Walking Iten's Aces: Spring Break Day Seven

Tired. Sore. Arthur is not happy with me. What a great day! Actually it started last night. And the evening and the morning were the seventh day at the Acres. Homesteader and I put the green chair to good use last night reveling in the thunderstorms and the moaning of the winds in the still bare treetops. Loved it. And then in daylight--warm enough to actually work, despite the wind. Put on the old Cardinal hat and went to work, by the sweat of my brow even--curse and pulling weeds united. Serenaded by the peepers, too. And saw Bonnie! A perfect day.
Of course, the morning walk came first. Just a couple new entries--a huge bouquet of golden yellow crocus and a small patch of white ones. The gold ones were in the front of the property; the white ones way in the back forty (feet, not acres, in case you were wondering). Walking the entire Acres is indeed a necessity--if you are into beauty. And the daffodils and hyacinth are really starting to come up--except in the wild area. But they may be coming up there as well; it's just that this winter's snowfall has really compressed the grasses. I'm sure they are under there, but it will just take a bit for them to show themselves. After all, they are up and about everywhere else.
Jobs accomplished: adjusted the scope on the tree rat eliminator--missed the last varmint. Ugh. Raked up some old walnuts. Cleaned off the front and back patios. Two beds--the spring bed and the blue bed are now completely ready for the flower parade. Not much going on in the blue bed yet, but the spring bed, once I "cleaned it out," is loaded--daffodils, grape hyacinth, regular hyacinth, crocus--coming up en masse--going to be gorgeous in a week or two. Late but not never! I also started to work on three other beds; it will take a while to get them completely ready, but I'm on my way. Last job of the day--cleaned out some brambles from under some trees and shrubs. I hate those things--the slinky of the weed world. They bend over and the top takes root and on they slink. It's an eternal battle--well, a lifelong battle.
Anyway, one real spring day to labor with my old hands was good for my old soul. The body will just have to endure. Get use to it Arthur. "No pain, no gain." Tomorrow looks like another cold day again--maybe even a touch of snow and sleet so I won't be doing much work. Thank you, Lord, for this one day! This spring break has been backwards. Six days shalt thou rest and on the seventh day labor. I'll take it!

Walking Iten's Acres: Spring Break Day Six March 27, 2014

"The best laid plans of mice and men . . . Ahhh, all those plans I had for this week at the Acres have fallen victim to the vagaries of an Ohio March. Wild and capricious indeed. Today again--cool and windy. And just for fun, throw in a few raindrops. Even the peepers have gone back into hiding. There were a few audacious crocus that decided that they were tired of sitting around waiting for sunshine. A few purple, one white and a couple more yellow. May their tribe increase! May the Lenten roses be infected by their bravery. And the high on Saturday will be in the thirties. Just means I will have some busy Saturdays coming up in April. Unless it snows of course.

Walking Iten's Acres: Spring Break Day Five March 26, 2014

Yep, still cold. This morning may have been the coldest of the week. I need to get one of those face covering things so I can stay out longer without being frozen. (I know--wimpy, wimpy, wimpy). The pond has a film of ice on it during my AM trek. There's still snow on the ground. And the flocks of robins still don't seem to mind. They did finish off the last of the crab apples. I have two right next to each other in the meadow, and one had already been stripped clean--a long time ago. But one was still covered with fruit. Until today--now almost all of it is gone. I assume the flock of robins, but I have no proof. Some bird had crab apple for breakfast--or a late night snack yesterday evening.
I keep waiting for an outbreak of flowers. There are lots more daffodils poking up everywhere. They are finally visible in the wild area as they push their way through the winter's flattened grass. It looks as if there will be a bountiful supply of whites, yellows, pinks, and even oranges within a couple of weeks or so. I guess Troy is just going to have to give us another spring break in the middle of April. He is in charge of the weather, right? He and the seniors should have packed up a little of that DR weather and brought it home with them. So thoughtless . . . I'll forgive them.
Tomorrow is supposed to warm up a little--and rain probably. I guess I'll just have to rein in my expectations, do the work required, and enjoy my walks when I get home from school in the evenings. Since everything seems to be running a few weeks late, maybe they won't bloom until June! And I'll be home all day! An old man can dream, can't he? Forgive my murmurings--even cold and wet, the Acres are a beautiful place to take a stroll. Twice a day!

