Blue Jeans and Cotton Tees

We actually left “the wilderness” this week-end. Since we heat only with a wood stove, we can’t leave during the cold winter months because then the fire would go out and everything would freeze in the house. But Sunday was finally warm enough for us to venture forth to what my youngest calls “the Big Town.”

We left right after church and drove in 60 degree temperatures. We were able to enjoy wonderful fellowship with my family, and an amazing Mark Schultz concert (I got the tickets for my birthday!) before the temperatures dropped over 30 degrees and the freezing rain, sleet and snow began.

So much for Springtime!

My husband assured me the house would be fine for one night, and it was too dangerous to drive home anyway. So we spent the night.

We woke up to 4 inches of heavy snow but bright sunshine. I guess that’s the good thing about a snowstorm in March, they don’t last as long or pack such a mean punch.

When the streets were cleared we were able to run a few errands, including a stop to buy garden seeds. Yes, garden seeds.

There is 4 inches of snow on the ground, an arctic wind is blowing, and I’m standing in my wool coat choosing between sweet corn varieties! Now that is faith!

I don’t know what the weather will be tomorrow, or the next day. I don’t know what kind of a growing season we’ll have. Yet, every year I faithfully buy garden seeds, till the soil and plant, trusting God with the increase.

That’s how I see our home schooling as well. I don’t know what God has in store for my children; what kind of “growing seasons” they will endure. But every morning I get up and till the soil and plant the seeds of faith in their hearts, trusting God with the increase.

Some days it seems as if spring will never come, as if I’ll never see any fruit in their lives, but God is faithful. “Let us not become weary in well doing, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9

Keep the faith today. Spring will come. You will see fruit in your children’s lives!

I should have known. I thought I was prepared. But I had no idea when we moved here nine years ago how frustrating life could be living with five children in a drafty old farm house in the coldest months on the year.

Thermal socks and heavy hooded sweatshirts have been the normal attire for sometime now. (Actually I only see the boys heads on Sunday morning when they take their stocking caps off for church!)

The wood stove is like another child, always needing to be fed and changed. The need for wood is a never ending job with all the cutting, hauling, and splitting.

Yet, after nine years, despite the frustrations, I have learned to love and anticipate winter days here on the farm. It’s comforting to have the snow falling outside and know that you are all safe and warm inside. There’s a sort of rhythm and peacefulness about our days with very few interruptions.

Winter is when we get many books read, games played and we always have a 1000 piece jig saw puzzle set out to be put together.

On sunny days, we can strap on the cross county skis, walk out the back door and start to ski. The kids have hills all over for sledding and snowboarding.

I guess winter in the country can be summed up in one word, time. We have time to be together and do the things that are important. We have time to think, to grow, to explore, to experiment, to play.

Since time is a such a valuable commodity, I guess winter in an old farm house makes us rich indeed!

I know it comes with the territory. Since we live in the country, we’re going to have critters of all shapes and sizes. Normally, I don’t mind them. It’s actually kind of fun to spot them. But when they empty a just-filled bird feeder, they become more of a nuisance than an excitement!

My husband’s dad keeps several bird feeders out all year round. He was gone on a trip last week and my sons were checking his feeders when they realized that they had to fill one feeder every day. Now this was a large feeder and should have lasted longer than that.

They suspected a varmint and scheduled a stake-out. Sure enough, the next day they crept into the yard just as a nice plump opossum slithered away from the now empty bird feeder. They followed him and discovered his den in the ravine nearby. They decided to remove the feeder for awhile and wait for Poppa to decide what he wanted to do.

Meanwhile, Poppa had another very large feeder sitting on the picnic table that was emptying very quickly. A middle of the night check showed several raccoons partying around the feeder. They had actually figured out how to open the top of the feeder and were helping themselves! The next day he took a bungee cord and secured the lid to the picnic table. That night he watched some very frustrated coons!

Critters can be a nuisance around a feeder, especially mid-winter when the snows are heavy and there’s little to eat. There are several things you can do to prevent it, such as being careful of your location, and using a squirrel baffle, but every veteran bird-watcher knows, those critters are smart and if you have food, they will try anything to get it!

Poppa moved the bird feeder so it’s harder for the opossum to get to, and he is waiting to see how long it will take those crafty coons to figure out how to undo the bungee cords! It’s all part of the game and adds a little excitement to the long cold winter days!

When should you set out your bluebird boxes? In my part of the country (Southern Iowa) now would be a good time! Bluebirds typically start nesting in March and continue through August.

We’ve always found that having a nest box open and ready in the early season is a great way to attract bluebirds. Many times we are able to get one nesting early in the season before some of the more aggressive birds (such as the house sparrow and the house wren) arrive to compete for the nest boxes.

We’ve attached the nest boxes on hedge posts and metal T-posts (used for fencing), but you could also a commercial wooden post. You can mount them right on trees, but they seem to be more susceptible to predators. (Raccoons, snakes and other climbing predators can easily climb the tree and destroy the nesting birds. Squirrels have also been know to chew and destroy the box itself!)

Once the boxes are out, you are ready for business! Now all you need is spring and the return of the bluebirds. But I’ll have to admit, that seems pretty far away right now! As I am writing this, we are under yet another Winter Storm Warning, and March is just 2 weeks away!

But the thought of spring with all the green leaves, warmer weather and the bluebirds nesting is enough to give me hope that sooner or later, even this winter will have to end! Preparing the bluebird nest boxes is just another act of faith, just like buying my garden seeds!