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Spring is Here… Technically, Anyway.

As I write this, we are getting ready for 2 nights of hard freeze. We only got one week of spring until good ole Tennessee weather kicked in. It sleeted here today! We really got spoiled the last week (first week of spring) since it really felt like spring – almost summer at times. Fortunately, we were busy with company in town last week so I didn’t get things planted IN the ground, so that is probably for the best. I did get my lettuce out last weekend, but it hasn’t sprouted yet – I think (HOPE!) it’ll be ok.

Look closely for the lone forsythia in bloom.

The chickens and the dog (and the humans!) are loving the lack of snow on the ground. It is rather brown around here, but there are hints of green (and yellow!) poking through. It won’t be long until we are fully “sprung!”

The deer were out to greet me after a morning run - enjoying the warm sunshine just like me! — The deer were out to greet me after a morning run – enjoying the warm sunshine just like me!

Things are going to get a bit crazy here the next month or so. Jackson’s 4-H “Chick Chain” chicks are getting here April 7, and we should have bees in May. We have all 10 of the current flock laying, so we have plenty of eggs for the Joelton Woods!

No two seem to be the same (the one on the left turned out to be a double-yolk!)

As I reflect on our little homestead-in-progress, I realize it has now been a very long time since I have bought eggs or bread! It’s the little things. 🙂

Enjoy a few more pics from the past couple of snow-free weeks on the farm…

Working the fence row - happy as can be — Working the fence row – happy as can be

Atlas is actually doing much better with the chickens, so we are able to let him have more and more time with them in the big yard. Hope to see him recognize they are his “pack” to protect and not torment soon 🙂

Maybe he's really a polar bear? — Maybe he’s really a polar bear?

Snow, Beautiful Snow

I’m REALLY ready for Spring.

But.

IF we’re gonna have to have snow in March, at least it’s a pretty one!

3 1/2 - 4 inches depending on where I measured (and still coming down when I took this). — 3 1/2 – 4 inches depending on where I measured (and still coming down when I took this).

Atlas loves it!

Have you ever tried to get a pic of a dog who wants to just play?

The chickens, not so much.

She is telling me through the pop-door that NO one is coming out until that white stuff is gone.

They are still thawing out inside the coop with NO intentions of coming out today.

1. They don’t want to walk in the snow.

2. Their poor feathers are crunchy where they got so wet yesterday and they froze!
(They seem to be ok on this, and I will be monitoring them for signs of frostbite. We are all glad that it will start to warm up before too many days. We hope!)

Not much to write today… just wanted to share some of the pics I snagged this morning out in the beautiful Joelton Woods.

This is the snow that fell on the ramp door since I opened it at 6 AM.

It must've been blowing hard last night... Atlas' crate got a good half inch even under the deck! — It must’ve been blowing hard last night… Atlas’ crate got a good half inch even under the deck!

Snow: All Cooped Up and Still Laying Strong

For all the cold weather we’ve had this year (and last Fall), we finally got snow to go with it. Now, this makes my kids happy. Understatement of the year. Need proof?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkunuyYviOk

The chickens are not so happy about it. In fact, I am typing this on Wednesday afternoon, and they have not stepped foot outside the coop since the first layers of ice/snow covered the ground Monday morning. I cannot imagine the cabin fever they must have.

08-20150218_114842 — Giving me the Cabin Fever stink eye.

It is ironic, though, because Monday was the day our Buff Orpington “chick” decided to lay her first egg. We now have 7 layers out of 10 chickens, and it is somewhat surreal to see the winter wonderland outside and realize we are getting more eggs than ever!

One distinctly small egg from our Buff O

We are all pretty excited to have our first layer from chicks we raised (granted, they were 4 weeks old when we got them, but they were still so tiny!).

Jerry was able to make it out to the local store yesterday and got us some straw. We got another inch+ of snow last night and this morning, so I put some of the straw out today to try to coax the girls out of the coop into the sunshine.It was hard to really get it scattered well since the hawk netting is hanging VERY low due to all the ice. If they do decide to venture out, it should give them some dry piles to roost on and scatter and soak up some rays.

03-20150218_114740 — Thinking about coming out…

05-20150218_114758 — I couldn’t spread the straw well due to the sagging netting.

I really hope they do… it would be a shame to have egg production reduce because they are literally all cooped up!

Thinking about it. Maybe.... — Thinking about it. The sun is so tempting.

Well..... since you put the straw out I'll think on it some more... — Well….. since you put the straw out I’ll think on it some more…

11-20150218_114110 — I don’t THINK so. Get back in there… I’m not putting my feet down on that stuff!

Oh, and in case you wondered… our 9 month old pony, I mean Great Pyrenees, is LOVING this weather. This is the type of weather he was bred for, and you can tell he is right at home in it. He’s busy barking to keep the wild birds out of the chicken yard since the girls aren’t out there. He did decide to take advantage of some of the straw to lay on top of the snow.