Just passing through

The mud, the water dripping though our barn roof, that hormonal Red rooster... yes, Spring is definitely in the air. The mud.  Did I mention the mud?

A steady stream of Snow Geese flew over our house. All day long. Nonstop. I'm not talking about a lot of geese. I'm talking about a ridiculous quantity of them. Thousands and thousands of geese.

It's a sign.

Spring is here. Finally.



I argued at length with myself over which of my two cameras would be the better choice for the job at hand. The fancy big camera has significantly more megapixels so I could crop the photos down later. Or. The old piece-o-junk crop body camera gives a telephoto lens the illusion of significantly more reach.

Also significant was my plan to trek across a soggy field. I decided on the old crop body camera. Thus, my 200mm lens became a 320mm equivalent. Sweet.



I'm not sure it was the right choice of camera. If I had managed to fall into the mud it would certainly have been.

Beyond their constant chatter, you can actually hear them fly. This day, my Spring sounded like the wind churned up by millions of feathers.



It's quite different from the sound of a chicken launching off her roost and crashing into a barn wall.



Both are something worth hearing.

Scavenger Hunt

Scavenger Hunt at Ashley's!

1. Vanishing Point

Mid-March, around here, we reach the point where all hope of Spring vanishes.



2. Square Crop

The warmth of sunshine through a window on a cold winter day, while I'm zonked out in my chair pretending to read books to the kiddos = glorious.



3. Under

My cilantro that some of you have been drooling over. Under lights.



4. "Welcome to the Jungle"

There was really only one option for this. The only question in my mind was how many creatures would be involved.



And really, a container of oatmeal and discarded ducks? With alligators about, you just never know what to expect.

5. Calm

Cloned

Ah, cloning. How I miss my biotech days.



Beyond not being very creative, the only thing I feel I should explain is the plant. I started some seeds a few weeks ago and the cilantro is gorgeous, I have to admire it several times a day.

I'm going to do this again with the kids when we can get outside. Too much fun!

Clones



Does anyone know why google reader is scaling my pictures up (on the reader, not here on the blog), making them look really soft? I'm getting really frustrated about it.

Every year

Winter has become exhausting and dreary here on the frozen tundra. It does nearly every year.



Many of my blogging friends are sneezing and posting photos of tulips and cherry blossoms and green grass. I look out my window and I know they must live on another planet. That can't be real.

We've reached the point where a little sunshine, out of the wind, is starting to feel really good. To all of us. No matter how cold it is outside.



I don't know if we're extra-tough or hardy souls to live here, or maybe we're just insane.

But I do know this...



We'll get our revenge this summer. We do nearly every year.

Best Face of February

I don't know if it's my best. But it's my favorite. I was sitting on my bed, trying to get a decent arm's-length self portrait when this little Bean popped up beside me.



I Heart Faces - "Best Face of February 2011" #263

Funny math

I've never been particularly great with math, but this one has me totally confused.

Every respectable rancher has an accurate total count of his/her livestock. I raise free-range chickens. Chickens are poultry. Poultry is considered livestock. Livestock is raised by ranchers. Argue if you'd like, but I'm gonna roll with it. Today, I just happen to like how it sounds.

You see the mood I'm in? Consider yourself warned.

At the moment, the big question in my mind is not whether I am a rancher, but whether I am a respectable rancher.

Exhibit A: The notebook that holds a very detailed accurate count of my birds.


Once I had all the wrinkles ironed out last fall, I was left with ten Buff Orpington hens, four mixed breed hens, three Barred Rock hens, and a partridge in a pear tree big Red Rooster.

Minus one.

My hefty old axe was not involved this time, and neither was the stupid green plastic handled machete. I swear (usually not on the blog) it's the truth, people.

The plot thickens:

When I closed up the coop after my goofy feathered rototillers put themselves to bed last night, I did a quick count because it was my apparent lack of a count the night before that led to the day's tragic circumstances. (I found one of the hens frozen outside the barn.) Yes, I'm feeling mighty guilty about it, but I'm also blaming the rooster for not keeping track of all his girls.

Ten Buff Orpington hens, four mixed breed hens, two Barred Rock hens, and a Red Rooster.

Huh!? It was a Buff Orpington that had kicked the bucket!

Are you still with me?

In complete disbelief, I counted them again, out loud. Ten Buff Orpington hens, four mixed breed hens, two Barred Rock hens, and a grumpy Red Rooster.

This is kindergarten-level math, for sure, but I had to count them yet again. What on earth!?

I turned to a very annoyed King Red and asked him what the heck was going on in his kingdom. He gave me the stink-eye and demanded to know why the heck I hadn't filled his royal barley bucket yet.

Exhibit B: Rooster with way too much attitude.


I headed back across the yard through -17F windchill weather without my coat (because this was supposed to be a quick trip to the barn). I returned with a five gazillion candle-power (or something like that) flashlight. Don't laugh! This thing is fantastic when you're playing "Where's Waldo" with chickens in the dark. I could probably flag down an airplane with it, if I really wanted to.

The missing Barred Rock turned up in the first place I checked. Believe me, this is not normally the way this game is played. Checkmate! I tossed her into the coop and His royal Highness King Red glared at me.

Ten Buff Orpington hens, four mixed breed hens, three Barred Rock hens, and a Red Rooster who thinks he owns the universe.

Have you been paying attention?

I have exactly the same number of chickens as I did the previous day.

I'm rather confused about the whole matter.

This is not an easy thing to screw up. Honestly. I count them almost every single evening when I close the coop door. Sometimes my sweet husband locks them up for me, and once in awhile even he counts them. And if, if it is somehow possible that one of the Buff Orpington ladies was spending her nights away from the coop, I would certainly have seen her out in the yard on at least one occasion before I let the flock out their palace in the morning.

They tricked me for months. Months!

Whether I'm a rancher, respectable or not, I'm really not sure.

I am quite sure that I'm a mother.

I, uh.... I have three children. At least I think so. Maybe I'd better go count them.

My own backyard

The 2011 North Dakota travel guide landed in our mailbox a few weeks ago. As I began flipping through the pages, quite frankly, I was embarrassed.



They featured so many amazing historic places I have never visited...



...and fantastic cultural festivals I have never witnessed.

Worse still, I fear I might have thrown it into my recycling bin without even peeking at the pages, if it wasn't for one tiny little thing. One of my very good blogging friends is planning a summer trip that just happens to run right through the middle of my gorgeous state.

Did I just say that out loud? Please excuse me while I stick my head out the front door and scream because I am that excited for her visit.

Woooohoooooooo!!!

Okay, so hypocrite or not, I have the honor of suggesting places of interest for her to consider.

My kids have been intrigued with it too, so we're also making a list of our own.

"Mommy, what is this?" "Mommy! What is this!?"

We're definitely going to venture out a bit more this summer. They're old enough to remember it, but young enough that it will still be difficult. I'm hopeful we could survive a few day trips.

What are the must see attractions in your state? My fellow North Dakotans, give me a vote for your favorite sights!

A digital copy of the ND travel guide is available HERE.