Hoping for A long Winter's Demise

Almost April and the snow is still high ,and our driveway is still an ice rink ..I would like to throw my hands up in the air and lament to Mother nature that I give up! The tranquil serenity of country life has been blemished by relentless winds,snow and biting temperatures. our outdoor animals have spent far too much time huddled inside ,and even with heat lamps and straw i have fretted for their comfort on minus thirty five degree nights! frozen doors, and water pails ..frozen taps and pipes..it has made us wonder if we can do this again! yet today the sun is out. Today i am sending thaw vibes out to make it all go away. i will promise to welcome the clean up of muck,debris and whatever else landed deep in the snow over the past five months and embrace the feeling of soil once more instead of white crunchy stuff.!

Contentment

 There is indeed a circular quality to life sometimes if you pay attention

and a peacefulness that washes over me when I have the luxury of staying put and appreciating the bounty that surrounds me

We are all outdoors again!

 Hank anxiously awaiting breakfast...

 Stephen ..dedicated to the cause in my red rubber boots ..

our view near sunset..

something sweet about dogs in a restful state(particularly jack russells!)

saying goodbye to Luciano

Luciano was our first and only rooster.Proud,magestic,showy,dependable ..and actually sweet. In his last days I could actually carry him a bit..and he didn't seem fussed.He would stand in the sun,alone, facing the breeze..staring out ahead..somewhere with some kind of reverence.until his last hours I continued to place him with his beloved "girls" at night -although he hadn't been crowing for weeks,or mounting in his usual no nonsense style ..I offered him yogurt and berries..little tomatoes and mushed oatmeal..all adored treats.it was a mournful feeling to lose him.He is buried beside Keesha the cat ..the Twerp  and Owen the Border Collie.
Spring is here..I have black fly bites as proof! garden work at this time of year is mostly hard labour with the rake,shovel and wheelbarrow and no roto tiller !I fashioned an arbour of sorts out of willow branches over the weekend which made me smile..a little creative energy expelled!



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My daughter is home for a while and this has been an adjustment for all of us  ..but comforting to have her nearby..I missed her so much..even though my empty nest was getting to feel like "normal" I realize how precious and fleeting this time together is..sigh

 The dogs continue to offer their own special personal comic relief and sweetness to our home

my art continues to flow..

A March heatwave...escape to the great outdoors.

 That first Spring day when everyone can get out and wander makes my heart a little lighter..We had a freakish warm/hot spell im march and this heralded much  sweet grass consumption and insect searches

Cuba..a short yet sweet visit to Las Tunas region

Cuba

the street scenes captivated me and captured my attention

wonderful ,beautiful people

music ..too wonderful to describe

pristine beach

deliciosa