Spring things

I'm going to milk the cow this morning; at least, I'm going to try.  Since Clyde has been running at his mother's side for about three months, taking all her milk, she may not "give it down" for me.  We'll see what happens.  The weather turned so severe this winter, and Bonnie cut back on production (she only has two working quarters now, remember), that I decided it wasn't worth my time going out in the cold for the small amount of milk I was getting.  

Clyde doesn't seem to have lacked for food this winter.  
I happened to find some lovely alfalfa-brome hay on Craigslist yesterday for four dollars per bale, about fifteen miles from home.  We went and picked up twenty-five bales just for Bonnie.  Spring is on its way and people are clearing last year's hay out of their barns.  

I spied this crocus blooming all alone in the flower bed in front of the house.  I was looking for signs of life from daffodils, but this is all I found.  

The garlic I planted last fall is up and growing, in spite of freezing nights.  


Cliff and I are past the worst part of whatever we had that laid us low.  I've decided it's sleeping sickness, because every time either of us sat down in a chair, we'd fall asleep.  Even though other symptoms are gone (except the cough, of course), I'm still sleeping a LOT, and doing it very soundly, too.  At one point in the night I started waking up, very irritated that somebody wouldn't stop disturbing my sleep with their coughing.  Once I was completely awake, I realized I was the one coughing.    
I need to find some seed potatoes someplace; St. Patrick's Day approaches.  

Can spring be far behind?

Cliff asked what I thought about tilling up the yard and planting grass.

I suggested he do half of the front yard, and we could do the rest this fall. The grass in the east part is adequate, at least for now. That way the whole yard won't be mud at once.

I put my herbs on the front porch for the day.

Tulips which were frozen hard three days ago seem no worse for the wear today.

Cliff picked up a hitchhiker, granddaughter Natalie.

The peonies I transplanted from our old yard are alive and peeking through!

So are the iris. Actually, there's dirt on top of most of the iris I planted. I was just being mischievous (and proving a point) when I tossed these down on top of the grass. You can't kill these things!