Walking Iten's Acres: Spring Break Day Four March 25, 2014

I must begin with a confession. I didn't do a whole lot of "work" today around the Acres. Nothing to next-to-nothing would be a slight exaggeration. Spent most of the morning and early afternoon reading while watching the sky go from the sun playing hide-and-seek behind the clouds, to a gathering gray, to a lovely snowfall. There isn't a whole lot of snow, but it's wet and sticks beautifully to all it touches. Lovely.
I did take a couple of walks today, of course. It's the time of year where you see last summer's hidden things. The summer grass in the meadow's margins effectively hid a small cedar I brought up from Mom's place in South Carolina a few years ago. I didn't have much hope for it up here in Yankee land; its being Southern born and bred, but its parent in Mom's backyard was gorgeous and full of fruit that the cedar waxwing coveted. It had done little in the way of growing, and I imagined that the vortex would be its ruin. Alas, not so. Hidden away last summer in the tall grass, it exploded. It has to have at least tripled in size in the last year. Now, it's still small--three to four feet, but it's alive, well, and even appears to be thriving! Yes! If I live another decade and can keep the Acres, I will have my own Cedar Waxwing Diner. Bring your own camera.
It's also the time of year for seeing the myriad of nests that I passed by numerous times last year without the slightest idea that a family of my feathered friends was growing up in touching distance of the old man. There are some nests higher up in the trees which I can excuse myself for not noticing on my many walks, but the ones in the bushes just a reach away, surely I should have noticed them--O great observer that I claim to be. Not so. My friends are masters at building hidden bungalows.
And my feathered friends were the highlight of my afternoon walk in the falling snow. A flock of robins--red and black against a snow-white background--is glorious to behold. And they have a singing heart even in the snowfall. Loud and boisterous as always. What's a little spring snow when you know for sure that spring has come to stay. Is there any creature more boisterously optimistic than a robin in March? And today it was a flock of them! A symphony. Love those robes they wear!
Tomorrow is supposed to be chilly again, I believe. Maybe I can be tempted to take a pilgrimage to Baker's Acres and see what they have to offer this time of year. A temptation to be tempted I'm sure. I always go there in mid-May. What a collection of flowers they offer! But I've never been there in early spring. It is a trip. Ahhh. I'll see what another cold day entices me to do with my rest. I enjoy working at resting--in case you didn't notice. Bring on Day Five!

Walking Iten's Acres: Spring Break Day Three March 24, 2014

Spent the morning wishing I was out among the Acres. Instead I was enjoying bowing before the IRS and the Great State of Ohio--oh, and the Highland Local School District. One of the joys of going back into the work force. Though, to be perfectly honest, (as opposed to being imperfectly honest) interacting with this year's senior class has not been "work." Great bunch of kids. Yes, kids. End result of my spring break mathematics--I owe Highland Schools six dollars. Think that will buy anything?
This afternoon, I got out into the world--my little world. Gold and yellow crocus are everywhere. See pictures below. Still only one aconite--see pictures below. It seems as if the gold-yellow crocus always bloom first. The purple, white, and lilac are not far behind, but almost always a few days later. In fact, I've had a few purple and white crocus with buds still closed just sitting around waiting to bloom. It's as if they're in communication with their yellow brethren waiting for permission to bloom as well. I'll let you see them when they decide to brag. I guess I should take a picture or two of the lovely snowdrops too, just to be fair.
Mostly today I raked and weeded--again. And did lots of slow meandering through the property. Even when there's not much to see color-wise, the walk is a catharsis, of sorts. God's art is always good for the soul, and just wandering about with time and space to meditate is a healing force as well. If it does get up into the fifties and low sixties this week, I will have to spend some time on the green throne at the top of the hill. I don't know if the bluebirds are back yet--and certainly not the velvet bombers (see barn swallow in my dictionary)--but the field sparrows and goldfinch are active in the meadow and wild area. And occasionally a shadow of a buzzard floating overhead will remind me that I should have taken a shower this morning. It's always flattering to be considered dead meat--just call me Road Kill. Such majestic flyers--such ugly birds. Hey, maybe that's why they fly over--they think I'm a relative.
Anyway, day three was a joy. Had a little chat with the neighbor kids as well. And Gus--though I have to risk my life and cross over the electric fence to befriend my old buddy. He's appreciative--tail wagging, jumping up and down, dog "hello" stuff. Chance of snow is down to fifty percent--oh, well, can't have everything. I guess Marlin has more pull than I do. Until tomorrow--find some nature and enjoy it. Who do you think the Creator made it for?

