Just about everyone you talk to around here has recently commented on how long this winter has been.  It has been dragging on for what seems like forever.  Most folks are pretty excited when the talk around town is  that we are in for only “one final snow storm” which is expected some time on Sunday night into the early part of the week.   We are actually looking forward to a storm that comes with that kind of wording.

The sun is shining brightly and somehow it brings comfort to our hearts.  All of the seeds have been purchased as well as the dirt for starting the garden seeds.  It seems odd that even though we received many seed catalogs this year we purchased our seeds  locally.  Every spring we dream big about how large and fruitful our gardens will be.  It’s easy for me to dream big when I still have a large work force living at home:) 

Already food prices are climbing steadily and so it is our hope that we can raise as much food as we can to cut down on our grocery bills.  Not only are the grocery prices rising, but so are the feed prices at the elevator.  It’s hard not to cringe every time we have to order another truck load of grain.  But on the other side of the coin, our cattle are worth more this year and so are the pork and lambs.  

Spring must be just around the corner too because Clayton has his horses to train lined up for this month and the sheep shearing for him and Luke is starting to wind down a bit.  Never a dull moment around here and I thank God for the good variety of activities.  One such variety is that Fred  is out snow plowing for the township and stopped by for a picnic breakfast at the end of the driveway.  That consisted of hot coffee, eggs, bacon, home-made whole wheat toast topped with freshly made butter.  Then there were extra treats on the bottom for snacking on later in the day.  He will come home to roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet corn and a Lemon Sponge cake baked by Marisa especially for him.  It’s a family recipe from Nonna, my very wonderful Italian mother.

The other day the kids started the egg incubator with 87 eggs which is another definite sign that the long winter is going to be coming to an end.  They hope to get half Araucana chickens and the other half a good mix.  It’s getting to that easy time in my life when the kids don’t need me to tell them what to do nor when.  Makes me feel that things are being accomplished the way that Fred and I had planned.

   This week seemed to be filled with sad news of several deaths not only of two ladies in our St. Leo church parish, but also of a dear child hood friend of mine back in Pennsylvania who died unexpectedly.  Then there was an accidental death of another local man and father only 34 years old  as a result of a skid loader accident.  All of these occurring within just days of each other, very sad.  It is good to be alive and I thank God for that and many other blessings.  May the souls of the faithfully departed rest in peace.