After a week off from work -I am feeling rejuvenated – while I missed going to our beloved Cuba this past week – I have found inspiration in the workings around Rivendell…yes…Rivendell – after the Elvish Colony in Lord of the Rings (no copy rite infringement intended). We have our very own Fangorn Forrest – Ents – and even a manure pile aptly named Mordor. Watch the movies you will understand.

We hung gates – started fencing – drew up our plans for the barn (now to implement) – started getting ready for chickens – burned every stick and scrub we could get our hands on – it was a working week but a nice week.

Tonight was inspiration yet again.

A gentle rain is falling. The “Spring Peepers” are starting to sing their songs. It was almost deafening tonight.

Rudy the Robin is dancing around in the rain – looking for fresh bugs and worms – singing and dancing!!!

A sweet little Orange Kitten – staring at me through the kitchen window asking me to come out and play or at least for a pet.

The “Squits” are back. Mosquito’s – bastards!! – Fly masks all around – my alien horses. It is going to be a bumper year for them me thinks. I was hoping for at least another week. Time to break out the bug dope!!!

It’s warm – warmer than it has been in months. It’s nice.

I don’t mind the rain. I like the way it sounds outside my windows. I love watching the birds dance in the rain.

Spring- it brings new life- I garner the trees will have leaves by the end of the week…what a concept!!!

Grass is growing – flowers are starting to wake up – finally – deep breath and exhale.

I positively ran to the house tonight to get this out – yet again!!!

This entry is dedicated to my dear cousin Karen – she is/has undergone re-constructive surgery following breast cancer.

Karen – for you…

I have become quite selfish as of late – I bitch and moan about wet feet and cold hands – while all the time not stopping to enjoy the wonder that has come into my life.

I own a farm!! a real live farm – a dream I have had since I was a child and it has finally become a reality.

I guess I have been so busy…what with the bitching and moaning of course – but the early mornings and late nights – fat horses and expenses of keeping said fat horse – well – uh fat?? – and of course, warm, comfortable and healthy – the farrier appointments (oh I’ll get to that) and feed and hay and kittens kittens everywhere – snow snow and more snow -paying heating bills- and BLINK!!! Spring!!!

It rained today – deluge I believe is a good word. The paddocks are under water – the mud is everywhere – but I went outside tonight to do night check/feed – I stopped. I heard – in no particular order- geese flying over head – Rudy the Robin is still awake and singing his “I’m back did you miss me?” song. I heard a mourning dove and pigeons (filthy birds) cooing in the barn. Kittens purring and horses munching – the squish of my 10 dollar rubber boots through the mud. How I hate the mud. I heard coyotes howling – stay away please.

I stopped – I listened and I heard all these incredible sounds that I could did not hear last spring – I hear so many things that I take for granted. People – please stop and listen – if you are in the city – listen – if you are in the country listen – there are so many sounds that we hear everyday but don’t stop to listen.

I hear the world coming back to life after a long, cold and snowy winter. I hear stillness and peace.

Exciting times indeed.

For you dear Karen – I am happy that you are here to hear!!! Happy – not the correct word – I am thrilled!!. Cancer is a horrible thing. I lost my Mother to Cancer. I have lost too many dear family members to Cancer. I am over joyed that I did not lose another.

Karen – my most loving and healing thoughts for you – my utmost respect for your attitude. You are a beautiful soul.

Ok so back to the farrier – at the risk of alienating any male that reads this – just X out now.Ladies – the farrier – HELLO?? – enough said!

Stop and listen – you will be amazed what you hear!

While spring officially arrived on March 20th – we all had our doubts.

We have had two significant snow dumps since that date -it has us all wondering – will it ever end?

Much to my delight – yesterday – I pulled into the yard – kittens running all over the place.

I stepped out of my truck to greet my Boys and heard a familiar sound!! NO?!?! could it be?!?!

I turned and looked up in my old ash tree that has been there since – I am sure the beginning of time-RUDY!!!!

