Walkabout the Farmy on a Still Sepia Day
Good morning. I took you around the farmy yesterday. Yesterday was a day of bird song. It was still, overcast and bright. Which is actually a perfect day for the camera if you want some serious light for the densest colour in your images. Sadly we are still waiting in line for our spring colours, my sepia world persists. I would like to have shown you the birds but they were way, way up in the tops of the trees. But I know I heard a red-winged blackbird, and the mourning doves are back. Their spring song was sunny all in itself. The exciting news is that my Cardinal has appeared, he comes every spring with his wife to nest high up in the mulberry tree. Cardinals are very cheeky birds, bright orange and they flit about like little nightclub lights.
My lambing pen sits quietly. Waiting like me. With the really big barn doors open, you can see inside. Look at that fantastic old hand made gate. It is almost one hundred years old and is one of my favourite barn gates. 
No lambs yet, just a cat. Thing One I think, but he was so fast asleep in the cleanest pen in the place that he did not even raise his head the lazy sod. What if I had been a big fat mouse!?. 
Because it has been steadily getting a wee bit warmer in the last few weeks, the bees have been up and about. You will see that we have moved the blog hive away from the big trees. It was just too cold in the North shadow of that shelter belt. When we lifted it, we found that it was quite light, too light, (they have eaten up their stores of honey) so I have begin to feed all the bees sugar water.- see the little jars? – once I start this I must continue, probably until Late March, Early April – whenever the first flowers are in full bloom. But for now the bees are buzzing all over looking for food, with day after day in the upper 40’s. So I am forced to feed them sugar water. Especially this weaker hive. The problem with feeding this early is that the bees will become active and the queen might start laying so that is why I have to make sure not to miss a day until the first decent run of flowers. 
No grass in Pat’s Field. Of course not – it is way to early! I am going to drive you batty for weeks now, staring at the fields willing that grass to grow! And we all know how exciting it is watching grass grow. Actually for me it kind of is!! 
Look at that rain cloud. Though we had no rain yesterday. It is so exposed out here. The spring winds will start soon. Maybe I should create some kind of sound track so you can hear the howl of the winds hurling across the plains.. not yet though, not yet. For the moment we are still.
We are entering the time of year that I call the slog. It feels like spring should be coming. We feel like surely we can wear one less layer of clothing. It is not cold enough to light the fire but not warm enough to open all the windows. The nights are almost above freezing but not warm enough to leave the seedlings out at night. So hundreds of little plants in their paper pots lined up in their trays, are carried out every morning that is over 40F and carried back in that evening. The floors are covered in plants at night. I stare and stare across the tundra desperately seeking green.
Today I start to clear the flower gardens. I never cut down old plants in the autumn, I like to leave the seeds heads up until the birds have got every little mouthful out of there. So today I start to clear and compost. 
Ok enough chatting. The dawn is here, (this is the view out my loft study window about three minutes ago as promised) I had better hurry up and publish!! Looks like there may be a bit of rain heading our way. I am off outside to play.
Good morning.
celi
92 Comments on “Walkabout the Farmy on a Still Sepia Day”
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I actually love that color the fields have before the grass comes in…reminds me of fur…the fur of a great big silent animal…and that dawn sky…well, it’s almost too beautiful too comment on. What a life you lead.
You are right, it is a lot like a furry sleeping animal, still in hibernation.. c
That particular view from your window was well worth the wait. As will your wait for some green to appear in those sepia scenes!
Christine
You are right Christine and this long wait for colour makes it all the brighter when it appears.. c
Good morning, C! Beautiful sunrise. Such a sight makes ones heart leap at the thought that spring will soon be here. Hope you and the farmy animals have lovely day.
Good morning Miskey, hope you have a great day too.. c
Wonderful walkabout photos. Don’t you wish you could slugabout in the barn with the cat? He looks so comfortable.
He always picks the warmest spots that cat!! c
Good morning Celi! What magnificent photos – your dawn is out of this world beautiful!
I am looking forward to watching spring happen on the farmy.
🙂 Mandy
Celi, geese honking flying in formation this morning. Heading your way. Enjoy them as I have this mild winter. HF
Oh there they are, they just passed over.. and oh look they are dropping little ploppy messages HF, are they from you??!! (laughs at her own simpleton wit!!).. c
I would never send you such a message! However, I’m sure you could come up with a great recipe from them! You’re that talented! HF
(Laughter!).. c
It is a time of waiting and preparing and an anticipation as old as time.. the seasons are very acute in their influence on our lives out here.. c
I really like that picture of the farm buildings – truly delightful.
Thank you Roger and good morning to you! c
Beautiful sunrise…a lovely way to start the day.
Morning Karen! Are you travelling again?.. c
Love seeing that wider view Celi, the many browns of winter, the sturdy wind-worn buildings, the bare trees against all that sky! And I can nearly hear the sound track of all your morning birds…especially the red-winged black birds and the mourning doves. Such a deep gulp of fresh air for me. I sure do miss a farm!
Do have a lovely day of play!
Thank you spree, we will toddle along quietly today i think.. c
What is on the hay bale in the first photo? The thing that looks like a lyre? Is John repairing musical instruments in his spare time now?
