It was warm with a wee shower of rain. And without hesitation, as though the grass had been crouched on its toes, clover eyes screwed shut in concentration listening for the sun, feeling for the moist warm showers, the fields leapt up and grew green. In a day.
There is still not enough grass to let the animals out into the fields. 
But the suddenness of the green is magnificent. The animals are trying to be patient.
Their Waiting Rooms are big and sheltered but no-one is pretending to be thrilled. It will be a few weeks yet before we get the required 6 – 8 inches of grass. But we still have Mississippi hay so we are good. We want enough grass for the whole summer.
The lawns are suddenly green though, enough to lie on.
Little Boy Blue is a stunningly dependable pup. He sat on the verandah whenever I was inside yesterday, popping out into the garden for rest stops then puddling back up the steps to his bed. The first night, even though I toileted him, he had a few accidents at the verandah gate so last night I left the gate open to the garden. He popped in and out by himself and was tucked up in his bed fast asleep every time I checked. I have never let a pup make this kind of decision before. He has Big Dog in there with him so I think this is helping. TonTon has never been trustworthy enough to leave out at night, so this is a good sign that we may have found the guard dog for the farm that we have been looking for to take over for Cooder who is so deaf now he does not even hear me calling him in to dinner. I have to take his food and go and find HIM.
No wonder Blue slept all night, he had a very busy day. He had to follow me everywhere I went, and if my footsteps crossed with Johns he would follow him. Though he is still afraid of the noisy barn and prefers to wait outside, he investigated the garden as I worked, stole things out of my pockets and ran away with them, then helped dig out weeds.
It is important not to accept behaviour that can become a problem later on even with a very young pup, and especially with this bright bossy breed, so the digging in the garden and chewing on my fingers and knocking over of weed buckets was gently discouraged. But the cuddles and running was encouraged! Look at that face!
I have decided not to teach Blue to retrieve. This is Ton’s game and I want Blue to have other work. Plus, it has been hard to get TonTon to focus on herding when all he wants to do is retrieve. He is very good at finding Daisy and bringing her in for the milking twice a day (not hard in the winter) so this will still be Ton’s job too. There are still plenty of jobs for Blue.
The peacock pen was finished and Tui, Pania and Kupa, who have spent the last two days watching it being built, just walked straight in. After all, up high in the barn is their favourite place to be. When the weather is good the big doors are opened so they will also have sun and lots of fresh air. I hate to shut them up. But it is only while the gardens are fragile and it really is a huge unused space in the summer. And Kupa will not be in there for long we hope.
And look at this …
Daffodils came out yesterday too. Literally. What a day! Good morning!
Have a lovely day. I wonder what today will bring?! See you tomorrow.
love celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
57 responses to “A little bit of green popped through yesterday”
Blue is a doll! We have snow today, after 70 degrees yesterday and we will be back to 70 by the weekend. Snow or rain, we need it! Enjoy the sun C.
I am so happy you are having a wonderful spring. Puppies and daffodils are all good signs!
He sounds like he’s right at home already!
Big mistake! Showed Chloe the photo of Ton Ton and Blue with the great big Blue smile and, since today is her birthday, she wants a puppy. LOL. But since she’s 21 she’s a little too old to throw a temper tantrum so I think it’s going to be ok. 🙂
Good morning,c. What method of “gentle dissuasion” do you use with Blue?
Morning Misky, I pretend I am a mother dog and put my foot on him – metaphotically, I say No firmly and press his head to the ground. Then when he looks like he is thinking of doing the same thing ten seconds later I do the exact same thing again but swiftly, usually it will take three goes and he will get it, after that all I have to do is show him my No palm and he will give up. But you have to do this every time so pick your battles.. c
You chose well when you chose Blue, Celi. I think he is going to be brilliant. You are starting his training early, and that is so wise. V.
Celia, thank you so much for naming a tree for Arthur and for remembering about our maple tree!
Is Cooder Big Dog?
Yes that is his real name, but it is in an american accent and I can;t say it correctly! laugh! Do you think another maple for Arthur would be alright, i love maples.. c
Fuzzy can’t really see or hear anymore either. It’s sad but to have a guard dog in training by an EXCELLENT guard dog is priceless!
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
I love little Blue…I still have Blue Murphy set as my screen saver…the one of him peeking through the slats with his little coat on! Now I might have to change him for another little Blue! Hmm, there seems to be a Blue thread running through the Farmy….Is Blue your favorite color by any chance? 🙂
Laughter, until you said that i did not even notice.. am I going through My blue period? c
A nice bright hello from daffodils! Sound like Blue has good instincts and sense. And Big Dog there just in case!
Stunning little signs of hope! Wonderfully uplifting, I’m sure, Celi! 🙂
Amazing how quick that bit of green started showing up. My daffs are still a few days from opening but the lawns are brightening. A couple warm days would help a lot. Blue looks awfully comfortable on the farmy. There’s little doubt he was meant to be there. I just wonder how he would have made it to you guys if you hadn’t gone to the Swap? 😉
I have always been lucky like that! And he is very clever.. i am actually taken aback at the clever little fellow.. c
Wow how fast! I understand because we finally had rain overnight last night – instead of snow. And this morning I could see green starting in the grass. I noticed too that the tulips were pushing through now that the snow is melting……. oh, joy!
Do you have a blue bonnet? 🙂
*excitedly* I know what you need as a toy for Blue. One of those horns with a bulb on the end which goes ‘toot’ when you squeeze it! He’d be a smash hit on the Nursery Rhyme circuit. 🙂
The horn would certainly get a smash as a hit too!! c
Heehee!