HAPPY VERNAL EQUINOX

"As I grow to understand life less and less, I learn to love it more and more."

Jules Renard


"For every minute you are angry, you lose sixty seconds of happiness."

Ralph Waldo Emerson


Yes, Blessed Blessings on this happy day of the equal parts of light and dark in the renewal time of the year to one and all! But a mighty cold one, it is. So far, my weather forecast is right about that one - even if I did not quite get the several days of rain right. The official log date for Ice Out of the pond was Saturday, the 18th- three weeks earlier than last year! My, the ducks and geese are happy, happy, happy to have their pond fully back again. And the new ducks - the ones that arrived in January - have really taken to it like "ducks to water" (unlike the first group of ducks who took months to get their little webbed feet into the wet stuff.).

Tomato seedlings planted last Sunday are up and already two inches tall, joyfully straining toward the light. The new greenhouse, alas, is not yet operational.......but they say it will be soon. Also have planted 7 flats of onions and leeks, 3 of various flowers and today will be planting several of kale, mustard greens and other leafy things. Once I get into the greenhouse, planting will be happening every day until it is full!

Last Saturday, the 11th, we had our one and only warmish, spring-like day so far, and I spent it happily carting out numerous loads of chicken coop guano mixed in with shavings and mulch hay. These loads were placed in layers with old compost, soil, lime and rock phosphate to begin a new, bigger and better compost pile. My compost making these last three years has been too haphazard. It is my 2006 resolution to make better and even truly superb compost! I will keep you posted (composted?) as to the results.

I am really in love with this time of year. Can hardly wait to have it warm up a bit more so I can really get out there digging, planting, cleaning up and seeing all the spring bulbs and bushes come alive. Last fall I planted several hundred crocuses by the front door and many tulips too. The crocuses started to send up their shoots during the warm spell in January, so I covered them up with hay for a couple of months. They are now uncovered and almost two inches high. I'll put a phto on when they finally bloom. Last year it was April 10 when crocuses bloomed here. It will surely be earlier this year.

Time to sign off for today. Must eat my oatmeal and plant my seeds. Enjoy the light and the growing warmth!