Day 957 Cheer

 

As the signs of spring start to emerge, the world around us is slowly waking up. While the transition is gradual, there's a palpable sense of hope that the warmer weather is on its way. One of the first signs of this seasonal shift is the early blossoms that begin to appear, dotting the landscape with cheerful bursts of color. They don’t follow any particular design or pattern, but their presence brings a sense of cheer to an otherwise barren yard.

Yesterday, as I set out to clean my chicken coop, I was reminded just how much spring is in the air. For the first time in a while, I didn't need to wear a jacket. Although it was chilly at first, once I started working, I quickly found myself warming up. It felt so refreshing to be outside in the crisp air with the sun shining down.

My chickens were just as excited as I was. They always seem to know when I'm about to step out to the coop, and sure enough, they were waiting at the door, lining up at the run to watch me work. I’m sure it’s quite the entertainment for them, as they love to see what I’m doing. They’ve clearly picked every last worm out from within their run, so when I threw in fresh dirt to refresh the bedding, they were eager to start searching for more. For about ten minutes, I found myself doing nothing but digging for worms and tossing them in for my girls.

The ground is finally thawing, and I can tell my chickens are loving it. Worms are great for the irrigation system in the run, but I can never seem to get them in the ground fast enough. My flock devours them almost as quickly as I can dig. It’s amazing to watch them so delighted by such a simple gift from the earth. The whole process is oddly rewarding. 

After finishing the coop, I was happy to see that my chickens' egg production is on the rise. I’ve been getting a solid dozen eggs each day, and I’m sure that number will continue to grow as the days get longer. Fresh bedding and clean hen house liners are always a win in my book, and it's wonderful to see my happy flock thriving.

But it wasn’t all about work and chores yesterday. My son and I decided to go out for breakfast – just the two of us. It was a real treat, a chance to sit down and enjoy each other’s company without the usual household distractions. We both marveled at the portion sizes when our meals arrived. My son's pancakes were the size of the plate and stacked so high that they needed a second plate to hold all the sides. It felt like a feast, and we certainly didn’t leave hungry!

Later that evening, Tim and I went out for dinner with friends, and we found ourselves facing the same overwhelming portion sizes. We ordered one meal for the two of us to share, and when it arrived, we both agreed it could have easily fed a family of five. We ate what we could, then packed up the rest to take home. The leftovers were enough for another dinner for the two of us. Remember back in the day, when as kids we were told we needed to, "clean our plates"... that would certainly be an impossible demand when dining out these days. 

Despite the excessive portions, it was a day full of simple pleasures. From the excitement of my chickens to enjoying a meal with family and friends, it reminded me how important it is to appreciate the little moments. The arrival of spring brings so much joy, and I’m looking forward to the warmer days ahead, where even the smallest signs of life can make a big difference.