Let's Take a Walk

Whew! I think winter is on the run. The sun is shining and the temperature is 56º F.

Hey, I see a bird at the suet bag! Let’s step out on the deck and take a look.

This homemade contraption seems to be working.

Say, while we’re out here, let’s walk around to the front and see if the elm trees are blooming. I’ll bet they are. I’ve had a stuffy nose and itchy eyes for a couple of days now.

Uh-oh, this looks like moles working in the back yard. They must have awakened from their winter’s nap.

On we go to the front yard. Oh, yes. The elm trees are aglow with blooms.

Let’s go into the garden and check the garlic and shallots. There are very tiny shoots of green. If we had mulched them they would be farther along by now.

We must say hi to the girls. See how they gather at the gate when they see us coming?

Heading back to the house I see the new mulch on the chicken house path is settling in nicely.

This fresh air smells so good we should stay out a little longer. Let’s walk over to the memorial.

Now, here’s something interesting. At first I thought this was a group of strange mushrooms, but I do believe it is scat. I’ve never seen scat quit like that, have you? Maybe it's dog, but I doubt it. The turds are about an inch in diameter.

The memorial looks peaceful with the late afternoon sun behind it. We should come back here and talk about the two little gravestones. You can't see them from here, but they are leaning against an old stump to the right of the memorial.

Well, let's go back in. We’ve seen several signs of spring: birds eating suet in preparation for the mating season, moles working underground, elm trees in bloom, shallots sprouting, and hens with healthy red combs and glossy feathers. It looks like spring, it smells like spring, and I think winter’s on the run. Oh, that old dragon will last his tail another time or two before he retreats for his summer’s rest, but basically he's done for.

Copyright 2014 by Shirley Domer