Little lambs eat ivy

I'm not sure what to make of this ivy growing up a fence post. It kind of looks like a mop of hair atop a skinny teen. Maybe I spend too much time looking for things to photograph around the vineyards.

Maybe it's an Enting?

This common ivy grows everywhere around here. It climbs up our tree trunks like it climbed up that fence post. Year after year we're out there cutting it off at ground level so that it doesn't take over and kill the trees. Of course it grows back, but there's really no way to pull it out by the roots. Maybe if we had some little lambs in the yard, they'd eat it all up. But they'd probably eat everything else, too.

A little logging

One of our neighbors has been doing a little logging on his property. His house is on the next road over from ours, and his property crosses over a stream in the woods and into a field adjacent to the vineyard. The field is where we used to see his donkeys, but they haven't been out there in while.

Logging on the edge of the donkey pasture.

The neighbor has been cutting trees on the edge of the woods and piling them up to age for firewood (I assume). The logs are cut into meter-long lengths and stacked near where they are cut. This goes on in patches of woods all around us.

Recharging

This beautiful weather we're having right now is doing everybody good, even if the timing is a little off. The trees and other plants are soaking up the sun. Buds are beginning to form. The ground is warming, too, so I imagine the grasses and other perennials are starting to produce new growth. Our lilac bush is already covered with fat buds.

A view out over the vineyards as the sun rose last Sunday morning. There's still a lot of pruning to be done.

The only downside to this warm and dry February is that the grape growers are worried. If the vines get off to an early start, and there's a freeze before spring, the year's crop could be damaged. Let's keep our fingers crossed that that doesn't happen.

Water hole

At various places around the vineyards out back there are these depressions in the ground. They're obviously man-made and much of the year they're empty pits. But after some good rain, they fill up and hold water for a while. Some drain quickly and others stay filled a lot longer. I'm not at all sure why they're there. Perhaps it's a way to allow water to seep back into the water table for the grape vines. A lot of the rain we get drains away to the river before it can penetrate the dense clay vineyard soil. Maybe it's for the wildlife. I don't know.

One of the water holes along the paths that we walk.

I finally got outside yesterday afternoon to pick up winter's fallen branches and sticks. I filled the wheelbarrow up twice and now have a good pile of kindling for the rest of the season's fires. If any. Tasha helped me a lot by grabbing sticks as I reached for them and running away. It was obviously a game for her. She enjoys being outside and playing in the nice weather. Come to think of it, so do I.

Birch bark

Well, I spent about ten minutes staring at the screen trying to think of something to write about birch bark. It's white. That's all I came up with.

And it has thin dark spots.

Our streak of sunny warm days continues. February may be going out like a lamb. Where does that leave March? Maybe it will come in like a goat, and out like manatee. Or, in like a spider monkey, out like a koala. In like an amoeba, out like a paramecium?

Happy birthday, Tasha!

Today Tasha turns two! Talk about alliteration. Here she is, smiling. She needs a bath and a good grooming. I don't brush her enough, so I take her in to the professional for that. It's time now.

Tish-tash is a pretty little puppy.

Tasha's really enjoying the nice weather. On days like this we can leave the front door open so she can come in and out as she pleases, run around the yard, and bark at passing cars and people. She especially likes barking at the woman who delivers the mail.

Friday would have been Callie's twelfth birthday. We still miss her, but we're very happy to have Tasha around. Her full name, in case you forgot, is Natasha des loups de l'Isengard (Natasha of the wolves of Isengard).  That's the name of the place where she was born, and a reference to the Lord of the Rings, a favorite novel of mine. It was meant to be.

Sunrise

When it's not overcast or foggy in the morning we get treated to a nice sunrise. The sun is still rising in the southeast, but it's making progress toward east every day. And now it's rising well before 08h00. I like getting out early with Tasha, but we have to wait for the light. The earlier we're out walking, the fewer people (and cars and tractors) we see. Fewer people equals fewer distractions. In the summer, it gets light before we're even out of bed.

One season following another, laden with happiness and tears.

I just heard on the news that they're doing away with paper phone books in France. I thought they already had. Now where will I look to see my name in print? Cue Steve Martin: The new phone book's here! The new phone book's here!