Yup, spring is here ...

local roads are COVERED with racoons. Some dead, other scuttling off as you drive by. Three nights ago one knocked over our chicken feed. I balanced a bucket on the lid. Last night at 1:30 I heard the bucket fall, and raced downstairs and out the door yelling. I scared him off. Unfortunately I didn't hear he bucket fall later in the evening. The really odd thing? There is still chicken feed left in the bottom of the Rubbermaid garbage can (not a lot, but some); however, there are good chunks of the garbage can missing!

Last year we had a robin nest right on the railing of our back deck. Mama taught them to fly from the deck when they got older. This morning, I noticed a robin sitting on the railing, looking fat, cheeky and extraordinarily calm. I wonder ... I've put out bird seed, and placed the nest back into position. Just in case :-).

I spent two hours gardening yesterday. I was able to dig up all the side garden (rhubarb, tomato bushes and sunflowers planned) and almost all of the front foundation beds. I also dug up a new garden over the septic tank. There was a garden here when we arrived, but it dried out too quickly so I let it grow over. However, grass doesn't grow there either. This year I've added vermiculite and I'll mulch it really well and try again with just annuals, and perhaps a couple of peony bushes. It is much to early to garden; BUT so easy right now because even the weeds are still dead. Eventually I would love to move the chickens away from the house and put in a shade garden; I loved shade gardening in New Jersey and I'd love to give it a try here. In the middle of this windswept patch of clay soil, this one location on the north-east end of the house is my only possibility.

Kevin is into the last month of practices for "Anything Goes". Four members of this house sing the songs constantly; the kids run through his lines with him. I love that they all love the theatre; but my introverted self tends to hide at the computer during the noisiest times!