Seems as though spring is finally here. What are the signs of spring? Peonies peeking through melting earth. Robins in flocks after worms that come to the warming ground surface. The robins begin their cheeryup-cheerio song even before the sun comes up. For two weeks now I have heard the phoebe trill its name over and over. My trainer’s Mom says once you see and hear the phoebe, sugaring is officially over.

The killdeer are returning to scout out their nesting places. At first I love to hear them flying low with their call.. later in the heat of true summer… I admit, the constant killdeer, killdeer gets annoying !

Rocks and stones that have been busy breeding under a deep layer of snow are exposed. No matter how well you think you’ve picked rock in the pasture.. there are more hatching come spring. Frost and snow are evidently good nutrition for them.

Another sign of spring – sweatshirts left everywhere on the farm. At the beginning of the day, it might be still in the 20’s.. but the sun rises and soon, one sheds layers… a sweatshirt laid down on the nearest big rock, on the back of the tractor, draped on a low branch. If the fickle weather turns cold again, you have to go back to harvest them from their resting places.

Finally all the big snow piles melt alongside the road and everyone gets out and puts up a new mail box.

Springs are running mad and crazy. Brooks are high and the noise of the rushing water is foreign to my ears after the silence of deep snow and a bit unsettling until you get used to it.

The popple trees are covered in their “cotton” – the first “foliage” in the woods. Soon that cotton will release and the air will be full of it.

Last night, the peep frogs were out for the first time this year. Now that it is springtime, I hardly remember winter anymore !! Is there anything I will miss about winter ? Hmmmnn.. let me see—bundling up in too many clothes, shoveling snow, doing the silly dance on ice, warming up bits in order to ride, -- No, I will not miss winter at all at this point.

For the last few days I have been in the woods up on my little “mountain” checking fence and making repairs. Snow still remains in much of the woods. I trudge up the paths with all my tools and saw to take care of downed trees and limbs. There is still plenty of snow here.

I think it’s neat the way the snow melts just around the base of the trees.

When you live and work on a farm for many years, you become familiar with the lay of the land and all the landmarks which almost become part of your "family". This old bicycle has been up in the woods, in the same resting spot, since we moved here 22 years ago. It's a handy reference point ! We all know what we mean if we say-- the spot up by the rusty bike.

Training continues as usual. OYY Ivan has been out on the road under saddle a few times and doing super. Because, along with spring, comes mud season-- the roads are under repair continually.. town trucks bringing in material, graders out every day attempting to make the roads passable. Makes for a great obstacle course ! OYY Elektra has been backed and ridden a few times in the indoor. She's coming along nicely and enjoys her work. At 15.2 hands.. she is a big girl ~ sweet, quiet and willing. Not much fazes her.

Mead's Chocolate Chip is in training now also with another wonderfully successful trainer- Maya Dobush. Our goal with Chip - prepare him for some dressage work and do some shows this summer. He loves his new job. As I watch him with Maya I can see characteristics of all his offspring in him, in his way of moving and holding himself. After a few weeks of work under saddle I should be able to get some good video's. Chip has done nothing but settle mares for the last perhaps 10 years, so he'll slowly gain proper muscling and balance.

Enjoy your day ~