Spring has Sprung at Homeland Farm

       Hello and welcome back! It is only mid march, and we are having an EARLY spring here on the farm. It is certainly very welcome by the  humans and animals alike, after last years record breaking snow and cold. We have had a very mild winter, and very little snow this year. I bet we didn't have much more then  a foot of snow in our area of Maine total for the entire season. Of course, we might not be done yet, but are getting closer to April. Bring on the sun and warm temps, says I.
Last year at this time..we had a ton of snow
        The unfortunate part of spring is here early as well, and that of course is MUD SEASON. Oh Lordie, it is bad this year. Mud in the driveway, mud where the lawn used to be, pull off your boot mud in the corral  and almost as much in my kitchen and laundry room. Bleck. Comes with the territory when you have a working farm, and lately, we are all working.
Look at that floor...ewwww

        Brogan, Jenny, Cass and Cliff have been building fences, cleaning piles of manure, picking up the winter messes. Cameron, and Liam have been doing  odd jobs for the rescue, and also have been helping me with the lawn work. It has been relatively windy this past week, and that has helped with drying things out so we can rake, pick up branches and various trash, hay strings and winter refuse lying about. Actually, I always enjoy spring cleaning...it is usually so dirty, cluttery and dusty that when you are done, you can definitely tell you have been working. My family probably does NOT share the same enthusiasm as I do but, they do admit it looks better when we finish.
Cliffy doing poop removal.
Unloading round bales
          The animals have fared well this winter, and the horses have all begun the annual spring SHEDDING marathon. Everyone that comes in the house is covered with animal hair. Horse, donkey, goat, alpaca (well, they have fiber, not hair) (oh, and don't really shed) (never mind.) I love when I cook a nice meal and when we all sit down to eat, the animal hair is just floating off sleeves and shirts down onto the table. The food. The glasses. Its amazing we don't all sit around and hack up hairballs.  Want a supper invite? Might want to wait until shedding season is over..say, June?
And if not hair, perhaps feathers..

            We have had many visits from Baby Amelia. She is just a cutie, and is almost 6 months old already. She is very alert and is very busy checking out her surroundings now. She loves to ride in her bouncey horse, and like the rest of the family, eats like a champ. Growing like a weed for sure. She will be up and moving on her own soon, and then Granny is going to be in DEEP TROUBLE. I will need a motorized GO BUGGY then just to keep up with her. Going to be fun for sure.
           It is a beautiful day, and I have a few outside jobs calling so I will wrap this up with a few photos and in honor of St Patricks day this upcoming week, a limerick.

       
"Avon calling! And you'd better BUY!!"

Jenny and her little friend

The dogs in the winter position


And now a Limerick....(ahem)...



                             There once was a place called Homeland Farm
                              If you have ever been there, you know it has charm
                              They greet you at the door with a grin,
                              but, if you don't watch where you step, they wont let you in
                              Cause your shoes might be suffering harm...

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