woke this morning to some surprise snow
Had not been watching the news, with company from out of town here for Easter
was quite pretty but the birds were not pleased I let the feeders go empty
the winter sown jugs were looking like winter.
I was out of town for almost a month and find myself terribly behind this spring
today's all day rain did not help almost 2 inches and the real storms are to come tonight ((with hail so the cars are in the barn))
Yesterday was a good gardening day and I got a half day in
the first half spent at the Bee Ladies helping to inspect hives 
what a great learning experience .
I have bees coming next month and need to ask a lot of questions.
In the garden
potted up a lot of seeds that went to the greenhouse for protection
trimmed weeded and mulched around the clematis
also transplanted a couple columbine I found near the compost pile.
planted a row of beets and salad turnips
spinach and lettuce went into pots , I find it easier to harvest in pots.
Maybe a half day was enough this early in the spring my body had something to say about yesterday this morning 
Today's sunset
It was a beautiful day to get out for first spring garden assessment.Almost 60
and above freezing all last night.
The bunnies loved the goji berries almost to the ground (snow level) and stayed in the raised strawberry bed a lot , I can tell because they left some good round fertilizer.
Nigel's pond is thawed and the gold fish survived the winter 
I set up the water tank and will put the fish kept in the garage out this week.
only a few greens up , lots of winter like weather still to come.
Constant chatter of the sandhill cranes , I must have seen a few thousand going north today
I guess the warm is a sign of spring for them too.
Yesterday at this time of the day it was 50+ and today 27 and six inches of fresh snow .
Did all my preparing yesterday , full wood box , fresh large pot of chili, $ some ice melt & bird feed ,filled the feeders ...................
I brought all my winter sowing jugs and some soil inside ........
Time to do some wintersowing
((as soon as the dishes are done))
Predicted to snow all day and tomorrow
We are in the 12-18'' band
I love the snow ......so beautiful.
This week has been sub-zero most mornings 3 below this morning 11 below on Wednesday morning. I have to bundle up to fill the bird feeders , and the birds seem to appreciate it . They grace several window views. I think the cardinals are my favorite this time of year , so bright against the snow.
some days I count two dozen. Considerably less than last year when there were over 50 in some counts . Could be the rather mild snow-less winter till this week .
the birds bulking up before the snow
the Christmas tree is just out the front door , make it easy to throw seed without getting too cold .
It will stay there until the first day of spring then on to the burn pile to celebrate spring
the jays normally feed on the north pine tree where I throw popcorn. I think they station a lookout : when I throw the popcorn in the tree I hear a call and by the time I get back into the house and to the back window there are a dozen or so jays flying in and out grabbing popcorn. Fun to watch.
