March 2021 River and Seed Pods (and one cat picture)

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The lovely shift to spring weather has coincided with the calendar this year. I don’t quite trust this warmth, and I imagine there will be another snow, probably in April. Last year the late frost was 16 May. But, enough of those gloomy thoughts. Here are some photos from a walk near the big river. These were taken on 20 March. So beautiful. A bit windy, which accounts for some of the blowing sand you can see in some of the pictures. I was also trying to show some of the standing stalks with their amazing seed pods still in place. And I finish off with a picture of a cat, because it is always helpful to see a picture of Tiglet. He is lounging in a box of straw in the barn.

March 2021 Snow, Snuggly Cats, and one Bloom

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Despite having had several lovely days with kitties reveling in the warm weather, it turned snowy again in true South Dakota March fashion. Here is Tiglet being happy in the warmer weather last week.

And Minnie, cute as ever.
These are all good responses to the snow….

A friend brought me this lovely, small beauty. I have it in an egg cup (to give a sense of scale here).

March 2021 Cats and nice weather

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Here is Cousin looking dignified, despite his scratch on his nose.
Fluff imagines herself as dainty and very precious. I will try to get a decent photo that show just how her over-sized front paws undermine that image.
The lovely recent weather has led to open windows and these happy kitties.
Here is a funny picture of Mitsy–she had been cleaning her tummy right before she looked over at me.
These two are cosy in the barn.
Here is Martin Frobisher with straw in the background in the barn.

March 2021 Garden and cats

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It is still not truly spring in south dakota, but the temperatures are tricking all of us.

Notice that slight green tinge to the grass.
Minnie is happy to squirm around in the sun.
Everything looks brown, but there are some stirrings.
These tulips are buried in straw and up against the south side of the house; they always appear absurdly early.
This may be a victory. I will wait to crow until later if this plant really has made it. The rosemary will be the true test.
Meanwhile this beauty is still blooming indoors.
Morning moon.
Morning moon.
And morning sun.

February 2021 Cats and weather

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It was very cold here in South Dakota and has now warmed up.

These two are usually in the barn on their heated beds, but it was colder than negative 25 degrees F, which seemed to me a tipping point. Hence, sequestered in the upstairs sitting room.
Tiglet.
Cousin looks dignified here.
Cousin, completely undignified.
Now that the snow has started to recede and the weather warming up, the geraniums look a little less fake through the upstairs window. They are so bright, but I have to keep turning them so that I get some of this happy red inside too.

February 2021 Food:: Winter farm market

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Eggs save lives.
This notice above came with this pastry below; the winter farm market only happens every other week. These items are from a couple of weeks ago… but I have been slow.
The leeks, kale, and apples all came from the winter market. I cooked them together.
I added a sweet potato and had this with rice. It was delicious.

February 2021 Cat :: Cousin and his nose

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This is Cousin. He is a big cat. And he often puts his nose into places where it gets scratched.
It has been ridiculously cold in South Dakota. Cousin’s response to the cold air near the windows has been to take complete advantage of sun on the bed.
I do not usually have this quilt on this bed. It is a big hit with Cousin.
He looks a little grumpy here, but the side eye probably has to do with the new scratch on his nose.
He woke just enough to have an eye on me for this one.

February 2021 Cats :: kitty bed head

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Vlad usually looks something like this on the right.

Claribel and Vladimir, sister and brother, Trouble and Goofy.

Here are a series of images of Vlad with an epic case of kitty bed head. First the nap posture that contributed.

Vlad under his own tail. With a Cara snuggle on the side.

When he first awakened he gave me a more befuddled look than usual.

Then he decided he better straighten himself out a bit.

Notice he hasn’t quite had a chance to put his tongue away.