Chasing dreams

We are off to a good start this year.  We decided that after a year of falling way behind on projects around here, we'd hit the ground running in 2013.  And, so far, we have!  It's great!

New Year's day felt like an omen to me.  A foreshadowing of the productivity to come... January 1, 2013 commenced with 20 trees coming down in the new garden and pasture area.  The final trees that have been holding the project up since December of 2011.  I know that probably sounds harsh, the ending of 20 lives here on the land.  But I assure you, they were all trees unlikely to remain standing for long.  They were either pioneer species reaching the end of their natural lifespan, or trees that had been damaged in some way that left them likely to be downed in a good gusty windstorm (of which we have many here on our howling windy hilltop homestead).  And now, not only can we safely erect the perimeter fence without risk of falling trees, but we also have a good few years' worth of firewood to feed our woodstove harvested from right outside the front door.

A few short and busy days later, Jim, the ever-patient fencing expert we have been working with, came out and gave us our final "go ahead" and quote to order the fence supplies.  Woo hoo!  We are finally doing it!  The supplies have been ordered and will be arriving here sometime in the next couple of weeks.  The perimeter fence should be up by the end of the month!

I have spent the last few days researching pasture seed mixes and brainstorming the best ways to keep the chickens out so the pasture can get established without them scratching it up and eating all the seed.  I keep designing and re-designing the layout of cross fencing for future rotational grazing.  I day dream about the new garden space and all the wonders that will grow there.  I can see it all in my mind's eye and it's beautiful!

Our 2013 chicks have been ordered and seed catalogs can be found in just about every room of the house.  I'm considering getting a few ducks this year.  Maybe? I could certainly use a little help from some fowl friends in keeping the slug population down to give our rainforest-dwelling garden a fighting chance. Plus... they're so damn cute. I'm thinking either Khaki Campbells or Runners.  We shall see.

And, speaking of hitting the ground running in 2013, Jade has decidedly jumped on board.  Little man started walking on Christmas day (at a mere 10 months of age!).  Once he discovered the world of a biped, he has not looked back.  Rarely is there an instance when he opts to crawl rather than walk.  Watch out world.... Jade's coming!

Time to stretch and warm up... this mama is ready to chase down some dreams....