Signs of Spring

I have been mentally compiling a list of the signs of spring around here - but we went from Winter to almost Summer so fast, it now seems almost irrelevant.

However, tonight a little toad hopped into my barn as I did chores ... and as I walked back from the barn, I heard the spring peepers at the pond - so It's Official!

Other signs:

• Today I donned my "barn sandals" to do am chores - rubber boots are just too hot! OTOH, sandals mean seriously dirty feet! (Before I get the safety lecture, basic chores involve no direct contact with any animals bigger than a goose, so I am not at risk of being trodden on. For anything mano-a-mano, I don the boots!);
• I have opened all the barn (and many house) windows (tho my husband insists on closing them in the house in the eve ... wimp!);
• Last week I put away all the heated water devices and unplugged the heat lamps (next year I am looking into convection heaters for the pigs etc);
• I also replaced all the water bowls for the rabbits and Guinea pigs with water bottles - so much less mess!!!
• Goat shearing is coming up in the next week or two.
• and, of course - the longer evening hours ... which brings with it the feeling that one can actually get something done in the evening.

All of the above notwithstanding, we still have some piles of snow remaining in the bush, and in spots "where the sun don't shine" - but it's not going to last long.

We made it!