And the barnyard – What a chaos ! “ The barnyard is busy in a regular tizzy ,” another song goes merrily through my mind , “ and the obvious reason is because of the season .” ( Once upon a time , musical lyrics were actually clever and cute .) “ Each nest is twittering , they ’ re all babysittering – Spring , spring , spring !”
Little calves , brand-new and knock-kneed , stagger to their feet as their mamas welcome them to the world , wet and sneezing and floppy-eared – What a beautiful sight ! Slightly older calves race around with baby bovine bursts of laughable , haphazard , chaotic energy , giving the distinct impression that their gangly legs and their brains aren ’ t quite communicating yet . In between cold snaps and little storms , they sack out in the sun , dazed and darling . The chickens , sullen and peevish for much of the winter ( not that I blame them ) suddenly rediscover joy in those first green shoots they find in the yard , and the egg basket runneth over . The milk cow is in milk again , lavishing us with her plenty . My morning coffee is au lait again , and the sweet rhythm of the milking routine is followed by the sweet busyness of skimming the cream and making butter and culturing yogurt and salting curds to make aged cheeses , and the cats learn to love life again , too , spoiled and round with excess . Spring , spring , spring ! It is winter , until it isn ’ t anymore .
Everywhere one turns , there is evidence of spring . Barelimbed trees set buds subtly , and the first little hint of green lights up the pastures , grazed down and winterworn . Shaded hillsides , that have held on to a winter ’ s worth of snow , little or much , suddenly run with life-giving water , and we can breathe deep of the long-missed smell of good clean dirt . Even the winter storms that blow in lack the bitterness of a December or February storm , and in the snow there is a taste of springtime .
Fingers yearn to sink into the dirt . Arms are ready to feel the sunshine . Feet are ready to tread on green grass and soft ground . Eyes are ready for color and greenness and softening of contours . Lungs are ready for the sweet , warm breath of a thawing earth , the perfume of the first flowers . Ears are ready for the meadowlark and the bluebird , the sandhill crane and the dove , the music of running water and the gentler murmuring of the spring breeze .
Keeping beautiful !
It is winter , for now , until suddenly it isn ’ t . Massa Dental Office
605-745-3975 • 602 Jennings Ave . • Hot Springs myblackshillscountry . com
Down Country Roads 19