Spring awakenings

The last week of winter has arrived as an early spring. Each morning we awake to fog hanging low over the mountain but as we grab cups of tea and head outside to feed the fish, the sun breaks through the fog and blue sky heralds the changing season. It's an awakening that sings of possibility. Here, on the farm in the warming sunshine, all seems possible. Rohan and I are awakening from our winter hibernation, hatching plans for farm projects for the rest of the year. We rush home from work so that we can get out in the paddocks and soak in the air. 

The weekend meant time to get out on the farm and meet the changing season - we mowed, we had a quick lesson in pruning from Nam and I tackled the orchard, and now need to tackle it again when David called over and said we hadn't taken enough off! On the apricot and almond trees blossom is already starting to emerge, bringing promise of fruit to come. We made a barrow load of mulch for the compost with the prunings and need to make some more to under the pine trees where we will plant berries, with the acidity from the pine needles just what they need to help them grow. We replaced the door at the back of the studio that leads into the pizza oven and we are going to give that room a much needed makeover - we'll rip off the wood covering the window, plaster the roof and walls and give the pizza oven a new coating of concrete and maybe a coat of paint on the outside. With the flue attached and the makeover done, it should serve as a great outdoor yet indoor cooking area for pizza. 

As the farm awakens it reminds you of the things that are important. At work there is a pressure for me to take on a new position, one that brings hours more work and a heavy responsibility. When in the office, I think perhaps I should do it, but then my eye begins to twitch when I think of all it entails. I drive home, turning the corner into our road and the rise where next door's green paddock meets the blue horizon startles me with it's contrast and beauty. All thoughts of increased responsibility and workload disappear. This is what matters- spending time outside, watching green shoots grow taller in the sunshine, talking about plans with friends who've recently got properties of their own, taking trips to Melbourne or Warrnambool to eat and laugh with family. 
My eye twitching ceases as the awakening occurs.