Mid February . . . winter sighs its frosty breath upon the landscape, reminding anything with legs or wings that it will release its icy grip whenever it damned well feels like it, and those with a lick of sense hear the warning and pay heed to it.
“The bitter wind howls through the night,
Frosted trees gleam in pale moonlight.
Rivers freeze in silence deep,
As winter’s icy fingers creep.
“Snowdrifts rise and shadows fade,
The world lies still, in white cascade.
Frozen earth and skies so grey,
Cold’s embrace won’t melt away.”
But there is deception afoot.
For sure, many outdoor activities are on hold. Only a fool will dig post holes in February. Only a fool’s apprentice will attempt to chop down an alder with an ax in February. Outdoor activities are divided into two categories: those which must be done, daily, such as the feeding of animals and the upkeep of machinery, and those which can wait until the rains, or snows, go on break for a few hours, or when the windchill rises above, say, twenty Fahrenheit.
Deep winter is a time for planning, for writing on calendars, for the gathering of necessary materials when the tasks can be performed. It is a time of ordering seeds from catalogues, of cleaning tools, of oiling machine parts, of sharpening blades, of crossing every T and dotting every I so that when winter does finally call it quits for another year, the farmer can hit the ground running.
Look closely. It may seem a frozen pastoral scene, but signs of spring are everywhere one looks in mid-February.
The incubator is running, the interior temperature remaining steady, a new batch of chicks ten days from hatching and, once hatched, will join the other newborns out in the coop, under a heat lamp, growing by centimeters daily.
Out in the “Cuddle Barn,” the source of the name obvious in the spring, the first two newborn goats are also under a heat lamp, six days old and cuter than cute can be. By the end of March, a mere six weeks from today, there will be at least sixty more to join them, deliveries coming hard and fast any day now, two or three at a time, usually the middle of the night, draining the staff of energy and yet filling them all with the healing power of love.
The chickens are laying more often now, the collection rising into double digits, soon plentiful enough to once again sell to the public from the new farm stand, a farm stand which will be created during the aforementioned month of March.
Rise early on one of these cold mornings and you will see steam rising from the compost piles, goat manure, horse manure, magically becoming a source of life, chemical reactions and all that, and by planting time, a month from now, the best damned compost you could ever hope for, the elixir for those seeds, which will arrive in the mail any day now.
The farmer is putting the finishing touches on his new sauna, built with his own hands, a sauna which will provide comfort and healing warmth this spring and summer when the long workdays rob him, rob all of them, of their energy, and send them all to bed with muscles screaming for relief.
The horses seem more lively, more willing to be ridden, some internal clock, or calendar, announcing to them that longer days are here, longer still to come, and soon the pasture will be growing fresh grasses for their pleasure.
Look closely . . . do you see it?
Listen closely . . . do you hear it?
Spring is coming, ready to kick some winter ass, in like a lion, in like a lamb, makes no never mind at all, just as long as it does arrive and release us all from the talons of winter.
“The frosty grip begins to wane,
As golden sunlight warms the rain.
Buds peek out from branch and bough,
Whispering, Spring is coming now!
“Soft winds dance through waking trees,
Stirring life with gentle ease.
The world exhales, so fresh, so bright—
A promise wrapped in bloom and light.”
Bill
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Thank you!
Thank you, Ann! The goats are amazing. I was bottle feeding some babies today and loved every second of it. They are so damned sweet.
Saw some daffodils today, another hopeful sign.
Blessings always
bill
This is beautiful, poetic, and lulled me like the promise of Spring around me. I love springtime and can’t wait for the longer days but mustn’t wish my life away! All seasons have their high points of course but Spring is the best for me.
It’s encouraging and optimistic.
The goats sound amazing!!
Now that it has warmed up, I’m afraid rains and wind have followed. We must endure the early ravages of spring in order to enjoy the latter part of the season. My bees arrive in one month. Very exciting adventure awaits.
Blessings and a hug coming your way
bill
We have started planting seeds also.. And great your weather warming up at last.. We are well thank you… As we have made a start on the Plot…
Sending lots of love your way xx <3
But just like that, Sue, the weather moderated. We will be in the 60’s next week after a weekend storm. I may be able to shed the winter coat for the first time in five months. I feel a planting session coming, especially in the greenhouse.
I hope you are well. Have a glorious weekend.
bill
I love your poetry Bill… And oooh chicks being hatched… Wonderful .. You painted a cold picture of that steam rising from the compost, manure pile…. I have witnessed a few frosty mornings on the plot like that 🙂 No chicks though.. Just veggies..
Good to know you are doing okay in your very harsh winter days Bill… Love the photos…
I am way behind your posts… but thought I should catch up with a couple..
Sending hugs from a frosty England, but thankfully no snow…
Much love your way xx Sue xx <3
Sha, I don’t know why I didn’t think of that. Most definitely we will have to name a goat Delilah! Thanks for the kick in the butt.
Bill, it seems the 12/59 is coming to life in Olympia! I can’t wait to see what you and “Sheila” have created. Will you name any of your goats or chicks Delilah? 🙂
Thank you for your kind words, Andrea. We haven’t had much snow the last couple of years, an inch or two and that’s it. The unusual is the usual now with this climate change.
A beautiful post Bill. It captures the still sleepy feeling of the first stirrings of spring and the cosiness of the bits of winter that are still here. We haven’t had snow yet this year beyond a little that fell in the night and was gone by morning, but we did have sleet this weekend and it’s still cold for now…