I fall for it every year. We get a series of days in the upper 50s, and I start daydreaming of spring. I imagine the smell of the rain-soaked earth and the feel of moist soil on my jeans as I kneel down to prepare the garden beds that will provide so much abundance. The veggie seeds are in their packets just waiting to be planted.

I know, I know, it’s inevitable that we’ll have ice or snow again before the gardening season begins, but it’s still nice to dream. Along with dreaming comes the creation of the annual “Spring To-Do List.” Do you have a list? What types of things are on it? Here’s mine:

• Rake up the leaves/yard debris leftover from fall
• Take the mulch off the Strawberry and Asparagus beds and add to the compost bin
• Top-dress the garden beds with a layer of compost
• Start tomato plants to plant early using the wall-o-waters
• Jay to build a Chicken Tractor (this is MUCH anticipated)
• Dig new flower bed for chicken coop

• Create walkway to chicken coop
• Power wash and paint the house
• Build flower boxes for barn, shop and chicken coop
• Install gutters on chicken coop and barn for rain barrel collection
• “Spring clean” the chicken coop – change the litter and wipe everything down
• Clean the bird feeders and prepare the hummingbird feeder
• Put up the clothesline
• Pull out the raised salad greens beds and fill with soil
• Finish installing the new kitchen lighting (before the summer sun heats up the attic)

I’m sure I’ll think of plenty additional projects to add before spring arrives. By the way, regarding the photos of the sunflowers above, the third photo was the last day of enjoyment I had with them. When I came home from work the next day some little critter left nothing but stems. Hope they were delightful!

Our newest addition is here!

Baby Renee (or Rene) arrived this week and the coop is in quite a stir!

Proud and protective Mama Claire is upset by her sudden move to the house.

We didn’t expect the eggs to actually hatch (actually, we didn’t believe that Clyde has been successful at doing his “job” with how clumsy he is), so we weren’t prepared for a baby chick in winter.

We moved Mama, Baby, and 1 un-hatched egg into the house (my craft room/multi-purpose room) in a dog crate. All seem to be doing well.

I am choosing to live in denial and state that the baby chick is a girl (Renee). Jay, on the other hand, insists on bursting my bubble with his “living in the real world” sense of reality and reminds me that it could be a boy (Rene). Actually, his words were “I think it’s a boy.” The chick is 24 hours old and impossible to sex by 2 rookie chicken farmers, so I’ll continue with my denial and call “her” Renee. Anyone had any experience with re-introducing a Mama and new Baby to the coop? I’d love some advice.

For more information on Cobble Hill Farm, please visit Life at Cobble Hill Farm.