used the deer trail to cross the gully above the ice cave.

Siera handled the mud-slop-slip-slide like she was an old pro.  I gave her lots of praise.

Which brought its rewards in the form of the first Marsh Marigolds in bloom!

We found these by a spring.

Our ride was fantastic.
Morris was tired.

We took the long way home up to the ridge top and down the road.