Spring is right around the corner

The scurs and Weather Eye had the rain part for Wednesday right; they just missed the changing over to snow part. Was this last blizzard Old Man Winter’s parting shot, or was he just getting his scope dialed in? Starting Thursday, the astronomical 1st day of spring, sunny with highs in the low 40’s and lows in the upper 20’s. Partly sunny on Friday with a slight chance of evening showers. Highs in the mid-40’s with lows in the low 20’s. Mostly sunny Saturday, with highs in the upper 30’s and lows in the mid-20’s. Sunday, partly sunny with a good chance of a rain/snow mix. Highs in the mid-40’s with lows in the mid-20’s. Cloudy on Monday with highs in the low 40’s and lows in the upper 20’s. Tuesday, sunny with highs in the upper 40’s and lows in the mid-20’s. Cloudy on Wednesday with highs in the upper 40’s and lows in the upper 20’s. On the 23rd we’ll see the sun set at 7:30 p.m. CDT. The normal high for March 23rd is 43 and the normal low is 26. The scurs are eyeing their woodpile and hoping it’ll make it. It should if they burn all their candy wrappers first.

With spring seemingly just around the corner much of the winter, we started to think the weatherman was crying wolf. Many were under the impression that we’d see it break early especially after the warmth towards the end of January. Since then we’ve seen glimpses, but Old Man Winter has also shown us the back of his hand. We saw a bone-chilling stretch in February followed by a March that’s regained its status as the snowiest month, at least for this winter. We still have to get through April yet and don’t count May out. I remember several occasions as a kid when we’d be playing ball outside in March or going to basketball tournaments in our shirtsleeves, only to have a blizzard close school. Not only that, be battling snow afterwards into mid-April then be seeding oats well into May. The good news so far anyway is the frost depth has changed in a hurry. It’s not out entirely all over as I found when probing around the yard. The walk-in barn door closes now at the ranch now, however, so it’s a start.

Still watching a few ewes that haven’t lambed yet very closely. They’ve put the brakes on between the last several and aren’t telegraphing it like they do sometimes. One natural-colored ewe lambed Monday, so cross one more off the list. She’s a doting mother and her ewe lamb is an absolute little doll. Another ewe has shown signs for several weeks, but hasn’t got the job done yet. It would seem that soon we’d find her having completed the process. It’s been a waiting game too to see when we’ll be able to finally let the ewes with lambs outside. Then they can start chewing on round bales rather than burning through a half dozen small square bales a day. Snowstorms are a big pause button. The snow just got off the electric fence from the last blizzard. The March 14th windstorm caused some branches and limbs to fall and partially ground out the fence, so that was dealt with Sunday. Not long afterwards the forecast changed from mostly rain to mostly snow. Tired of waiting for ewe.

Friday night meant piecing the yard back together before the next weather event. As mentioned last week, it was ripped up pretty good with the heavy wet snow on top of thawed sod. Like golfing, you have to replace your divots. It looked decent from 30’ anyway. I did a minimal amount of raking and shoveling, however. I knew better than getting too carried away. Odds were I’d just be doing it again anyway. Frost in the soil continues to disappear and the nearby lakes, namely Beaver and St. Olaf, opened up as of last Saturday. There is still frost in areas, however, especially where there is a lot of reflective residue and on north sides of groves, buildings, etc. I’d thought about putting some radishes and lettuce in, but was thinking I’d need to purchase seed first. When I checked my stash, I discovered there were all kinds of radishes and greens that never got planted due to the wet spring. Lucky me! The garden had other ideas. The soil surface was still tacky on Friday, so I punted. I was just happy knowing I had seed.

Watching the waterfowl pass through the area has always been a treat. There was a flock of snow geese that passed over the ranch on Monday night. Many Canada geese have started to set up shop as small wetlands begin to open up. When out checking the fence and pussy willow progress, I noted there was water in the pond again after the snow melt. There have been local reports of wood ducks around, so hopefully they’ll use the two houses around the wetland area. Past years we’ve had pairs of wood ducks check out the trees in the backyard for nesting sites. This winter, the woodpeckers enlarged a hole in the elm tree to roughly 4” in diameter. It’s right where it can be easily monitored from the window when seated in the oval office. Beats playing on your phone or reading a toilet book.  

As noted in previous columns, Poppy does avoid mud, as long as it’s in puddles. When it’s the muddy backyard lawn and she’s in hot pursuit of fox squirrels, she throws caution to the wind. Upon her return, she has mud caked in the hair between her toes. In an attempt to keep the floor clean, we try to get it out of her paws with a towel. This often becomes an exercise in futility. First off, it’s a long way down on a Corgi to get at their feet. Secondly, she thinks it’s a game The wiggling and playful biting at your hand when attempting to get her feet clean makes you laugh. Lastly, when you start to laugh it just makes Poppy even more animated. Easier sometimes just to sweep the mud up once it dries rather than prolonging the agony.

See you next week…real good then.