Walking Iten's Acres: Spring Break Day Two March 21, 2014

Brrrr. I admit I didn't do as much outside today as a real man would have. The wind was cold! Supposed to get a couple of inches of snow later this week. Weird old man that I am, I will enjoy watching it come down and blanket the Acres. Wish it was going to be a little more actually. Love watching a snowfall.
I did clean out a bed or two. The robins supervised. That always gets me motivated to do more. It's invigorating to rediscover what's hidden under the weeds and dead grass waiting to come up and bloom. A couple hyacinths are on their way. A new batch of snowdrops over by the old doghouse this afternoon. Maybe I just missed them yesterday, but I can't imagine. Took a trek all the way around the pond, wrestled my way through the thorn bushes under The Old Sentinel. No sign of the bees yet. Not that I was expecting them yet. Hope they survived the winter way up there in that topmost branch. No ice on the pond though--deep and wide with the melt off, but no ice. And the peepers are here!! Love 'em.
Hauled some branches out to the wild area. Someday I hope to have a couple of huge brush piles out there to attract wild things. I should buy a hay bale one of these days and dump it out there. Hmm. Hadn't that of that dumb idea before. I'm sure my beloved friends the deer would appreciate it.
Oh, and filled the thistle feeder--much to the delight of the finches.
All in all, not much to report on today. Church. Lunch. Sitting in the green chair reading, providing a lap for Homesteader and her bird watching, thinking about how cold it was outside with that wind, and eventually, actually being man enough to go into the March vortex (hey, it's all relevant, you know), and doing some manual labor. And the morning and the afternoon were the second day. And it was good.

Walking Iten's Acres: First Day of Spring Break March 22, 2014

Cool. Cloudy. Gray. The ground wasn't nearly as soggy as i imagined. The bog is wet, of course; and the path between it and the mound. But the bog is always wet. Yep, that's why they call it a bog. (They being me) The pussy willow between the bog and the pond is exquisite. Such wetness is a joy for a willow. I still marvel at its size--and beauty. The yellow flag and Louisiana iris are coming up as well. I love iris that love bogs. It will be awhile before they bloom, but anticipation can be a lovely thing in the world of Iten's Acres.
Though it has only been a couple of days since my "check things out" traipse, much has happened. Half a dozen Lenten rose are on the very verge of blooming. The leaves are all dead, but they are going to bud and bloom nonetheless. Warriors. Take that vortex. Crocus are starting to come up in several places as well. They are a couple of weeks late, but I magnanimously forgive them--yellow, purples, lilacs, oranges--here they come. And one yellow aconite has bloomed under the canopy--ferny leaves, brilliant yellow bloom. Nice way to start the spring. Hope there are more to come. Snowdrops everywhere. One day you don't see them; the next day you do. Delicate loveliness. A few tulips are coming up. Spring's procrastinators--won't bloom for quite awhile. And tons of daffodils breaking through the soil everywhere but the wild area. The power of flowers to force their way through rock hard soil unintimidated. The beautiful will not be denied. The only place in the wild area that they are showing themselves is in one of the new paths I cut last summer. Oops. I guess that path will have to go back to wildness. Never fear. I will get another case of pathitis this summer and be my creative self.
Lots of getting ready work to do this week--branches to take to the wild area, areas to cut back last summer's weeds--especially in the beds. Some raking as well--get the leaves out of a couple of beds. Make a pile or two of left over walnuts for bait--"here, here my furry tree rats. Never fear. Just help yourself." Heh, heh. (Sorry Cindy.)
I am so looking forward to a week of hermiting at the Acres. My reclusive soul is in need of a sabbath. A sabbath of work--a sabbath of finding joy in the "curse" of labor. Working with your hands--even arthritic ones--is an elixir for what ails a man. And it will be too cold to sweat. At least until Thursday. Oh, and I'll let you know when the forsythia bloom. Don't put those snow shovels away yet.

