Michael and Irene have left me alone to tend our gardens and livestock while they are off doing other good deeds. This has gotten me out and about, absorbing all the awakenings happening at this time of year.

All 11 duck hens are laying and 13 of our 17 chicken hens are laying. Two dozen eggs every day...omelets in the morning, soufflés at night and custard for dessert.

Mr. Frog let me take his picture. Madame Butterfly could not sit for a portrait.

The frogs will begin to sing soon. In the meantime the Sandhills, geese, teal, blackbirds, pheasant, and wrens make an incredible cacophony around sunset.

Rhubarb vying to out-red the maples

A few days of full sun and warmth will have us in bloom in a heartbeat. I'm keeping my eyes peeled for dandelion greens. They make the best first salad of spring. Happy April everyone!