By Wenda Grabau
Spring is here!
Springtime Awakens on the Farm
Wenda Grabau©2020
First signs of spring have come and gone;
Now the full blown season is here.
Young leaves color the oak trees,
Bird songs twitter on the breeze.
The sweet scent of lilac wafts in the air,
The sun sheds its radiance
To highlight bright, bold colors
Over the verdant countryside.
Tulip blossoms are nearly spent.
Paddocks of grass made ready for cattle
Tell the tale that even in Minnesota’s climate,
Spring is really here.
I venture outside in the cool of the day
My hands and cheeks feel the chill,
I amble past flowers in full bloom
Displaying shades of pink, lavender and white.
My neighbor comes calling,
I meet my postman by the mailbox.
People are feeling the joy of the season,
I, too, share in their delight.
Jobs on the farm are changing,
Chores include hanging clothes on the line.
The billowing linens flap in brisk winds
While mother cat nuzzles my laundry basket.
After breakfast, farmer dons jacket, hat and shoes.
Leading the black and white procession,
He opens gates. One by one the cattle pass
By him expecting a generous feast.
The tractor rumbles off in the distance
Turning over rich clumps of sod
Exposing the field’s black earth.
Farmer labors in faith that God will bless his work.
The garden gets tilled and planted.
Weeds and unwanted clumps of recycled grass
Get tossed over the fence
For the heifers to enjoy.
Whether doing laundry or gardening,
I see chickens strutting their stuff.
They hunt for tasty grubs, seeds, grass and gravel
To top off and round out their daily diet.
Springtime is awake on the farm.
Chores, animals, life-sustaining plants,
Ornamental flowers, protective trees, musical bird songs,
All are things created from God’s generous hand.
This week, we have welcomed 100 baby chicks to live on our farm. Heat lamps are warming the chicks day and night till they are stronger and can thrive in the normal springtime temperatures.
The baby calves skip around the cow yard feeling new freedom; new strength as they grow.
Mother cat nurses her kits and purrs loudly as she snuggles with her newborns.
Flower beds get cleaned up. Bulbs are slipped under the earth to beautify the yard once more.
Farmers busily prepare their fields in which their crops will be sown.
Another of the changes I have observed in spring is a new delight in salads. In days when work is hard and the sun gets hot you might enjoy using this meaty salad to feed to your family. I got this recipe from the Quaker Oats people.