It’s Springtime!

Albeit a bit later than we’re used to in Louisiana, but it’s finally showing up. We still had below-freezing temperatures earlier this week, but the signs of spring are everywhere! And nothing says spring more than a singing robin.

Funny thing is, we’ve had robins all winter—so is it really a sign of spring? As Kenn Kaufman puts it,

“…the robin’s seasonal movements are surprisingly complex, but when you start hearing them singing every morning, with that rich, full-throated caroling, that is definitely a sign of spring, and it’s worth appreciating and celebrating.

The birds are nesting, and some are already raising young. A family of eastern bluebirds has built a nest in the wooden post that holds our main gate, one we use every day. And this carolina wren is clearly up to something—building who-knows-what, who-knows-where.

Some of the blossoms we’re seeing are absolutely stunning.

And some of them? We’re already harvesting for the table.

We have lots and lots of redbud trees here on the ranch, and they’re edible in a variety of ways. Julie is planning a batch of redbud jelly with these.

Another spring surprise: morel mushrooms.

I’ve never had one before, and these are amazing! We had one meal with them as a side, diced and sauteed in butter (fresh from milk that morning), and another meal with these mixed in with scrambled eggs (fresh from a nearby farm, of course). The texture is slightly chewy and the flavor is deep, rich, and just a little bit nutty. Being able to see exactly where our food comes from and taking an active part in harvesting it is a very big reason why we moved here.

Julie’s also been feeding Dolly, who had a very rough start to life. Dolly hasn’t been feeding very much from Lucy, the milk cow, so she needs to be bottle fed several times a day.

I never realized that cows like their chin scritches just as much as cats do.

Other balls in the air

It’s not all fun, games, and milking—there’s always something going on around the ranch. We just ordered six more truckloads of gravel for the driveway, the deck materials are ordered and work will start next week, the various vegetable and pollinator gardens are being planted, and we continue to explore and discover new things.

Spring on the ranch may be a little unpredictable—frost one day, blossoms the next—but it’s always full of new life, learning, and little joys. Whether it’s wild mushrooms, baby calves, or blooming redbud trees, each moment reminds us why we’re here. The work never ends, but neither do the wonders.

Life is good.

Obligatory Final Note

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