such a day

Perhaps this wasn't the warmest of March days. Maybe it didn't start off with that brilliant burst of sunlight. It could be that there have been more radiant beginnings.

But for me, it was plenty grand.

It's Monday and so much of my time is at the farmette. Glancing at my photos, I have to wonder -- is today about grandparenting? About chicken antics? About the garden? Obviously it has a little of everything.

It begins, of course, with chicken care. Here's Scotch (with the other three girls), shaking herself free of night dust...






As I walk back to the farmhouse, I notice that the daffodils are definitely swelling.






The girls chase after me. It's one of the funniest sights, to see them run along the path toward the farmhouse, or, in the alternative, run with their behinds wagging back to the barn.






And now the sun comes out full force and our moods go from very good to very pink and downright grand!






Even though it's still a little cool, Ed and I go out to do some weeding. Working side by side in one of the back flower fields (too neglected last year -- we have quite the digging to do!), we are radiant. This is the essence of pleasure for us -- to improve something here at the farmette, digging, uprooting, clipping, heaving -- it's all important and as the contours of a better landscape take shape, we feel immensely satisfied.


Snowdrop comes over in the late morning and she is a whirl of energy as she rediscovers her play areas.






Ed shares an orange slice with her. She is delighted with her acquisition.






She looks outside then and spots the chickens and now her attention is focused only on them. I take her out in her little red wagon and here's a change: she likes the ride just fine! And of course, she loves watching the hens eat the scraps of bread we throw at them.






I pull her toward the barn and of course, the cheepers, not wanting to be left out, run behind us. A delightful little scene!






Is the girl happy?

Yes.






And as I wheel her to the mailbox, I notice that by our gravel driveway, the later crocuses have burst into bloom. I am so thrilled to see them!






Snowdrop, get out and smell the air around you!

She does. She does...






In the afternoon, I thought a lot about what it means to be a grandmother. Are you there just for the smiles?






Of course not. Are you there for the excursions that you know will make your grandchild happy? Well, now this is trickier. For the baby sitting grandma (as opposed to the one who shares in childcare in all ways), maybe the answer here is closer to yes. Ed and I are low on pickles -- ones that we can only purchase at our local cafe. I quickly volunteer to pick up some more. I know a coffee shop visit will thrill Snowdrop.

And it does.






In the evening, the weather is so beautiful that I am almost tempted to tell Ed that I would not be cooking tonight but instead -- concentrating on the yard work outside. But, the purchased fish is ready for the pan and so in the end I turn my back on the fine weather. I mean, it's not as if we're nearing the end of the beautiful season outdoors..