The Big Thaw
February can be pretty bleak here in the Northeast as winter seems to drag on and on. As far as winters go, we’ve had a good deal of snow and the landscape has been very monotone. Many people dislike this time of year when the snow begins to look dirty and old and the itch to get outdoors turns to impatience. Quite pleasantly, yesterday, our temperatures rose above 60-degrees Fahrenheit, melting a good deal of the snow and much of the earth was suddenly exposed. I thought you would enjoy seeing some very pleasant and welcoming signs of the imminent spring, as a little reminder that February is nearly half over. These photos were taken at my farm yesterday – an almost balmy day.Â
I love when the snow melts...it reminds us of all the beautiful pleasures outside that we tend to forget about in the wintertime. Sharkey & Franchesca look to be having a wonderful time. My dogs loved running around and slopping in the mud this afternoon. They were so dirty but they are anxious for spring as well, or they may just be content with all of our rain so they can play in puddles all day long.
Posted by: Ashley Cornewell | February 11th, 2009 at 7:31 pm
I think that means the tree is in trouble.
Posted by: Robyn - Aussie girl | February 11th, 2009 at 7:34 pm
Thank you Martha for posting such wonderful pictures of your farm. We are all having unusual warm weather and the snow is melting on your farm. I love the pictures of the brooks, the tree with the mushroom, the beautiful maple trees and sycamore tree. We are all waiting for spring to come.
Linda
Phila., PA
Posted by: Linda | February 11th, 2009 at 9:11 pm
Hi, Martha,
Thank you for taking us on a tour of the signs of spring on your farm. Like Francesca and Sharkey, my two dogs wanted to be outdoors yesterday just to wander. I was happy to see Meindert and Billy and Clive. I like that giant sunken cement bird bath! What a fitting tribute to your Mom under the beautiful maple!
Kathy
Posted by: Kathy | February 12th, 2009 at 1:27 am
A beautiful collection of pictures.
Here in Connecticut, it was so warm that I was able to turn off the heat and open the windows. :O
Posted by: Victoria Everman | February 12th, 2009 at 1:33 am
Ahhh, the beautiful signs of spring! I love this time of year when the mud left over from the winter finally dries up. Beautiful pictures..I am wondering if the daffodils know what time of year it is? We don't see them where we live until April.
Posted by: Brian | February 12th, 2009 at 3:18 am
I'm so jealous of all your brooks and streams! I love the sound of the water flowing gently and winding around different stones.
The pictures are lovely and make me excited for spring. Even though we've been having some incredible weather here, it's not official just yet!
Posted by: Kari | February 12th, 2009 at 3:36 am
Hi! Martha,
Pic #1, Francesca and Sharkey look as if they have staged themselves at the beginning of a duel! Why am I not surprised!?
I, too, have that beautiful moss on my property. I've been told it has some connection to the Goddess. Doesn't everything?!
Anyway, the mushroom experiencing dead-air-time is a great winter find. Have to admit though, Martha, my sriveled-up sh'rooms don't look nearly as shapely as yours. But I love how they pop out so white and perfect and shrink from life a little bit day by day. (Is that sick, or what?) I've wondered if they're OK to eat but I'm not a great mushroom fan so I've just enjoyed watching them turn into mushroom jerky...now there's a thought! Wish to see the crocus soon and more of your finger-snapping shots!
P.S. For Valentine's Week I'd like to send the first round of "love-power" to all the "Martha" folk...you know who you are!
Posted by: tinay | February 12th, 2009 at 4:17 am
Hi Martha! I love spring and this post reminds me that it's not too far away. Btw, I'm just curious what a typical day is like for you. Maybe one of these days you can write a post on that, yes?
Happy Thursday!
Posted by: Sarah | February 12th, 2009 at 4:47 am
The dogs look like they have a good grass race track. Much much better than a dirt or mud track.
We could still see ice flows in our river as bad as we want to have spring. All the animals are ambitiously looking for something green and growing, bluck on that dry hay.
Posted by: Margie | February 12th, 2009 at 5:02 am
We had a very brief warm up in Chicago. It is so nice to see the ground once again.
Posted by: Linda Crispell | February 12th, 2009 at 5:03 am
Hi Martha,
I have never enjoyed spring so much as when it occurs at your house! You even have daffodils poking out of the ground already as if to say, enough of this snow! I would love to sit on a bench near your gurgling streams or take a walk along the carriage road. Your property is so fabulous!
Picture #15 with the rocks reminded me of your stone wall and specifically the corner that got damaged when a truck backed into it. I checked all the “Home” blogs and it happened last January the 29th. I know you are not one to let things go so I was wondering how difficult it was to repair. It seemed if you took a few stones out, more would fall. I was just curious.
