Hello spring . . . where are you?

I feel like it has been weeks now that I wake up and look out the window, hoping for that one day that will signal it's here. Maple sugaring starts it in my blood, and for some reason it feels like that the earth should warm up and shine as soon as that last golden jar is cool and slid onto the shelf. But 2011 has failed to comply with the requisite warmth and sunshine.

It doesn't help that spring is going on in our upstairs bedroom right now:

As you can see our started seeds are well on their way to becoming well established plants. In another week or so the brocollis would like nothing better that being able to start spending their days outside in gentle spring sunshine, and then brought inside the garage at night so they don't get frosted.


And then there's the potatoes. Just put to start sprouting in the windowsill this morning.

Though already they have little nubbins of sprouts . . . it won't be long before it will be time to plop them into the just barely warmed ground. In time for them to grown into fresh new potatoes with the first green beans at the end of June. All just a dream right now.


On to other subjects. We acquired a friend for Runt this weekend. His name is Hamball, and while a little smaller than Runt (which seems ironic that anything could be smaller than a runt, but then Runt isn't really small any more), they seem to do a good job of keeping each other company.

And another wrinkle in the farmer/conservationist/pet lover internal conflict. Outdoor cats . . . under the bird feeder. There are plenty of voles, mice, and moles out there, easily accessible judging by all their trails, holes, and hills. And yet she has a hankering for my feathered friends. Argh!