Walking Iten's Acres: Pre-spring Excusion March 15, 2014

One week until spring officially arrives. One week until spring break officially arrives. There is not much going on as I traipse the Acres these days. I'm taking mental notes of some things I need to do over spring break. The beds need cleaning. Actually most of them need redoing completely, but that's not going to happen. I'll have to make do. Maybe I can redo one bed a year.
Usually by this time of year, the crocus have been blooming for a week or so. But it was five degrees last week, and they don't seem in any hurry to come up. I only have one bouquet--soft yellow--that's up on display. And it's in the wild area of all places. They are usually last! The only thing else that is thinking of showing off is one Lenten rose in the trees. Well, the monster pussy willow is aglow in its silveriness, but it's always blooming it seems. My other two pussy willows are biding their time. And only a very few daffodils have even started to push their way through the frozen earth. I can't imagine how deep the ground must be frozen. The pink ladies have started to come up too, but they wait until August to actually bloom. No sign of anything else, yet. I am curious as to the effect the Vortex winter will have on the Acres. Time will tell. Not much I can do about it but walk and wait.
The snow pack from this winter has flattened the wild area and even the ground under the trees. I still have a sliver of snow up against the trees on the meadow side. Have no fear--it's supposed to snow some again tonight and tomorrow.
Anyway, it appears that it's going to be a late blooming spring. As long as it blooms, I won't mind. What's a couple weeks, eh? Maybe by Easter I'll at least have my daffodil heaven. For now, it's the three w's: walk, wait, and wonder. And I do have my patch of yellow beauties at the end of every walk! And a touch of maroon in the trees should be evident by mid-week. Beauty is on its way.

Walking Iten's Acres: He's Back March 9, 2014

Yesterday, I saw them for the first time this spring. I think I may have been hearing them about the place earlier, but no official sighting until yesterday morning. They seem to be the first feathered friends to return, and it's always long before spring even officially arrives. They are beautiful--and noisy. Love the red-winged blackbird. My FAS needs to come up with something to "honor" their return. I mean the overgrown rat gets a day--"six months more of winter." The forsythia get a adage--"three more snows after the forsythia bloom." (Unless they bloom again in October.) So, how about something for the red wing? I mean let's be fair. At least for this year--since I saw him yesterday, the 8th--I'll give him this profound truth: "after I see him it will be 23 days until April 1st--no fooling.

Today at Iten's Acres: Majesty March 8, 2014

One of the great blessings of living out here on The Acres is that each day I find myself awestruck by the majesty of the "ordinary." May I watch each sparrow with the same joy as the Creator.

Homesteader Update: Long Live the Queen March 5, 2014

Homesteader Update:
In case some of you were worried, the white dish rag is still running the house. I do think that she's still not too fond of my leaving most days. She always greets me at the backfront door when I get home in the evening and demands that I pet her. And pet her. And pet her. And . . . You get the idea. At least she doesn't bark. Her catonese is fine--no interpretation is needed. Maybe I'll have to get her a pet human to stay home with her weekdays.
She's still a faithful alarm clock as well, but she's graduated to sleeping at the foot of the bed most of the night. Easier I suppose to get in my face and fuss in the morning rather than having to strain herself and jump from the floor up on the bed before beginning her good morning serenade. She is getting just a tad closer to fulfilling the proverbial role of the "fat cat." But not much. Way too dedicated to the elephant races up the stairs for that to be a problem yet. She does have a sweet tooth though. Pound cake is her favorite. On those rare occasions when I bring some home, she knows. I think she would tackle me if I didn't share. Oh the joy of being "loved" by a yellow-blue two-eyed monster. Oh, she has also decided that when I pray at night that a little background purring noise is necessary. I hate to imagine what she's praying for.
Now that it's light in the morning when I leave, she spends the time teasing the birds at the bird feeder. I'm guessing that goes on all morning. Once she's been fed, she doesn't waste her time saying "go away." I wish I could put some kind of blue chalk on her feet just to see where she spends her daytime hours. I'm guessing all the places she knows she's not supposed to be when I'm home. It's a cat thing. When the chubby old bald guy's away, the Homesteader will play. Anyway you don't need to fret about the little creature. Her motto will always be "Long live the Queen!"