Loving The January Thaw

Nearly every January we get a little mid winter break known as "the January thaw".

  Newcomers think it is spring, 

but alas, no,

 winter is only half over. 

 It's just a week (or two if we are lucky) of above freezing temperatures

 that cause the snow to melt, the rivers become brimming full, and, rapturously,

 the sun shines. 

(outstanding news for us off grid folks!!)

 We are loving the thaw this year!

  It has been a bit longer than usual, and although the snow is not ALL gone, it is mostly gone,

 and that is enough to get all the girls out.

Happy, happy hens!

The children are out and about in the woods too, 

and I have to drag them back in with the dinner bell to finish their lessons each afternoon. 

They are scouting for antler sheds, slaying imaginary foes,

 basking in the sunshine,

 wandering aimlessly through the woods.

This is just what Ben was doing when he saw something, and that something triggered his creativity.

What goes through a boys mind when he spies a half rotten tree stump? 

Why, a bivouac shelter for a few soldiers shot down behind enemy lines, of course!

Thus engaged, his imagination ran wild with the adventures for days on end. 

 Ahhh, the mind of a ten year old!

 Ben and Gabe also whittled log boats which they have been floating down our little seasonal creek for hours at a time. (I should have taken a picture!)

 I have enjoyed getting out for a few walks in the woods. 

 On my first outing, I saw a little herd of elk and about a dozen deer. 

Bethany, Gabe and Olivia spend most of their outside time

 sloshing through puddles and chasing chickens. 

(chuckle)

 Joe and Jim have come up empty so far in the antler search, 

but we three will all surely be vying for who finds the biggest shed, who finds the most sheds, 

and who finds the first shed!  

The snow is likely to return and postpone our sport,

 but in the meantime 

we are sure enjoying the warmer weather, the mud puddles, the pungent forest,

 and  glorious sunshine!