A View of Where I Live

On the last day of March, it is rather bleak outside. There's not much color since the snow just melted about a week ago (though there are still patches of snow in spots). Within a month or so, though, there will be more color as the early-Spring flowers emerge and the trees start budding. It will look quite different. Until then, this is gives an idea what early-Spring in Minnesota looks like.

The east pasture is flooded from heavy snowfalls and then rain before the ground has thawed. This is the first time we have had a rather substantial-size pond in this pasture. This is one of two pastures for the horses, so there area is rather limited now.

The West pasture is having its own challenges too. These pictures show the Southwest (left side) and Northwest (right side) of the pasture. Never has this pasture been this flooded. We have a small lake (this is about half of the area - the other half is in the Southwest pasture (which we don't use) and in the neighbor's field. 

The horses are unable to access this pasture (what there is of it) since the water goes into their run that leads to this area. I can only hope this dries out soon. The frogs, though, came out this past week so I've been enjoying hearing them singing throughout the day and into the evening. The red-winged blackbirds, too, are singing. 

Onto drier land now. I'm standing across the street in the ditch to take this photo so I could get the full height of the trees. They have easily doubled in size since we moved here in 1995. They tower over our home and provide a great wind barrier when the wind is coming from the North.

Walking down the driveway and back to our home, this is the side that faces west. So the window on the first floor where the shutters are is the dining room. Many evenings when we eat dinner, we can see beautiful sunsets from there.

The little section that juts out is the mudroom. It was added on before we moved in, but after the original house was built in 1890. On top of the roof is a birdfeeder. We get such a variety of birds visiting the feeder, and many of my close-up photos of birds are taken from this window while the birds at the feeder.

We have been experiencing an oddly-cold kitchen this year. I'm not sure what is going on with it. We did have a fire at our farm this past May (May 5, 2018). Even though the siding was removed and replaced since it melted, the insulation was not removed. I'm wondering if it became somehow damaged during the fire. There is a distinct temperature difference between the rest of the house and the kitchen as well as master bedroom.

So, while making dinner tonight, the girls brought in the portable electric heater so the little dogs could stay warm. Danny and Scooby, especially, liked sitting in front of it while I made dinner.

One of Cooper's favorite spots is looking out the window in the living room. The chair is covered with a blanket so his paws don't get it dirty. Often times he comes in with mud on his paws since the backyard isn't yet finished from last year's repairs. (Once the ground is thawed and it is dry, it will be regraded and sodded.)

At any rate, he loves watching the birds at the feeder and is very protective of it. He doesn't like when the squirrels eat out of it. Cooper also has an issue with the pheasants for some reason. They are rather big as they walk by the window. Maybe he thinks they are some type of threat to the other littler birds and wildlife.

While I'm at it, I might as well take photos of all the dogs. This is Aspen sitting on her favorite couch. The blanket should be covering the cushions. However, she moves it. She likes to sit on the cushion itself and not blankets. The other little gray mattress is for Danny. Sometimes he likes to sit up high on the couch and watch what is happening.

This is a lighted cabinet that belonged to my parents. It has many of their items in it that I inherited when both passed away in 2012 and 2015. I've added some of my own items to it that I don't want the pets to break.

Each item has a memory and story. The black pitchers in the back are from England in 1988 when my parents and I visited my sister when she was studying abroad during college. The two teapots are from China when we adopted Sophia and Olivia in 2001 and 2003.

The green glass bird belonged to my parents. My grandma had similar glass birds - a blue one (that my sister has) and a purple one (that I have). The silver salt and pepper shakers belonged to my grandma on my mom's side.

Last, the textured bowl with grapes on the outside and copper/gold on the inside is from my parents. They would put homemade cranberry sauce in on Thanksgiving each year.

This was kind of a hodge-podge of photos showing some of our home from the outside; our dogs in different rooms of our home; and a piece of furniture holding special memories.

Outdoor Mom's Journal - March 2019

During our outdoor time this month we went...outside to see the beauty of the huge snowfall on March 2nd. I always enjoy seeing how snow sparkles.

There sometimes are bird prints in the snow.

The trees look almost magical with their frost-covered branches against the blue sky.

The frost on the branches almost looked sharp.

The view from the street of our farm looked so remote and like something I'd see up north. It's been a joy to watch how the trees have grown so much since we've lived here. 

The sun was shining so brightly and made the ice on the branches sparkle.

The snow was so high that it almost reached the top of the woven-wire fence. 

The pathway from the barn back to the house was very narrow. The snow is heavy and high, so it is difficult to shovel wide paths. Thankfully, the days are getting warmer and the sun is moving closer to us so the snow will be gone by the end of the month. 

There was a bunch of crows that have been hanging around at the farm. They enjoy sitting on top of the pine trees next to the driveway. They get a great view of the pasture and farm. 

The most inspiring thing we experienced was...spending time outside on March 2nd trudging through the east pasture. The snow was very deep, so it was quite the workout lifting each leg high and putting it down into the snow.

Yet, the reward was feeling like I was in the remote Northwoods - all alone except for the horses.

While out in the pasture, there would be a periodic gentle wind that would nudge the snow from the trees - creating a "snow shower." 

Our outdoor time made us ask (or wonder about)...how the horses are able to handle such extremes in temperature.

  

This year, the temperature plunged to below -50 degrees windchill. During the summer, temperatures and "feel like" weather will be well into the 100+ degrees.

I think the Spring and Fall are the favorite times for the horses. They gallop and spend more time outdoors (rather than choosing to spend it in the barn), and finding food is much easier to do.

In the garden, we are planning/planting/harvesting...nothing at this point. By March 31st, all the snow has melted and we are looking at some serious flooding - especially in our west pasture.

The ground has not thawed yet and between the snow and rain, the pond is increasing in size. The horses can't reach this pasture since their walkway/path is under a good couple feet of water (at least).

It is hard to do much of anything outside since we can't dig yet. We have to let things dry out like they are on higher ground here.

Thankfully, around the house things are relatively dry. They are just brown and dull in color compared to the start of the month with the brilliant white snow and beautiful blue sky.

I added nature journal pages about...daily observations that I see from the house as I look out, when I'm outside, and/or when I'm driving. I'm continuing to keep track of the birds I see and noticing how they are starting to change as some early birds are making their way back north.

I am dreaming about…days when I can see the lawn furniture. Underneath the snow, there are two outdoor chairs and couch. I've never seen the snow this high before.

Even the picnic table is piled high with snow.

A photo I would like to share...when I was outside on March 2nd taking photos of the snowfall, an eagle flew from the east pasture, through the backyard, and right overhead. It was one of the most amazing things I've ever seen!