Rudy the Robin has returned. (I call all Robin’s Rudy FYI)

“Rudy” I called…”Sing to me” and he did -he sang and sang. My heart soared. I rushed into the house to get feed ready for the Boys – walking out to the barn and hearing a chorus of Rudy’s singing – I smiled. The sun was out – it was finally warm. No “Farmer Jane’s” – just a hoody.

I poured myself a glass of wine – went back outside and sat on the snow bank – listening to Rudy sing and sing.

I saw Gabe today – Gabe the Goose – actually I saw three – I did a double take – asked my son -“Are those Geese?…please tell me those are Geese”. He agreed.

So Rudy and Gabe have finally made it home. I missed them immensely.

The mornings now are deafening. Rudy’s and Gabe’s – Blueberries (Blue Jays) – the “Hot Ones (Cardinals) and Stupid Starlings.

I think Spring has finally arrived. We’ll see…

I rushed in from night feed tonight filled with thoughts and feelings of my experience 5 minutes ago so I am rushing to get it all out before I lose the feeling

To Be or Not to Be??? Shakespeare’s question – nobler in the mind blah blah blah…

To be greeted by an Orange Kitten as I go out at this hour to feed the “Boys” – to have said Orange Kitten follow my steps to the barn.

To then be joined by two more kittens – all purring louder than the train that is currently rushing off in the distance.

To be listening to said train rushing off in the distance.

To be approaching the barn to see Little Horse standing guard over Big Horse while he naps off his dinner.

To be dropping to my knees to watching Big Horse napping all the while wondering what he is dreaming about.

To be surrounded by a cacophony of purring kittens all scrambling to be in my lap at once to be pet.

To watch Big Horse wake up to realise I am there watching him sleep.

To be nudged in the head by Little Horse reminding me that he is still watching guard over the land…that all is safe.

To be standing up to give Little Horse a well deserved hug for doing so – pulling handfuls of hair out of him and scratching in that “sweet spot”  until he stretches taller than the trees gracing our property.

To be watching Big Horse get up from his nap and stretch and wander over to have his nightly good night hug.

To be watering kittens.

To be tossing hay to the “Boys”.

To be saying my good nights – hugging them both- to be breathing in their scent and hugging them just a little bit more.

To be remembering why I embarked on this journey? quest? life style?

To be – to me is a gift – to “not be” would be a tragedy.

Today officially marks the first day of spring in Canada….I am calling shenanigans on that!

I expected the snow to magically disappear whilst I danced amongst the Robins and Geese that would fly into my yard and greet me with their song.

I expected to be able to walk barefoot through a field of green and rejoice in the smells of fresh grass and see the daffodils ready to bloom.

Then I remembered where I live. I live in Eastern Canada. Spring – while today is the first day – is going to take her sweet ass time gracing us with her presence.

Spring is this year  – the bi-polar – first born daughter to Mother Nature.

I have a theory – all the seasons had a meeting or reunion or whatever at some point in the last year. Autumn said it was “her” turn to be a winner. Her glorious colours and warm temperatures were a ruse – falsely leading us to believe in a warmer and shorter winter. The kind of winters we have grown accustom to.

Then Winter – got all pissy and chimed in. “OK Autumn…you can have your beauty, but I will punish these puny humans with the coldest weather on record for years. Why??? Because I feel like it and you cannot out shadow my wrath!!”

Spring says in rebuttal “Fine -you two duke it out – I simply don’t have time for this family squabble so I am going on vacation – I’ll be back sometime -I just don’t know when”.

Summer has yet to chime in so we are waiting on her opinion on this whole matter.

Meanwhile – Mother Nature is sitting back and laughing at what brats her children are right now and trying to think of a suitable punishment.

Mother Nature?? a word with you?? As a parent – I have some advice. You are losing popularity with us puny humans. I get it – your annoyed with their constant bickering and need a break.

