Hay, bales and the requisite rain

From the last few days; Gordon and his team of Belgians.

Before long, one bay in our hay shed holds a snug 150 bales. Our small flock of sheep dine on the tame hay through the winter. A few low grade bales for bedding and we have what we need.

Gord uses the rest of the hay for his cattle and horses ~

Onto every field a little rain must fall.

It's been perfect haying weather up until today. This spectacular sky last night after a stormy day on the meadow.

doe a deer ...

Coffee break alert. Vince spots big ears on the meadow. David mans the camera. We watch a doe pick her way across the middle field toward the creek as Gordon and his horses cut the hay on the back meadow. The weather is perfect for making hay.

Can't resist those tasty greens ...

"The black bear, considered 75% vegetarian, feeds on the herbs and lush greens of wetlands."

Oh yes he does...

Visit Wetlands of the Cariboo-Chilcotin for an excellent description of our corner of the world. Of the many species mentioned in the article there are very few we don't see here on the meadow. What a great planet!!

Swallows, lilacs and greens

Our greenhouse is brimming with tasty greens; spinach and chard and kale and lettuce ! The swallows are busy gobbling up mosquitos and tending to their young. We are enjoying our first bloom of lilacs at the kitchen window and fields of flowers everywhere! It is June 22nd and we are back to work ~ more or less. Today being a beautiful sunny Sunday with a cool breeze in the air we took a few hours out and cruised down our little river in our wee flat bottomed boat.

Late May on the meadow

Late May ... the ewes and their lambs coming in from a graze on the meadow. Our green house is already providing enough fresh greens to add to our lunchtime soup almost every day.

Another delightful discovery on one of our wander abouts ~ on the ground under the tree next to the robin's nest; a duck's nest all softly feathered and holding 10 eggs that we could count. New life on the meadow!

Spring green green green and glorious

In moments it will be summertime but for now we revel in spring.

We are watching with delight as a pair of robin's tend their nest. They have built it quite low in the branches of a small spruce tree close to the main gate. There was one perfect blue egg the first day we took a picture, three robins eggs just two days later.

We'll keep you posted.

May days when the meadow becomes a lake.

A haven for hundreds of ducks and shorebirds, geese, sandhill cranes, hawks ~ we must have enough photos now to write our own birding book specific to the meadow. That would be fun! Here are some photographs David has taken over the last few weeks.

Our hummingbirds returned 'home' ~ right on schedule. The swallows are back and working hard to rebuild last years nests or start from scratch...

The meadow is awash in the bright sunlight of late afternoon. It is spring and there are no unbeautiful moments.