A Beautiful Spring Morning

Installing the staellite dish.

Cold, but sunny. Any temptation to think of planting is tempered by the reality of the early morning temperature, It is -5C this a.m. Crazy. By 4 p.m. this afternoon it will be about +40C in the solarium. The thin covering of ice on the pool reminds me that it is too early to open it. We have been having beautiful weather so all the Spring opening routines are complete, with water in the cotttage and the general watering system all functioning. Some of the trees are in leaf and the grass is lush and bright green. Time to get the mower ready ! Lilac bushes about to burst into bloom. Lots of daffodils and encouraging signs of tulips to come.

The big news here is that I have had a satellite connection set-up for the internet. Much faster and more stable. The addition of a wi-fi router will mean that cottage residents can have access too.

We had a super weekend visit with Frances and Fred which was delightful.

Al Hogg came by on Saturday and we cut him a really good 20ft + pine log and loaded him up with jacks and construction posts. He is planning on raising a corner of his summer cottage in Brockville. Memories of summer '99 and the cottage reconstruction project. Hard to believe that it was ten years ago.

We will be returning to Montreal on Sunday for a couple of days, to greet Joe on his return from winter cruising and his week in Vancouver and Victoria.

The swallows returned on April 25th so another cycle begins.

Let's hope that May continues the beautiful weather we've had so far.

First Daffodils, and First BBQ !

Thursday p.m. and back to the farm. The stream of snowbirders returning from the South continues apace, on the East bound lanes of the 401. Not my idea of fun driving !

Well, it was so beautiful that we couldn't resist having our first BBQ of the year. The trusty WEBER went right into action and we enjoyed that slightly burned flavour that has been missing these past few months.
We weren't up to speed when Al and Wendy Hogg dropped in last weekend. I must get some steaks ready for their next visit on their next trip to the cottage in Brockville. Al needs a 20ft pine for a barrier so I'll have some fun getting one cut and readied for him.

These are real daffodils, no more plastic, that welcomed us on our return today.

We returned to the farm with two french doors that I found at the local Eco-centre. More about that project when it is finished ! Tomorrow will be brush, scrub and branch pick up day, with a bit more tilling. With a bit of luck we'll have fresh lettuce for our big event in July. Whatever I seed now will need to covered at night to protect against the frost. Warm days and cold nights.

The lilac bushes are looking very healthy and some of the trees are beginning to bud. Time to get the mower readied. First cut is only a week or two away ! I think it is safe to put the snow blower away now and give some thought to changing the snow tires on the van.

If anyone is interested in some Morning Glory seeds let me know. I'll gladly send you a package.

Spring may be here at long last !!

Vicky showing Gabriel a great Yorkshire pudding that Gabriel had prepared to accompany the roast beef Easter special.



Good Friday; 2009. Vicky, Christopher, Ben,Ollie and Leo at the farm for the day.
Ben half way up the pine tree, clearing out dead branches. Oliver behind him.

A work in progress: Clearing the fence line in the field behind the farm house. Pine/Spruce trees now exposed.

Inclement weather in the first week of April, so this is another project to be added to the done list. Clothes cupboard for Gabriel in passage to bathroom.

Grass beginning to green. Hidden just behind the hedge is the new gas tank. The old one, still visible on the left will be removed shortly !

A sure sign that spring is on its way ! Christopher, Ollie and Ben pulled the leaf blanket off the pool and scooped out dead leaves and muck.

Leo, Ollie and Christopher, tackled the large pine tree on the front lawn. A microburst may just have whipped through and broken off a ring of branches.