There and Back Again

J wearing his new glasses (I didn't get a pic of C in his yet)

We have had a long winter and were so excited for spring. The SAD (seasonal affective disorder) really hit me this winter and man, it was rough. I was constantly tired. I just tried to be as active as possible and read many a great book. The daffodils popped up and said "Welcome back, Spring!" We also started a new session at our homeschool co-op. I'm leading a class on Vikings, in which both J and C joined. We are enjoying it. The weather had been warming up somewhat and I had been looking forward to getting out in the garden and to the two private gardens I work on.

Our daffodil hill as you round the corner to our house

Ramps are up!

Poor things.

Then, another snowstorm. Come on! We got a total of 10 inches! Mike and the boys went out in the snow for more sledding and play while I got hot herbal tea and dinner ready.

Chicken feet 

A flock of eight turkeys that have been visiting us

Mike's "new" project

Experiments with ice (J filled up a water balloon and sat it outside  to freeze)

The guys were wiped out after all that! We had a great dinner and then watched The Hobbit on DVD we just bought. Mike when to the store the day it was released! We really like it and are looking forward to the next two.
I am excited now that the storm is over and we're getting closer to real spring. We're getting dozens of strawberry plants for the garden and baby turkeys in two weeks! We hope to get our bees and more chickens (and maybe a few baby ducks?) soon too. Hope you all had a beautiful equinoz and wishing you a blessed Easter/Ostara!

To Winter

To Winter by William Blake

O Winter! bar thine adamantine doors:
The north is thine; there hast thou built thy dark
Deep-founded habitation. Shake not thy roofs,
Nor bend thy pillars with thine iron car.
He hears me not, but o'er the yawning deep
Rides heavy; his storms are unchain'd, sheath'd
In ribbed steel; I dare not lift mine eyes,
For he hath rear'd his sceptre o'er the world.

Lo! now the direful monster, whose 1000 skin clings
To his strong bones, strides o'er the groaning rocks:
He withers all in silence, and in his hand
Unclothes the earth, and freezes up frail life.

He takes his seat upon the cliffs,--the mariner
Cries in vain. Poor little wretch, that deal'st
With storms!--till heaven smiles, and the monster
Is driv'n yelling to his caves beneath mount Hecla.