A Walk with Willow

Willow, the feral kitten turned domestic, seems to think she's a dog as she likes to take walks with us.  Her mom, Salix, is also tame now but does not think she is a dog. The one time Salix came with us and Willow, she got lost and sat and howled until I went back and rescued her. That's the last time she came.

Brave Willow, on the last day of January, started out through the arboretum with us and 14-year-old Shirley Puppy, (who is no longer a puppy but retains the name) as we headed for the woods and creek.

 
They were both still with us as we walked through the "lake pasture", but Shirley soon turned around. It was a long hike for an old dog recovering from a stroke.

Also out and about were newts.

And more greenery coming up through the dead and very wet leaves.

Willow was a mite nervous in the deep forest after Shirley turned around, but she kept coming...

 This was a smaller juvenile newt.The fir needles on the ground give a size comparison. You can see here why they're called Rough Skinned Newts...

As always, we saw colorful fungi...

Here is Willow on a stump...

On the way home up the lane, Willow took the lead. This was scary territory for her apparently...

Back up at the machine shed (visible in the previous photo), Shirley was waiting for us by the tractor where she sleeps now.

By the house, the first spring flowers were (and still are) blooming: old-fashioned primroses from starts my mother gave me long ago...

 and hellebores...

The first crocus of spring was peeking up...

Now there are many more.

Since that walk with Willow on the last day of January, we have had sun, snow, rain, and everything in between. The seeds I optimistically planted ten days ago in the raised beds, on a warm and dry day, are not up yet, but carrots and onions and chard from last year are plentiful and edible, along with wild greens like chickweed, and lots of parsley in the herb bed.

Today, the 5th day of February, I planted tomato and pepper seeds in the greenhouse (jungle room). I had to do a lot of clearing out and cleaning up to make room for flat beds for the seeds. It was a good thing to do on a rainy day.

There will be more rain and more snow before spring truly arrives, but it's fun to watch the seasons changing little by little and to take walks on dry days... sometimes with an old dog and a brave Willow kitty.