Lovely walkabout…it’s warm here this morning, and, at least for the moment, there’s no wind. Perhaps there’ll be a spare minute for clearing work later. 😀
That is the end piece of an old magazine rack that I found. I like the shape too! So it hangs about looking pretty. It is due to go on the end of one of the beams, then it will slowly become part of the fabric of the barn.. c
YOU are an inspiration to me Miss Cecilia! You have inspired me to be more organised and mindful. Thank you! 🙂
Well that is a lovely good morning, I shall pop over later and check out your blog – Welcome! c
I love these broader views of the Farmy, of the buildings and the hives. There’s your spot of color, that yellow, of the hives. And the sunset…wow.
Yup, that sunrise sure makes up for the lack of colour, but where is the rain? c
What a lovely, lovely sunrise. I too am on “grass-watch” now. Where is that first true sliver of green??
Still looking!! c
That dawn is like a forest fire. It was red here this morning, too, but yours is even more glorious. I wish I could send you some of our grass: the lawn is nigh on 6 inches high. We could do with some of your nibbling animals. Here’s a link from my daughter about a programme to plant wild flower meadows in cities to encourage bees, and to try and stop park-keepers from mowing, so that the wild flowers can flourish for bees and insects. http://www.sarahraven.com/beesbutterfliesblooms.
Thank you viv, i shall look at that right now, we have a similar battle trying to stop the farmers mowing every square inch of wilderness around their crops and along the side of the road, there are heaps of wild flowers when they get behind! c
Beautiful and you can almost feel the last fews sighs of winter sleep before the land starts to stretch and wake up for Spring. And yes, I like to watch the grass grow too…we have a flat piece of land high above us in the dip of one of the mountains and it looks liek a prehistoric lake….you can really see that change of the seasons, depending on what the grass is doing up there!
how wonderful to have hills and mountains around you, you would see quite range of colours.. c
Since we actually had rain (ahhhhh) this “winter” (we are supposed to reach the low 80s today!) I got nothing *but* grass… or at least green stuff, in my yard. Wanna bring your critters over? I think I need to rent a few sheep. I love your photos and how you share… thank you!
Sometimes (actually, often) I think starkness is more beautiful than color or lushness: your photographs are a case in point!
I concur!
Can’t wait for the return of the red winged blackbirds here. Their call is one of my favorites, and a reminder that summer isn’t too far away.
I don’t clear my gardens either in the Fall, in the hope that last year’s growth will protect the perennials over Winter. Probably wasn’t necessary this year although I’m glad I didn’t clear it earlier this week. We’ve got 4 to 9 inches of snow in the forecast overnight tonight. Gonna be a busy morning tomorrow! I hope you’re far enough South to avoid getting hit by the brunt of the storm.
Well it had to come I suppose, we have snow showers forecast and i really don’t mind if you keep most of it up there with you!! maybe I will leave off in the garden for a day or two in that case!! c
Poor hungry bees!
They have had a very strange winter too! Morning Mad! c
Now THAT is a sunrise!
Stunning dawn sky. I can’t wait to see the fruits of your labor and your honey bee hives. How interesting! BAM
Awesome dawn shot…and there’s the color for your barn in there somewhere, Cecilia! Good morning!
good thinking betsy!! c
Thank for the wonderful trip around the farmy, C! This walk was very calming and soothing, things missing in our hectic life at times. 🙂
What a vivid shot at dawn – makes the sky look like it’s on fire! Good morning!
Good afternoon C. What a beautiful dawn you witnessed this morning. I was trying to imagine the sound of the wind whipping across the plains – it must be quite a howl as I assume there is little in the way of wind breaks in all that wide open space.
I leave for work at sunrise, Celi, and have the most beautiful drives in…the San Gabriel mountains to my left, and the sun peeking up straight ahead. But I don’t have the expansive uncluttered horizon you clearly do, soI love your photo! And despite our relative warmth, spring is spring, and the birds are starting to shift their habits, beginning to nest and twitter about a bit more. I love this time of year. Orioles are not a west coast bird, but every spring, usually late April or Early May, we will catch sight of one or two for maybe two days tops right at our birdfeeders and like your Cardinals, they just bring joy. I’m watching for them! You have a lovely, cared-for farmy! I love visiting each day. Debra
Oh wow, Debra, that sounds fantastic, I bet you just roll those windows down and sing in the morning on your way to work!! c
We saw our firs red wing blackbird at the feeder this morning. The beauty is only beginning.
The last picture of the farmhouse in the dreary weather reminded me of an Andrew Wyeth painting.
Ronnie
Oh my … the sky pic is stunning. So tell me, how large is your compost pile?
Two of them Frank, they are getting pretty large actually. When the barn is finally cleaned out for the summer they will be Fantastic!! c
I would never have even thought about what happens when the bees wake up and there’s no food! Where do you learn this stuff, Celi? It is wisdom which must be thousands of years old. Bee husbandry. I feel a post coming on 😀
I am fairly sure I am breaking rules all the time, I just follow my instincts and when the bees are bombing me and landing on my hands they are hungry, looking for something sweet. I am sure it is too early but there you are.. c
What a magnificent sunrise. There you are , ‘desperately seeking green’, while after our wettest summer that I can ever remember, everything is green, green, green. We have plenty to spare. May it fly across the world to you.
