Yesterday was a very wet day. The clouds sat heavily upon the land, breaking forth in huge copious drops of rain that fell and fell and fell. Gradually all the snow turned to slush and then to mud. Since the ground is still frozen the water stayed on top…filling in where the snow used to be. Huge squishy puddles that would be fun to walk through if it were August instead of February.
All day the rain drops fell, plinking and plonking on the roofs of the house, the barn, and Terry’s work shops. Sheets of water pouring off the sides of the roofs melting any snow that had accumulated there over the winter.
Rain always makes one feel like it is warm outside; not this rain, this was winter’s rain. A very rare experience for us.
Then sometime in the late morning or early afternoon the rain stopped and a chill wind fresh from the snow on the Uncompahgre (Un-come-pah-gray—accent on the pah) shoved and pushed the remaining heavy clouds from us and swept them on toward Paonia. A blue sky appeared giving all of us, Terry, myself, the dogs and cats a huge desire to be outside.
Gathering the dogs up and loading them into the back of the pick-up we took off for a short ride…just to get out of the house. Up we went toward Pea Green, then into the out-reaches of Olathe, down in the valley of Monoken (Mo-no-ken) back to Delta, where I mailed a letter, then home.
Refreshed! Open to the thoughts of spring.
This morning a huge cloud had drifted down over-night from the Plateau covering our Mesa (California Mesa), blocking the bright and joyful sun rays for our view.
The little buff hen is gradually doing better. Every evening she comes in to sleep in her laundry basket nest, cooing and talking to us as we walk by going here and there. As the night closes in and I’m done washing the dishes I cover her little basket with towels shutting out the light and helping her stay warm.
When morning comes I take her back out to the hen house. She needs to stretch and fluff and eat and poop at will…in the house is not a good place for all of that.
But today, she took her little fluffy self out into the plastic covered chicken run and started digging and scratching. A first! I was delighted to see her busy searching for interesting things to eat. The soil is dry in there so she will be able to dust herself–a beauty bath is always refreshing.
While watching her two little bluebirds flew right by me and sat down on the wood pile. I was extremely grateful the dogs had stayed in the house. They stayed a short while (of course I didn’t have my camera with me) then lifted up their little wings, turning their blue backs to me and flew off toward the fence along the lane.
Spring is coming! I always know, once I see the bluebirds. Sometimes there are only a few hardy souls braving the cold, then we will see more and more. I hope I have my camera the next time I see them…to capture a bluebird’s photo is one of my photographing goals.
For now we live under a cloud, but not such a bad cloud, as we can see the sun surrounding us.
And the bluebirds are returning. How grand is that?
Linda
Life on a Colorado Farm 
a clearer sky, then bluebirds. i think that’s a good sign. 🙂
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Absolutely wonderful. That is how it is.Spring is coming and things are popping up thru the soil to find the light and the sun. Our snow has all gone due to a night of rain.
Today the sun has been out and it was so warm It. Will soon be here as your bluebirds for tell. Yiippee lots of love xxxx
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Bluebirds!! How great that is!! Wish they would come this way, but they are not residents of this area. We do get Indigo Buntings occasionally, so that will suffice. Ahh, blue skies, too! I’ve not seen that in several days either. I know you love the moisture, but cold rain can be so bone chilling.
So glad your little hen is doing so much better! You have taken good care of her! Going outside is such a good sign. I think my old (4yrs) hens are ready for Spring as they have broken out of their fenced in yard the last couple of days! They are now free-ranging it!! Young hens are shut in until this afternoon as we have/had threat of snow/sleet until noon.
Here’s hoping for more bluebirds AND Spring to come soon!! Blessings!
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Bluebirds! Wonderful!
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Beautiful pictures! Today appears to be a glorious sunshiny day with snow on the ground and warming temps. The rains and mud are coming…
I have had a flurry of birds to my feeders. The count down to spring is on her way! yea!