Mother Nature –  you seem to have forgotten us. Yes – I know I know we have not been kind to all that you do for us -with the deforestation and strip mining. But most of us truly appreciate the wonder you create.

If it is not much of an imposition- could you possibly rein in your children and cut us some frikkin’ slack!!!

I punished my children when they misbehaved – could you please do the same and throw us a bone??

I am sure it would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

My amazing nephew posted a cheeky post on FB today that outlines things that only horse people understand. During my short tenure as a “farmer” I have compiled my own list.

In no particular order….

1. Hay – is a fashion accessory – be it in the hair or on clothing.
2. Horse hair – see above.
3. Who needs a gym membership – I get all the exercise I need

• Mucking stalls – core work
• Hauling hay – upper body
• Picking feet – squats
• Pulling sled/wheel barrow full of hay – cardio + legs
• Mounting the horse – yoga
• Riding the horse – meditation

Good evening,

I’m not going to lie – this was has not exactly been the best week personally.

Without going into too much detail – I was pretty down – I got some less than stellar news regarding a family issue that threw me for a loop this week and caused me great concern. It was difficult to deal with and made me feel a little bit like I had failed on some level.

Today though – today was a good day!!! Nay – a great day!

Started out as the usual – up and at it – feed- muck -freeze- wet feet – cold hands – off to work. The usual whining bits.

Home – and silence. Spotted 7 porcupines hanging in the trees which tells me they are coming out of hibernation. That is a good thing.

Hubs arriving home shortly after myself. Chores together. Kittens running to greet us. The days are getting longer – that is a VERY good thing.

The boys chipper and pushy for food. So funny.

Excellent dinner – an experiment that went well.

A message on my phone – a message through email to answer my phone (oops) with great news regarding above family issue.

Out to feed my boys – crunching through the snow- kittens following me and grinning like an idiot.

It’s nice out tonight. Cold of course but clear.

It’s coming. Spring- sun – animals waking up – birds returning. The time change this weekend. It’s coming. I can hear it – I can almost smell it. It’s coming.

Today…it started out a little blah- but ended great.

Today…was a good day.

A random missive this evening.

I have been a lazy lazy blogger as of late and I do apologize.

I am having a hard time finding inspiration, but more importantly, motivation.

There has not been a lot of inspirational moments or topics on the farm lately. It’s still winter – it’s still cold and my feet are still wet.

I believe that 99.9% of the Eastern Hemisphere’s motivation has been sucked up by just trying to make it through this hell that we call winter.

Below – in no particular order – attributes to some of my inspiration and is the motivation that makes me feel better. It helps me to know that this winter will soon be over.

1. Anyone who reads this blog but better yet gets enjoyment or a giggle or two out of it.  Makes me feel less of an idiot for starting it.

2. The days are definitely getting longer. It’s nice to do chores when it’s light and it’s really nice at the end of the day.

3. The sun is most assuredly warmer if you stand directly in it, wear black and there is no wind.

4. My boys in the morning – as soon as that bathroom light flicks on – I can hear them calling me.

5. Kittens – only 3 left and they have grown so much and I take great pleasure in knowing that had we not moved here, and fed them and made them a warm place – they would have surely perished.

6. The birds. Some of my feathered friends who I have not seen in months are back.

7. Wine – enough said.

8. Planning for the spring. The list has started – been prioritized and changed many times but our summer will be filled with back breaking work and accomplishment. I can’t wait.

9. Baby bats – cause they are so darn cute (that is for my son if he EVER reads this)

10. Our home – it’s warm and inviting and “countrified”. It is my sanctuary and the bane of my existence – I love it.

What motivates me??? All of the above. Hubs – so patient – my children – my friends – my critters.

My next project – ahhhh- my next project- it is still in the planning phase – it will be blog form with pictures and videos and much more interactive. That will start soon – I think the date will be the first days of spring. Yes – I have set a reminder so I do not forget. As a matter of fact  – I will start it now and promise to share.

Thank you all for your support and I’ll try and pick it up.