All of your animals make me smile! I can only imagine how thrilling it would be to own horses and donkeys and a lot of chickens. Sharkey and Francesca look like they are ready to take ten steps forward, turn and run! Thanks for all the great photos. I wish I had some of that moss. Trish
Posted by: Trish | February 12th, 2009 at 6:28 am
Here in Nova Scotia we are having freezing rain today and still a lot of snow.This winter feels very long,I guess i'm longing to get out doors and start planting.We moved down here last fall from Ontario and now we have nine acres to play with.I have a lot of work ahead of me..i wish you were here so you could tell me what I should start doing first.I am planning apple trees,chickens,and a huge veg garden!
maybe I shouldn't be rushing my 'down' time right now lol
Sue
Posted by: susan | February 12th, 2009 at 6:37 am
We have had beautiful weather here in Virginia too.
My whole family has loved being outside in the fresh sunshine. My favorite part is bringing in clothes right off the line. That smell is unbeatable!
Posted by: TheCottonWife | February 12th, 2009 at 7:00 am
Hi Martha, It is amazing what 'Mother Nature' is capable of doing as time goes by. Your beautiful farm is a perfect example of how 'Mother Nature' performs. I absolutely love all of the fantastic photos you share with us. Many of them are a bit similar to my property, like the moss, the lichens and the plants poking up through the melting snow. I find all of that beautiful. After we have a cold spell, I just love it when the birds come out of wherever and start singing again. We had 63 degrees last Wednesday and the birds were spectacular. What a wonderful harbinger of Spring this blog is! Can't wait to start gardening again. Thanks so much for doing your wonderful blog. Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | February 12th, 2009 at 8:41 am
Today's first photo of Francesca and Sharkey resembles (to me) those little Scottie dogs that had magnets which came in a little matchbox - remember those? - they'd repel one another or attract each other, depending which way you turned them. In the distance, the girls are just simply black and white, sitting opposed to each other, and it just reminded me of those childhood toys. I only KNOW they were rippin'-n-tearin' around, 'snorting' in all that fresh air (with those little pushed-in faces - remember, I grew up with Boxers.) Edgar's =^..^= sister, Mandy =^..^=, just l-o-v-e-s the fresh air (she stays indoors, unless she helps me bring in the mail [in my arms] or waves goodbye to her daddy when he's leaving the house and getting in the vehicle. [giggle]) Over the past weekend, it was warm enough to have a door open, and I lifted the storm window just enough so she could sniff and twitch her little pink nose and take in all those tantalizing scents...she just loved it!
Meindert, Billy, and Clive are just dear - I feel certain in my heart that they're beginning to feel a little frisky too and want to get out and run and play and give God glory in their own little ways...
Today's winds (40-50 mph gusts!) are atrocious, which will call for yet another wintertime yard clean-up. Twiggy branches and other debris (trash!! - man, do I HATE that!!) have blown from who-knows-where, so after the winds lay tomorrow, I'll be doing that (tomorrow nite, by street lights) before snow showers arrive on Saturday. Yes, snow showers! (Oh, the humanity...)
Me-thinks Old Man Winter isn't finished with us yet!
=^..^=
"My primary objection to gardening is that by the time my back gets used to it, my enthusiasm is gone."--Anonymous
Posted by: Cindy Bricker | February 12th, 2009 at 8:54 am
(...oh yes...that sunken birdbath!...)
I don't remember ever seeing this birdbath before, Martha...pleasepleasePLEASE show it to us this summer, when it is filled! I was going to suggest (being a bird lover-n-all) that you have some birdbaths here and there in your gardens (you know, as focal points), but - well, you already have one! (And it looks waaay cool! - IlikeitIlikeit!)
I am r-e-a-l-l-y interested in seeing this, so keep us updated (pretty please?!!) [grin] It made my heart pitter-patter!
(okay, I feel better...)
=^..^=
Posted by: Cindy Bricker | February 12th, 2009 at 9:04 am
What nice pictures on such a warm day for this time of year. I was surprised to see the daffodils sprouting up. Can't wait for the pussywillows to bloom, as you showed us beautiful pictures of them last spring.
In this area of the country, you never know when the last snow storm is going to come. As the saying goes, March comes in like a lion, out like a lamb!
Posted by: Sherry | February 12th, 2009 at 10:57 am
miss martha ,
i haven't been on your page for awhile...but today i visit your page... the picture of your farm with snow on the ground was so beautiful.i wish i had a place like that just to get away for the rat race..its just so breath taking..one nite i watch your show and i told my hubbie your didn;t sound like you felt good..hope you are doing good..and you are feeling good. best wishes.
Posted by: linda bland | February 12th, 2009 at 10:22 pm
My first daffodil bloomed on New Year's eve and have continued to bloom over the past 6 weeks. Like you, I wonder what is causing the earlier blooms...
Posted by: Tricia | February 14th, 2009 at 6:33 am
Your blog makes me feel calm and grounded and inspired. Thank you! Even here in Los Angeles we have had a real winter with lots of cold rain, hail, frosty nights, snow in the mountains. Strolling the UCLA campus last week, I saw a fat squirrel stealing bits of newspaper and racing high into a pine tree. Can squirrel babies be on the way already? Ah, Spring!
Posted by: Kate | February 20th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
I didn't feel very well until I looked at these photos. I feel much better, now. Thank you.
Posted by: jwms | March 5th, 2009 at 1:08 pm