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Oh how lovely! Thank you for sharing your bluebird day with us! Those mountains are stunning . I kind of want to put that last picture on my desktop … I miss having something to raise my eyes up to! (But I am happy my bones are warm, so it’s a fair tradeoff.)
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I’m glad you got both the rain and the bluebirds. I don’t know if this is good news or bad news, but we have bluebirds at our feeders all year.
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Delightful!
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Bluebirds of happiness. The almond trees are starting to bloom here. Spring…
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How neat to see the Bluebirds.. They are definitely one of my very favorite little birds here. Hope you do start experiencing more spring..
Yes—a cold rain in winter feels almost colder than snow falling….
We have had to cancel our Valentine’s Trip to a little mountain town (Cashiers) in North Carolina. That horrible southern storm is going to give them from 6-10 inches of snow, plus sleet and power outages. We can’t even get into that area now… SAD–but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Hugs,
Betsy
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Glad it seems milder for you and love the mention of the California mesa. Cheers to you and the bluebirds, too.
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The chicken is scratching, the bluebirds are flying…. Things are good.
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I think it might be a sgin!! Good for you, your hen is better and you need to put that camera in your pocket! 🙂
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It’s still frigid here in east central Wi., (-17F while doing critter chores this morning), but the cardinals are singing their “this is my territory” song so spring must be coming!
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That is wonderful! Hopefully the groundhog will be proved wrong. 🙂
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What a lovely post Linda, so glad little red hen is coming right ..love the sound of her sitting inside in her basket, enjoying your company, feeling loved. Howe beautiful your mountains look with the sun shining on them… so glad you’re getting some signs of spring, I know how you long for the winter to be over… I’ve got very behind with all my blog reading and comments, but it was lovely to catch up with you here, Love Valerie
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Jealous of your bluebirds. Although the Mountain Bluebird is our state bird, I’ve not seen them around here. Good luck getting those photos. Love the look of the sun on the snowy mountains.
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How grand! Bluebirds 🙂 Rain in February is just wierd, but hey – it’s Colorado. Wait 5 minutes and the sun will be out. Only clouds here on the front range – snow isn’t melting, so we’ve been shoveling. Thanks for the beautiful photos!
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Ps: glad Miss Chicken is doing better… howz the goat doing?
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Wish we had bluebirds here Linda. But I know the feeling – we get it when the first of our summer visitors arrive. Our swallows usually arrive in April, about the fourteenth, and it fills the heart with joy to see that first one.
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I’ve never seen a bluebird … must be magical!..Look forward to seeing a photo 🙂
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We had a whole flock of the bluebirds a couple of weeks ago! Really lifted my spirits! 🙂
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P.S. Your pictures are gorgeous!
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Animals seem to (on average) understand the weather far better than we do. I guess that’s why we let a groundhog decide the end of winter for us. 🙂
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What a beautiful vista you have – the plains framed by those majestic peaks. We have had the same weather (minus the sunshine) and it’s really odd for us to have bare ground so early in the year. I don’t think any of the woodland creatures quite knows what to do with themselves.
If you are seeing your first harbingers of spring, then I hope it is on the way for you. I don’t declare spring to be here until the first White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) arrives – and that is generally in early to mid April. I’m counting the days 🙂
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These pictures take my breath right away. They really do. I canNOT imagine living with a daily view of such natural majesty. At which point I have to say, “Thank God for books and the internet!” I am rereading Rick Bass’ beautiful book “Winter” about living through winter in the Yaak valley of Montana. And I’m going to knock off his “Book of Yaak” while I’m at it. These writings and your blogs transport me from this European, urban place I NEVER imagined living in…back to a land for which I can’t even begin to describe my deep, native feelings and longings. Thanks Linda for all your sharing.
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The lighting is perfect on your beautiful scenery. Glad the chicken is doing well. I’m catching up on your blogs. Probably won’t comment on all of them, but I have to find out what I’ve been missing!
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