Hello!
Since
it is St. Patrick's Day today, the Irish is coming out in me, especially as
spring has arrived and the grass is turning green again. Crocuses have been
blooming while the daffodils and forsythia bushes are beginning to show off
their bright yellow colors. My cherry bushes and peach trees are ready to burst
out in pink too. There is the flurry of
birds arriving each day to begin building nests adding new bird songs to the
ones t hat have wintered over. For two weeks in a row I was able to hang out
wash on warm sunny days. What bliss! Some years by this time I've already begun
planting in the garden, but the ground is staying too wet with all the spring
showers so far. That doesn't mean I've been twiddling my thumbs though.
February
brought in snow and ice storms with frigid temperatures down in the teens so I
was kept busy twice a day toting water and breaking ice for the animals while
adding straw for warmth and keeping a good supply of food handy. One bad ice
storm knocked out our electric for three days so we were heating and cooking on
the wood-stove and using our oil lamps for light. Dwight and I took turns all
through the night to keep the fire burning and hauling in wood. We were
exhausted and very happy when the electric finally came back on. While some people like to rough it, I've
always preferred having modern conveniences myself.
A
neighbor loaned us a small generator to keep Dana's air and tri-pap machine
going at night so he could stay home and wouldn't have to go to the overcrowded
hospital or to a place in town where generators were set up. Afterwards a family in our church generously
gave us a generator to have of our own. What a blessing, because we realized we
needed to get one as Dana went through two large tanks of oxygen during the day.
The ambulance crew brought us oxygen to tide us over as we couldn't get out- we
don't have any snowplows to clear our road. We were snowbound for two weeks. I
tried one Saturday three times to get up our steep hill, but couldn't make it.
Dawn & Randy brought us bread and milk when they came with their 4-wheel
vehicle the last weekend for missionary services. Through it all, God worked
everything out. We are truly blessed.
This
is also the time of year when ducks get broody and hide eggs in the nest. I put new straw down, rearranged the nesting
boxes in a more secluded spot, and have started letting the eggs sit in the
nest in hopes of getting some baby ducks. Last year Princess tried three times
to hatch out eggs in a too narrow box, that she was determined to be in, only
for her eggs to get broken. I moved the narrow box up in the smaller duck’s
section- where one of the females is now laying her eggs- to avoid that happening
this year.
Meanwhile
I have six tiny fur balls of chicks under the heat lamp in the brooder. They are rapidly growing and small feathers are
appearing on their baby wings. Such delight to watch the little yellow chicks’
first totter around on spindly legs that can barely hold them up, to seeing
them gain confidence, flap their wings, and run around as they double in size
and get stronger.
In
the beginning of the month, we were saddened to learn that Dana’s great Aunt
Audrey died up in Ohio. Every time I have to cross off a name from my list it
brings back memories of all the other special people that I have been
privileged to know, who have passed on as well. I’m so glad we have the hope of
being reunited forever one day with all the wonderful family and friends who
have gone on before us. Even though we miss them, their legacy lives on in the
hearts of those who knew them.
I
want to get this out in the mail so shall hush up for now.
Enjoy
all the spring delights and beauty on your end~
Dorcas