Morning Juliet!! Wonderful to get some good rain though, I come from Hawke’s Bay and I cannot even remember a wet summer, I hope they got plenty of your rain up there as well.. Now i am going to pop over and see what you have been up to.. c
I love the idea of birds that look like little night-club lights! How utterly charming XO
That sunrise is gorgeous! Wow! Thank you for sharing 🙂
l love your old barns, they look so comfortable there, as though they really belong. And that sky is amazing!
This old barn has been here much much longer than the house, so i guess it really does belong.. c
I love it when cats are curled up like that to sleep.
He looks like a snail, no not a snail, one of those ancient molluscs that you find fossilised!! c
Those colours in the sky are awesome – I would have loved to have been there to experience it myself!
I made some paper pots of my own and started peas in them. They’ve been transplanted already to the outside garden box, it is about 80F here today 🙂 I have watermelon seeds that I hope will grow, but those have to wait another month… thanks for the inspiration!
EIGHTY! that is warm, watermelons will LOVE that! c
I just love all your posts, its amusing how you right so beautiful, have a lovely weekend!
Waiting. The art of patience is among the hardest to master. But you fill your waiting with so much action and rampant imagination that I can’t think you have the time to become impatient, really.
What a spectacular sunrise to send you off to your tasks, in any event.
I am feeling impatient with Mama though.. I mean REALLY! c
Well, I’ve been thinking about Mama, as I’ve been sorting through storage boxes of old photos and found a stack of adorable lamb pictures from when I lived at my grandparents’. Remembering the sheep as big as houses, then those ridiculously charming little cotton-clouds leaping around like they were spring-loaded (pun intended). Here’s to Mama’s ‘getting with the program’ tout de suite!
What a gorgeous sunset! And I love the photo of the barn with the cloudy sky. We too are still stuck in sepia and clouds. Looking forward to spring! The yellow finches made an appearance today, hopefully that means something.
your finches are early, how wonderful,. it will be ages before i get a finch.. spring is coming.. it will come.. c
What a lovely journey around the farmy. I enjoyed seeing so many special treasures, like the gate, the barn, the kitty. Beautiful sunrise to top it off. Thanks for sharing your world.
So pretty, C. We’re in the slog here, too, with not enough snow to really enjoy it, but still three months away from the real thaw. Boo. Keeping the crew from bouncing off the wall (and keeping me from becoming Screamy Mommy) gets more difficult by the day. We are so ready for spring!
it is the most ancient of feelings too.. c
Wow! That is a stunning and very colorful sunrise. The red-winged blackbirds are here in the Bogs, too. They’re our first sign of spring. I also thought I heard the spring peepers singing this morning.
spring peepers, what are they?.. c
They’re small frogs that make the most incredible chorus of sounds. You can see a photo of one and listen to them here:
http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/detail.asp?recNum=AR0014
thank you robin, I have a lot to learn! c
Ok. answering my own question.. i looked it up.. Frogs.. I love frogs!
We had an early spring day here in northern California: warm enough to go barefoot in the house. I am feeding a neighbor’s cats for a week, so I got a long walk in the sunshine. I saw clumps of daffodils and tulip trees in bloom, plus some showy red rhododendrons. But we could still get rain, wind or frost to knock all of these things down because it is still February and we are short on rain. The local birds were singing their hearts out.
how wonderful to walk though all that and SEE it! so many people do not See.. c
I love these walk abouts!
Glad to see the daffies and tulips are are coming up here, as well. My walks are beginning to display the fresh bright green of new foliage…I love that colour. I’ll know spring is really here when I can smell those new buds on the popple trees, as my dad called them. The best scent in the whole world – and my friend Susan agrees. We know where the best ones are and they belong to …well..US! 😀
so they do!!! awesome.. love to susan! c
How do you move a bee hive? Very carefully I’d imagine. I don’t think that’s a task I’d like to undertake. Glad you can see the seasons changing. Not long now until Spring.
That last picture is just spectacular. What a sky!
A real picture of your life on the farmy, the slog, the care for the bees, the preparation for lambing and yes the seed trays taking up every bit of space! I know the last bit all too well. I always think gardeners need understanding partners – if it’s not seed trays on windowsills, it’s bowls of drying seeds, and on it goes. Claire
My biggest problem is John thinking His plants need the Best light!! (laughter) c
I just love your farm pictures Celi, the barns, the pastures, the animals. Spring is teasing us here! The last two days have been 70 degrees F!!! But today it is back down to 55 degrees. How could I possibly complain?!?! And guess what! I found daffodils growing out in our pasture yesterday. Some of them are winking at me as I type this. Very exciting! We are so looking forward to spring to see what will be blooming on our farm. We didn’t get here until June last year, and were really too busy trying to get our garden in to notice. Come on Spring!!! di
You are going to have an exciting spring then! c
Lovely picture of dawn C!
That sky is so full and promising – not necessarily of weather but of Life.