Wednesday, March 19, 2008

03.19.08 EASTER EGGS


It certainly isn't difficult to figure out the origin of the connection between egg hunting and this spring holiday! My tiny flock of chickens laid no eggs for months during the cold and dark days of winter. But as the days started to get longer and the air warmer they have all felt the urge. The first egg of the season arrived on the last day of February and we have been getting two or three a day since then. Many more than we can eat, so we are happy to distribute our flock’s bounty with friends and neighbors. My flock consists of only eight chickens, two of which are little bantam rooster brothers. Five of the hens are five years old and one bantam hen is three years old. Good producers worth keeping until they retire of natural deaths. They keep the garden fertile, the weeds and bugs down, and offer us these wonderful gifts during the warm months.

Since all my chickens live in one house now, I plan to refurbish both of my "chicken tractor" houses and start a new flock for the empty house. Twenty-six new chicks for myself and friends are due to arrive by mail from the hatchery on April 4!

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

03.11.08 OTHER DIRECTIONS


Hello to all of you who have been following this blog’s occasional entries during this past year. Thank you for your visits and your encouragement! I set out to keep an occasional record of events in the natural world in our corner of the mountains for one year, through all four seasons. The year has now come around and I will leave the regular blogging for other creative pursuits. I am not going to close this blog, my postings instead will now be very irregular, as the inspiration strikes. Thank you so much for visiting and feel free to contact me at jbeery@cstone.net

Friday, March 7, 2008

03.07.08 ENCHANTED FOREST


An enchanted broccoli forest grows under lights in the studio awaiting its chance in the sun.

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

03.05.08 BOUNTIFUL BLOSSOMS



Against the deep clear blue of a freshly scrubbed sky the first blossoming trees add a haze of color to the woody skyline of town. Their courageous flowers in red and gold assure us of another year of protection from the summer's blaze of light.

03.04.08 PUSHING SPRING


The daylilies can't wait. They are one of the first perennials in the flower beds to start popping up. Their aggressive growth reveals the tip of a massive press of green just waiting below the soil's surface for the longer warmer days.