What a beautiful morning. I can say with conviction that I’m ready for spring time.

It’s Valentine’s Day so everyone is out rushing around buying flowers, candy and everything else to give to their wives and girlfriends. The problem is that the stores all take advantage of this holiday to increase the prices and make a killing. There are more flowers sold today at an elevated price than any other time of the year. Vick and I consider this the day when everyone spends far more than they should just to show they love someone special. Why, you would be much further ahead to just take your loved one to a really fine place to dine this evening, giving them a delicious dinner, music and dancing if they desire. In the end you would spend much less and have much more to show for it. What is more romantic than a candlelit dinner with music, in a beautiful restaurant? It’s just something to think about for next time.

It is supposed to get into the 40s today, which will help us to get rid this dirty snow, which will make the animals very happy. Once the snow is melted…they have no problem finding seeds, grass, bugs and buds. With the snow gone and the sun’s heat on the ground, we do not realize how many spring plants begin to grow; even at this early date…however the chickens miss nothing!
Soon Vick and I will take the small oxygen cylinder for the torch outfit we have down to the weld shop, where I will trade the small oxygen cylinder for a large one, along with a large acetylene cylinder. We will rent the large cylinders cheaper than I can own them. It will allow me to do some actual burning and welding. The first thing I would do is to make a two wheeled cart to move the oxy-acetylene torch around. That way I can make the torch mobile. The second thing I will do is to modify the round bale lifter so I can install the new hay spike. I have a bushing that needs to be welded in place of the square fitting on top, so I would trim that square bushing with the torch and fit the new round bushing on and weld it securely. After adding the new spike, I will add the lock bolt and the bale lifter will be as good as a new one.
Yesterday while leaving the animals out and feeding them, I took some pictures of the landscape, the animals and whatever else seemed interesting at the time. I am downloading them below for you to enjoy. As you can see…the animals are ready for spring time, just like us! Just look at how they putter around from place to place, as if they have a special agenda. This is everyday life to them…that is their agenda.

Chickens eating crushed corn...A Treat!

The lone layer....

Gladys heading for the little pond....

Almost like a town meeting....

Terrance struttin' his stuff......

Doodle's could care less about anything.....

"What do ya mean by that mister????"

Checking to see if it's safe for the girls to come out...

The Hollowbrook gang putterin' about....

The girls came out to see what's goin' on....

Notice Terrance keeps between me and the girls?

He's not to big on anyone getting close to his girls......

Murray Muscovy...our bigest, colorful duck....  

Tina Turkey....a Broad Breasted Bronze...

The pond area still in the throngs of Old Man Winter....

Across the way, as spring unfolds there......

The unwelcome arrival of Mud Season....

Hard to manuver without chains....

The "hot springs" duck pond.....

Spring in the foreground,,,Winter in the background!

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