Sunday Muse

"The mountain remains unmoved by its seeming defeat by the mists."

~ Robert Penn Warren

Sunday Muse

"In the sheltered heart of the clumps
last year's foliage still clings to the lower branches,
tatters of orange that mutter with the passage of the wind,
the talk of old women warning the green generation of what they, too,
must come to when the sap runs back."

- Jacquetta Hawkes

Anticipation

Sometimes it takes the dark of winter to truly appreciate the beauty of the bare branch.  Can you sense the anticipation of spring in this beautiful, knobby, old pear tree branch? 

joining The View From Right Here for Weekly Top Shot

And please don't forget to comment on Thursday's post - you could win a skein of Poseidon's beautiful yarn!

mosey + plod :: two

 

It's time for week two of mosey + plod.  Let's meander though the back pasture... look there's Daisy waiting by the gate to welcome us.  We are all enjoying a break in the wintry weather with sunshine and temperatures near sixty.

 

Looking back over our shoulder, Moe is standing guard at the fence, stamping his feet, making sure that Raven is not going to somehow sneak inside the pasture. 

 

Walking down the hill toward Madison, we come to the little wooden bridge we built across the gully.  For some reason it always reminds me of The Three Billy Goats Gruff, and as usual I start mimicking The Troll "Who's that trip-trapping across my bridge?" in my scariest, deepest troll-like voice.  Luckily, there is no troll waiting for us today, and we make it safely across with just a little slipping and sliding on the mossy boards.

 

 















Making the turn up the hill we find evidence of the wild turkeys, squirrels and chipmunks feasting under the hickory and walnut trees.  There still seems to be plenty of mast on the ground so hopefully the wildlife will have a good winter.
After following us for awhile and checking our pockets for carrots, Liam and the rest of the sheep have lost interest in us and have gone back up to the top of the pasture to graze.  They are intent on finding what ever green bits they can while there is no snow cover.

 

Walking on through the pasture to one of the bottom gates, if we look through the trees, we can see Poseidon and his girls over on the knoll pasture. 
Maybe, we will mosey over there next week.

(I am so excited to be a part of this amazing group of walkers put together by urban.prairie.forest to honor her Grandma Jean.  Thank you for this wonderful project!)

Sunday Muse

"October's poplars are flaming torches lighting the way to winter."

~ Nova Bair

Light and Color

"How beautifully leaves grow old.  How full of light and color are their last days."

~ John Burroughs

Friday's Fences

Most of the time on the farm, when you are set on a task, you are blessed with lots of help and companionship.  Taking photos for Friday's Fences was no exception.  Muffy led the way, looking for just the right combination of fence and foliage.

Finally... she decided... ok... this is just right.

joining Life According to Jan and Jer for Friday's Fences

Glimpses of Dogwood

After all, I don't see why I am always asking for private, individual, selfish miracles when every year there are miracles like white dogwood.

~Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Spectacular

We can't remember a spring where the trees have been so bright... so vivid... so spectacular.  Perhaps the mild winter and spring have combined to produce this abundance of bloom in the trees.  The path of sunlight during the day presents one breathtaking view after another.  It's as if our mountains are singing a song of spring!

Good Company

Had some wonderful and very excited company on the quest to capture photographic proof that the pasture pear trees are already blooming. 

Belladonna, our not quite two year old Maremma guardian, was quite the enthusiastic and entertaining partner.

You can see who took center stage... two pictures of the pear blossoms... probably thirty of Bella.

She sure is a beauty!

Closer to Spring

Slowly but surely we are inching closer to spring ~ the maple tree buds are swelling and  so are the daffodils.  The roadside wildflower coltsfoot are popping out and beginning to bloom.  The cardinals' springtime dance has begun ~ with first a glimpse... a glance... a flit... and a flutter.

In just one short week, it will be official... it will be spring!