Herbs and chickens

I am almost scared to hope that Spring is maybe on it's way.  I am certain that winter isn't completely done with us, but, I am going to enjoy the sunshine and receding snow and ice for the moment.  Gearing up for the coming season I have started my seedlings, tomatoes, peppers, herbs and such, they are beginning to germinate and poke their little green heads out of the soil.
In three weeks I am hoping to have ducklings and goslings arrive (big smile :-)))) I sure hope that once Spring does finally get here it does so quickly, not wanting to have to keep them inside for too long.
Hurry hurry Spring we have so many projects planned for when you do make an appearance!

Under the snow Spring lies sleeping

Mother Nature you stink

April, what a horrible b*tch you have been, what should have been April showers was snow on Thursday followed by an ice storm.  I thought we made it through the overnight mess, but, around 9am Friday a big old Maple that shades our dog run came crashing down taking out all the fencing and creating an extra HUGE mess.  Spring 2013 the sooner I can forget about you the better.

I close my eyes and I believe

That soon, only a few weeks from now, the days will be like this, no snow, no ice, heck...no rain either.  Dear, dear Spring from Hell, one day you will be a bad memory!

February blues, greys and browns

This is what is outside my door this morning, pretty eh?

This is what my mind sees....I am usually an optimist, I see a fresh snowfall as beautiful.  After a week of mud followed by a day and a half of wet snow, to hell with optimism.  The last day of February, I thought I would make it through without feeling the February blues, but, I am feeling the winter grind.
This afternoon I will throw a big quilt down in the hallway, toss in a bucket of toys and release the pups for a big play session and try to forget about the mess outside.  Hey, that almost sounds optimistic :-)

Winter Storm 2013

After snowing for an entire day the sun is out and everything dreary is brightened and fresh looking.  Looks like 18"-20" fell yesterday.  Our biggest and hopefully last major snowfall of the winter.  Chickens refused to come out yesterday, they emerged with the sun today, happy that the sky is no longer falling. 

 

Yah...what he said

Yeah February!!!!!!!!!!!

We are that much closer to warm weather :-)

Placing my order for Veggie seeds today

January 2013

Egg-sickle

The outside temp this morning is -23 Celsius, let's see, that's.....-9 Fahrenheit.  Coldest evening/morning this year.  I bundled up and Cyrus and I hurried out to let the chickens out and to make sure they and the rabbits were OK.
The only casualty of the sub zero temps was this egg.

I was going to discard, but decided to peel, how beautiful.

I removed the rest of the shell exposing the luminous, icy egg inside, it promptly slipped from my fingers ending up as a schnauzer snack.  Apparently egg-sickles are delicious.

The big guns

Finally had to delve into the back of the closet and pull out my Sorel boots.  Yesterday I was out working with a pair of hiking boots on, my toes were a little pissed with me when I finally got back in the house.  These babies keep all my little piggies super warm and dry.
This week is a major winter blast for us in South/East Ontario, not complaining, this is really the first 'traditional' winter weather to hit us and we are almost to the end of January. 
I have hayed the rabbits in, but, honestly the cold doesn't seem to phase them.  The chickens, I feel bad for, tonight it is expected to hit minus 20 Celsius, I will be plugging in a little heater to help the ladies stay warm.
Hang in their girls only 56 more days too Spring :-)

Frosty frosty morning

Yesterday was our first snowfall, didn't do anymore then a light sprinkling on the grass, gone within minutes.  We have had lots of cold mornings this month, this was our first really frosty one that actually stuck to schnauzer beards.

Garden Bounty

We have been enduring a never ending hot, dry summer, the rain and drop in temperature the last couple of days has been wonderful and the garden is bouncing back to life.  Now if the heat will piss I mean hold off for a few days I can get outside and do some much needed garden work.

Mother Nature

I believe Mother Nature had a wicked sense of humour.  Last week I actually had a fan in my bedroom window to deal with the heat, this morning I couldn't get the woodstove lite fast enough.  What gives mom-nature?  Feeling a little bored?  Just need a chuckle?  Sheesh!

Winter scenes 2012

Same time last year

Photo taken this morning

Residing in Canada my January posts have always included snow....this is my first snow photo of winter 2011/2012 and we are into mid January.  To me this is crazy, not complaining, just have never gone until January 13th before having snow on the ground, I have no problem getting use to this. I am going into my 5th year blogging and it is fun to go back to the same day in prior years.  Below are posts from the different years at similar times

2008
2009
2010
2011

Yep snowy in every single one.  Yesterday we had rain all day, when I went outside some very confused daffodils were pushing tips through the ground in my raised bed.  I hope they are able to duck back under the soil.

Canada and our winters

Rantings from one of my favorite Canadians, Rick Mercer. Ya gotta laugh eh?

October

 Love that the changing seasons are magnified when living on the shores of a large body of water.  Huge difference from these photos taken a few weeks ago.  Or, these photos taken in February.
Sadly with all this rain and WIND,  photos of the changing leaves hasn't been possible.  If the sun ever returns and the rain and wind don't knock all the colour from the trees, I will try to capture the last of our autumnal scenery, maybe even slip a Schnauzer into a shot or two.

Damn Mosquitoes!

Blood sucking parasitic disgusting irritating waste of space mosquitoes! Exactly what is the point of them???

It's so hot outside....

....that Token is freezing burrrrrrrr air conditioning stinks!!!!!!!