Outside in the dirt

My man came in and said, "There's a horse talking to me, and he's muddy. I asked myself, 'What could be wrong with my wife? Such a muddy horse!'"

Yah well today is another day, and my Baasha's much improved. His tail has seen a lot of QuikSilver, and actually, I just realized that it is so much fuller than last year (after Ronnie used to snack on it). He's got a show ring tail! Well, not quite, but almost.

I leaned back in my lounge chair in the field today and watched him graze in the sun. His blanket was lying there where I dropped it. He was naked for the first time, and rounder than ever. I noticed a crow hanging out with him, hoping for a healthy meal of half digested corn.

The water was splashing into the ponds behind me, and I was suddenly very grateful for this place. The privacy - no one could see me where I sat, and I could see so much. I instantly felt bad for the people with no privacy in their lives.

I guess I should admit I have Spring fever like never before after all that snow. I started hacking away at blackberries on our hang today, and at one point I thought, "I can't go on" and then I just buckled down and 6 hours later, a huge swath was cut through the briar patch, a swath where we can now see the ground. I am so proud of myself, and I am so very sore! I dug up most of the manure box and spread compost everywhere I cleared blackberries (and nettles). Wheelbarrow after wheelbarrow, I was on a mission.

When my man came home I showed him my work, and he was impressed. He said, "Look, we have half of our hang cleared of blackberries the first year!" Yes, the hang will take a great deal more effort, but it will be a usable space someday.

(I was not able to dig out all the roots - the ground was frozen - so I know the blackberries will be coming right back. But it's a start....)

I ended my inspired day by planting seeds in my greenhouse. What a treat, to get started on the vegetable garden.

My hands are dirty as I type this, and it feels so good: ) I was really getting down, with all that snow, and the impossibility of doing anything outdoors. I'm better now. But oww, where's the Ibuprofen again....