It's snow joke

More snow overnight. We have had a lot of snow this winter. Just as all of the bulbs were emerging and I had my tomato plants in the unheated plastic greenhouse, the cold weather has hit again.

The goats are out, prancing through the snow, while Monty the kitten practices his pouncing.

I am really hoping that this will be the last episode of snow this year for us. Everything needs to dry out and I am keen to have a good growing year. The extremes of weather make it difficult to plan anything. I am almost afraid to go and check on the poor tomato plants.

Nothing however seems to upset the ducks as they break the ice and insist on the usual morning swim.

Life goes on

The birds are singing their hearts out. They also like to tap on the roof windows and the shiny cowl on the wood-burner which sounds like Morse code. For the last few days there have been frequent showers with occasional small gaps in between. Yesterday I dashed out and got a double row of peas in before being rained off. In the last few days I have sown field beans and parsnips outside and many more seeds inside.
The Autumn sown broad beans are in flower.

The bulbs are looking beautiful. I have my first flowering Anemone with many more flowers to come.

I am keeping my fingers crossed that my oldest goat called Tensing may be pregnant. She did not come into season when expected to and pregnancy is the most likely cause. If she is, then she will be due to kid in mid July. I have another week to wait until I will know if Pixie, her kid from last year is also pregnant. Then I can dispense with the services of next doors Billy. He is eating his head off and refusing to let the girls eat the best bits, he is certainly not a gentleman.

Meanwhile I continue to inspect all of the newly planted trees to see which have survived their planting out. The almond is in full leaf and the buds on the peaches are swelling with an exciting hint of pink blossom but only time will tell if they are all going to live.