Happy Anniversary!

It was one year ago today that we dotted all the I's, crossed all the T's and got the keys to our new life. Since that time, we've spent a lot of time learning about life out here and getting to know our new landscape throughout the seasons. We've had some challenges along the way (remember the moving day surprise?), and lots of good times. 

Now, as year 2 begins, we have plans for new gardens, new decks, and a new shed roof. We're also doing a lot of research on farm layout design, marketing, and planning for our alpaca enterprise. There's still a lot to do before we'll be able to have animals on the property, but we're moving in the right direction!

Anniversary Dawn

Canada Geese

I happened to look outside yesterday evening just as a gaggle of geese were heading to our neighbour's corn field. 

I love this time of year!

Cat Grass!

David picked up some cat grass a couple of weeks ago, and this past weekend we finally sacrificed it to our 'herd'...

Red-Winged Blackbirds!

We're finally starting to see (and hear) lots of red-winged black birds. We have a feeder in the back yard that they seem to like to frequent.

Welcome Spring!

Spring greeted us this morning with a robin on one of the few grassy spots on our front lawn this morning.

Of course by the time we got home this evening, all hints of spring had been covered in snow.

But hopefully it wont last: Environment Canada is forecasting sun for the rest of the week. Keep your fingers crossed for a greener weekend!

Supermoon!

Last night we had a supermoon, and although we didn't get to see it rise above the horizon to get the full effect (check out the photos that accompany that story!), we got a pretty good look at it through the telescope:

Starting to sound like spring

A sure sign that spring is on it's way:

And, there are flocks of geese winging their way south!

Happy St. Paddy's Day Everyone!

Earthquake!

Earlier this afternoon, as David and I were sitting at our computers in the home office, we heard what we thought was the furnace cutting in. Then, what sounded like the furnace blowing up... a huge BANG! We both jumped out of our chairs to investigate (although, realistically if the furnace had blown up what were we going to do about it, right?) and realized that we were experiencing an earthquake. According to Natural Resources Canada, we experienced a magnitude 4.3 quake, at a depth of 5 km, and only 2.28 km from our house (1.42 miles).

Itching to get planting!

With daylight savings time now in effect, and the thermometer above zero these past few days, I'm itching for the snow to leave and the spring flowers to bloom!

I've already started some seeds for the vegetable garden, and I'm in need of more Jiffy peat pellets to start some flowers for the other gardens. We've got big battle plans this year, and we can't wait to put them in action! As you may remember, we started our garden assault last fall with some hay and plastic tarps (we ended up putting down 10 of them). Once it's warm enough, all that hay will be moved to a compost pile, we'll even out the ground and lay down a carpet of weed block. Then it will be on to building our raised beds, and filling them with black earth and plants!

  

Last week we were looking around Canadian tire, and found raspberry bushes. We already have a wild raspberry bush behind our garage, and another one or two along the back edge of the property. They don't seem to produce very much, so we were more than happy to invest in another bush. It will join the one behind the garage. Only one for now, but I'm sure we won't be able to resist adding to the "berry garden" over the next couple of years!

As for those 4 other flower gardens that need a helping hand, I've picked up many packets of flower seeds (which hopefully will make it to full grown plants): foxglove, lupine, brown-eyed Susans, carnations, and asters among others. 

And then I saw bulbs. What better way to give our property a boost than with perennial bulbs that will flower throughout the summer months? So, yet another 2 gardens now planned: gladiolas in front of out barn and dhalias with some morning glories by the side of the garage facing the road. We also picked up peonies to join a Japanese maple that we added in the fall, along with some hostas...

Can it be spring now???

Spoiled kitty

Lynxie is our spoiled cat... she demands that other cats wash her face for her. Fortunately, her older sister Kali is always willing to help her out.

The lion rears his head

I know, I know... I've been neglecting the blog lately. But, I'll make up for it today! 

Last Saturday we had a snowstorm... so much for March coming in like a lamb! Not that the cats minded at all. Caesar was completely mesmerized by the birds at the feeder, and was oblivious to the falling snow.

Cleo, however, was having a great time with the snow!

We woke up Sunday morning to a pretty coat of snow on all the trees, and more snow falling.

We headed out in the snow to Oxford Mills, just south of Ottawa, to celebrate my Grandmothers birthday. The main highways were horrible, and everyone was driving in the middle of the two lanes. I was worried the county roads I had to take to get there would be even worse, but actually they were in better condition than the highway! We had a great time visiting with everyone, and we got to see how big our nephew is getting. 

The sun was setting on the way home... red sky at night, sailor's delight... it was beautiful!

Squeak!

Our cats always enjoying hanging out in a window in the basement, and we always thought it was because it's right below our bird feeders. On Sunday, I finally saw the big attraction...

In like a lamb...

We arrived home last night, and discovered that the guy who clears our driveway hadn't passed by yet. We tried to make it to the house, but got stuck part way up the driveway... our very long driveway. David ended up clearing "train tracks" while I cleared our parking spot. Fortunately it wasn't too cold last night! 

We awoke this March morning to bright clear skies, and a clear driveway. Environment Canada listed no signs of a storm for the week, which normally would sound great, right? Except I was really hoping this March would come in like a lion, and go out like a lamb. I'm not looking forward to seeing the lion at the end of the month!