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!

Rut Ro

The weather tomorrow morning could be iffy or not depending on where the snow will go. We could get 2 inches or more. Or it could go south. Yesterday the forecast was for 4 to 9 inches over night for our area. Now? Maybe 2 inches and more snow later on in the day.

My great friend Olive is out for the count, she had a medical emergency and needs her rest. She was a designated driver.

My ex neighbor and other best friend of 14 years volunteered. Do you recall the post about the nicest Little Girl that grew up into an amazing young lady? Her mom and I have been close even though they moved to town.

So the second eye surgery for tomorrow morning is up for grabs. Will the weather cooperate or what?

So basically things could go fine or I would have to cancel at the last second and reschedule and go through finding a ride again. 
So with that in mind, I'm going to spend the day enjoying beauty and watching the weather forecast.

Sunrise on the ridge:

Here is some cuteness for you today.

These shots were taken during the subzero weather when I asked if he wanted to go do chores....
He chose to stay by the heater.

----> Update, the weather forecast is better today so it is a go and Olive just called saying she was okay to take me. Boy, let me say how lucky I am one more time to have made such good friends out of new neighbors and old neighbors!

Is March coming in like a Lion?

Last week I came down with a doozy of a head cold. I was in great misery.

However, things still went on around the farm. We had a visitor on Wednesday.

We actually see eagles fairly often during the winter. This one sat in the tree above the Dexter's Summer Pasture. I took a shot as well as I could with my knock about camera.

That night we had another incredible sunset. I didn't feel well enough to actually go to the ridge to take shot across the fields so I settled for some from the porch.

The clouds were moving quite fast and the colors looked warm and inviting.

About 30 minutes later I looked out the window as we finished up eating and was stunned. The colors had given way to blues and pinks.
Well, I could not pass that up even from the porch.

Who would have thought?
Since last week Wednesday we've had snow.

We've had warm weather which turned the snow to muck and the driveway into a hazard zone for cars.
Yesterday it was 64 degrees when I got home from work.

Then we had a vicious storm move in last night which dropped an inch of rain and we've had brutal high winds ever since.

However the skies for a little while this afternoon were simply amazing.

I took out my Nikon and tripod and thought I'd take some pasture/sky shots.

Well here is what I got with my little camera before I had to turn tail and scurry back to the house.

The skies to the west turned dark and threatening.

I figured we'd have rain coming in. Imagine my surprise when flurries came down in nearly a mini blizzard.

That has ended right now and the winds are blowing hard and now it is thundering.

Mother Nature is seriously confused.