Season journal: signs of early spring

I heard my first Sandhill Crane this morning. Sandhills sound so distinctive. Early March and already so much says “springtime!”

Last year’s ducklings are beginning to lay.

They don’t always use the nesting boxes.

They share nesting sites. It is easy to miss some caches.

Even covered with blankets in a dark basement, potatoes know it is time to grow.

Potatoes and eggs.

A little flour.

Gnocchi!

Paired with gratinéed fish and broccoli: an alternative to a Friday fish fry that didn’t disappoint Irene.

This was our first effort at these Italian dumplings: fun and delicious too. Leftovers went into a frittata for a different take on potatoes and eggs.

Our stores are getting thin, but forage for the deer is much thinner. The deer raid the bird feeders every evening.

The warm air and cold ground generates ice fog: spectacular in morning light.

The warm weather has eaten most of the snow…with a little help from Zeke.

We’ve been wearing our anniversary shirts outdoors regularly.

Michael stripped down even further for his semi-annual shearing.

The neighbors are sugaring. The early spring may mean a short syrup season. We are due for overnight freezing for the next week, so they may gather sufficient sap yet.

We look forward to feeding the Grand Girl whatever may be in season when next we meet.

March 10 update: first rain!