Foretelling of Spring

There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of Nature ~

the assurance that 'dawn comes after night'

and 'Spring after Winter.'
(stated by Rachel Arson)

In the Spring, I have counted 136 different kinds of weather
inside of 24 hours. (observed Mark Twain)

Millard Kaufman, glancing out the window at the signs of Spring declared:

“The sky was almost blue...the trees were almost budding...
and the sun was almost bright ~ at the signs of Spring.

My mind wanders to Spring on the Farm ~ and these practices I recall:

In winter, my sister and I wore snowsuits, hand-knit toques, scarves and mittens.
In early spring, Mother prepared her gardens for seasonal produce ~ asking Dad to prepare the orchard trees for for successful fruit production: apples, pears, cherries and peaches. From her raspberry patch, she trimmed the canes to encourage growth of their rich, tasty produce. For her rows of strawberries, she added mulch and fertilizer. And, in rows of her spacious ploughed garden, several vegetables were planted. Dad, putting his tractor into gear, pulled a machine to liven and fertilize his fields for the yearly or bi-yearly growth of corn and grains and alfalfa.
In spring, his cows, horses, chickens, barnyard donkey and goats
could daily spend more hours for greater freedom...and less in-barn confinement.
Even the egg-laying chickens clucked happily outdoors.

In the Spring, lambs were born and so, with great pleasure, my sister and I
named each lamb ~ and when calling each by name, they'd come to us.

One fact you may not know about the ewes' lambs that
was a bane to me, They are born with tails...and as you can imagine,
the wool in this body area, would very messy get...so, there is only one solution!
The procedure was always on a Sunday morning when they were young:

It was my task to hold the lamb while Dad, with sharp clippers
severed the tail from its body!
Of course, the lamb wildly bleated during the procedure.
He then swabbed a disinfectant to prevent infection.
When operation completed...lamb bleated, running off to find its Mommy Ewe!

The whole world comes alive after winter, in which it seemed everything was dead.

The world comes filled with colour and the scent of delicious greenery.
The world that seemed so dull and cold, has come alive again.

Little did we know that beneath the cold hard ground
the plants and trees were preparing for rebirth.
Spring gives us hope for rejuvenation in our own lives as well.
Spring is a time to renew the excitement and zest for life that lives inside.
(unknown author)

Spring has finally arrived!
The grass is green across the hill.

But yellow blooms the daffodil.
It's sunshine on a little stalk ~

A friendly flower ~ I bet they talk!

With Heidi Barr, I agree:A visit to the family farm in Spring
means witnessing growth...and challenge...and beauty...and stillness
all rolled into one.

Daniel Webster's Principle

Let us not forget that the cultivation of the earth
is the most important labour of man!
When tillage begins, all other arts of cultivation will follow.
The farmers, therefore are the founders of civilization.

Composed by Merle Baird-Kerr...February 28, 2020

Comments most welcome: mbairdkerr@cogeco.ca