Little Bits of Farm Life #2

Spring is definitely here. Even though it’s supposed to get below fifty degree Friday, at least that’s a lot warmer than the twenty degrees it was during the snow last month.

The winter was very dry, but it has rained a good bit in the last few weeks. Yesterday was quite rainy. I guess April is trying to live up to its reputation. Even though I hate gray skies and the general gloomy-ness of rain, I love how green it has gotten in the past few weeks because of the rain.

The flowerbeds are full of white jonquils and creeping phlox, and the tulips have started to bloom! In May come the irises and lilies.

There are dandelions everywhere. In the yard, in the fields, by side of the road, and in our flowerbeds too. I like how cheery they look, and how puffy they are when they go to seed.

There are also various species of birds around our farm. Killdeer are running about by the side of the road, and bluebirds and cardinals have frequented our bird feeder. Right now I can hear a tractor driving past and the birds chirping in the trees.

The other day a tiny little bird flew into our window. When my brother opened the door to check on it, the little bird flew inside! We caught it and brought it outside after identifying it. It was a Golden-Crowned Kinglet, hardly four inches long! It stayed on my lap a few minutes while it regained it’s senses, and then flew off into the trees.

We also have a muskrat down by our pond. I didn’t even know we had muskrats around here, but apparently we do. I’ve seen him swimming in the pond from a distance, and yesterday I decided to go down to the pond to see him. He was digging up some weeds from the edge of the creek, and when he caught sight of me he ambled down into the pond. He walked like a duck and swam like a dog. I couldn’t get a good picture because I was so far away, but I could definitely see his rat-like tail and plump fury body.

The leaves on the maple trees aren’t out yet, but the willow trees have some miniature leaves on, and the maples are just about ready to pop.

We have gone back to the grain bins quite a few times recently as it’s gotten warmer. It’s a lot of fun to jump off the ladder and into the corn below. (Photo credit to my friend Mallory.)

Finally, the barn kittens. Several times a year a barn cat that we named Violet has a litter of kittens. She’s a pretty tame barn cat, and doesn’t mind us petting her kittens. She recently had five kittens, and they are growing fast!

Do you like rain?
Have you ever seen a muskrat?