It's Gonna be a Bright, Bright Sunshiney Day

I actually got off work on time Friday, and came home to find the snow melted, the sun shining, and the temperatures soaring into the high 50's...in January! The girls were with my Mom at a school function, so I went for a walk with the dog, fixed the deer fence around the orchard, and cleaned out the chicken coop.

I have been wondering if the bees were doing alright, crowded into their silent hive. Friday, I saw a few tentative ones buzzing around out in the sunshine, and I breathed a sigh of relief.

The weather continued to be sunny and mild throughout the weekend, and the whole family took full advantage. I hung 3 loads of laundry out on the line to dry, and cut down all the debris in my flower beds.

The girls, the dog and the cats have been playing outside.

Even the bird-brained hens, have been meandering around in the garden, pecking at the greenery and half-heartedly scratching in the beds.

JP and I have been trying to rig a way to hang our bird feeders so they are high (out of the way) and far enough away from the lawn that we play on that bird poo and sunflower seed shells are not a hygienic issue. We failed last weekend, and after attempts yesterday AND today, we failed again this weekend. Apparently we are attempting to break some laws of physics dealing with force and pulleys.

My Dad came home last night after spending half the week in Lancaster County. He was working, along with some of his brothers and sisters, to empty out my Grandfather's apartment in the retirement community where he lives. He has moved to an area of skilled nursing care, but will hopefully move into the Nursing Home when he is able and there is an opening. Dad brought back the last of my Grandmother's irises, which he dug out of the beautiful beds in front of the apartment. My Mom and I divided them up, and I planted 16 of them into my newly cleared beds.

My daffodils are coming up. I'm hoping the weather turns wintery enough to scare them back into hiding for a couple more months.

Wouldn't it be lovely to have a little Spring Break like this again in February? Just a few days in the middle of each winter month would make winter so much more tolerable!