It seems early, and yet here it is. The first ducklings of the season are waddling across the short grass, which is showing the first signs of growth. Mama duck had cunningly hidden her nest, so cunningly that while we could tell from her behaviour that she must be nesting (as are a couple of others) we could not be sure exactly where the nest might be. No matter, she hatched a fine clutch of ten fuzzy ducklings, and she shows every sign of being an attentive, careful parent.
We are not the only ones to have noticed the weather. On surrounding properties tractors are firing up and work is commencing. There is no guarantee, of course, that we shall not get more snow, and we still have frosty mornings, but in general the air is clearing and the weather warming to the point that rather than huddle for shelter, the sheep roam and sun themselves where they will.
Soon it will be time to plant seeds, and to chase new lambs around the paddocks, but for the time being the ewes continue to walk around as if smuggling watermelons beneath woolly coats. We should also obtain another bantam cock to entertain the bantam hens we have, since the first one died sadly in Winter. Since the bantams show every signs of becoming broody at the drop of a hat, this should be a good source of chicken meat. They are a very good way of converting kitchen scraps into new food.
Oulike klein makoutjies!
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