Dreaming of Spring - Already

Winter has only just begun and I'm already dreaming about Spring. There are so many things I have planned.

The property I live on has a huge manicured front and back yard. Lots of places around the front porch to grow flowers. The barn and paddock are to the left of the driveway, and pasture 1 is behind the paddock and back yard. Pasture 2 is located to the right of the front yard and has a small pond. The rest of the property is woodsy, with big old trees perfect for tree houses, and wild blackberry bushes that produce a ton of berries. A few months ago I discovered a couple of apple trees at the very back end of the woods. There is a riding lawn mower in the garage that needs a new belt and we'll need that to keep the trails in woods trimmed and accessible.

The garden area sits between the backyard and pasture 1, with the clothes line around the perimeter. Not only does the clothes line save on electricity, it's a great barrier between the garden and the deer. They don't like the hanging clothes and stay away. I planted garlic in the fall and will plant everything possible that will grow this far north. This past summer I canned some tomatoes and spaghetti sauce. That was awesome! I love being self-sufficient and living off of the land.

I plan to get a few more animals. I'd like to have another cat to help with the mice population - I've found them in the house, in the garage, and in the barn. Definitely need a barn cat! I want another horse, a young one that I can train. I also plan to get a couple of chickens this Spring because farm fresh eggs are so good! It's amazing how different they taste compared to store-bought eggs. I haven't decided whether or not I want to just buy a chicken coop or try to build one. I'm sure my oldest son will help if I decide to build one. How hard could it be?

As I write this, it is snowing, cold and gloomy. The horses were pissed because their hay roll was almost gone, so I had to ask Henry down the street to bring me another one. The big rolls last about two weeks. I know the horses are missing their pasture grass.

Time to go muck stalls. And dream of Spring!