The sun has been shining now for two days in a row and the
flowers and trees are starting to bud and blossom. You can almost hear them
stretching, yawning and sighing relief that the cold days of winter seem to be
behind us and it is time to grow. 
On the farm, little purple flowers are starting to pop up in
the fields – turning everything a lovely shade of purple and the first Spring
grass just glows. It is an amazing sight and the biggest reason Spring is one
of my most favorite seasons.
I have to remind myself to enjoy these sights as I also
think of the short time frame I have to get the garden tilled before weeds take
over, plants planted so that the ground produces food, baby chicks moved from
brooder to grow out pen to, finally, the adult coop, dog treats made and
readied for the upcoming Farmer’s Markets and a bit of Spring Cleaning to take
inventory to what I have and what I need to keep and what needs to go.
It can certainly be a stressful time as it doesn’t take but
a few weeks before summer’s heat sets in and mowing becomes a priority as well
as keeping waterers filled as the chickens’ need for water increases.
Just as in the winter, when the temperature drops below 20
degrees, I have to stop for a moment and just take in this gift of rural living
that I have taken on. Catching a sunrise and pausing for just a few minutes to
appreciate the colors and the sounds of the earth waking or stopping for a
sunset when the crickets and peep frogs begin to sing their nightly serenade
needs and must be a priority for me to keep the balance.
Rural living can be tough, but the rewards are incredible.
