I’ve been looking for my first wildflowers while taking my morning walks. Yesterday there were none to be seen as I walked east. Five minutes later, walking back home…

…the Bloodroot bloomed!

As did the apricot tree and the few bulbs I have hidden amongst the rhubarb. The deer ate all the daffodils I planted for Irene.

Our first duckling hatched April 23rd.

Our first chicks made their break on April 25th.

We hatched 19 ducklings…

…and 17 chicks.

On May 2nd we picked up 26 broiler chicks from the feed mill.

The arrival of the broilers meant we had to get the adults out on summer pasture. Here they are on May 1st.

Our hatchlings spend their first week in large tubs in the basement. They soon outgrow those and graduate to the outdoor coops. Michael checks on them at about 3 am daily to make sure they are warm but not too warm, and have food and water. We all keep an eye on them during the day. They have to be kept at 90° for the first week, and gradually lowered until they are big enough to regulate their own temperature by about 3 weeks old. They grow at an amazing pace.

The snow that came with our first hatchlings made us worry we had started our eggs too soon. The next week saw wild wind and rain. Then May 1st came. The sun started to peep through clouds. Yesterday we had 70°s and sunshine. Today is cloudier, but still beautiful.

The Marsh Marigolds bloomed April 28th.

Trout lilies, anemones and hepatica blanket the hillsides, which were barren two days ago.

While Michael worked getting the summer yurts ready for the birds, I weeded the asparagus garden. You have to dig up the quack grass roots before the asparagus shoots appear. I got the last of the garden weeded just in time and only broke a few new shoots. I covered them all in 8” of well composted duck straw. I finished this garden on May 3rd.

On May 1st, while Michael was out splitting wood with a friend, I planted the potatoes left from last year’s harvest.

May 2nd the poplar won the first leafs of spring game.

Getting out on pasture came with a side benefit: finding winter cress before it bloomed!

Fish fillet sandwiches, fish soufflé and duck tacos are all so much better with winter cress.

Michael cleaned and organized our gear as a prelude to taking me fishing this Sunday.

If we don’t catch fish we shall feast on wild greens.

Today would have been Irene’s 91st birthday. Tomorrow our children bring us the Grands. We will share good memories, eat good food, and create bonds that survive time and tide. Michael and I are loving life, fully realizing death comes always. L’Chaim!