Spring clean up...

 Yesterday we spent most of the day outdoors, and it was good for my soul. Chris cleaned out one of the bird houses, and found last years Tree Swallow nest. Tree Swallow's love to add white feathers to their nests, and they hit the jackpot around here because between the chickens and ducks we have a great many feathers for them to utilize. It is a delight to see the swallows swooping through the air to catch a breeze-blown feather and carry it triumphantly back to their nest box. It's an annual spring chore to remove the old nests so returning birds can  have a fresh space to build this seasons version.

 Bravo was most interested in this nest, and gave it a through investigation before Chris tossed it on the blaze I had started in the fire ring.

 While he carefully assembled two of the wonderful outside chairs he had bought for my birthday, I began raking up lawn debris from the back yard.  Hay gets spilled or blown in, and the winds we've had lately deposited bits of debris here and there, and it all had to go. After the fire got a good start I began scooping armfuls of dead grass and such into the ring. In no time I had the lawn ready for the grass that is just barely beginning to green and send up hopeful shoots.

 Here is one of the gift chairs. New, but vintage style, and oh-so-comfortable. I took a rake break and Flirt hopped up to test drive our new favorite spot. We both approved.

 One fun thing about working outside is all the animal watching that goes on. The goat kids played hard, then as the afternoon wore on they piled up in some spent hay for a little rest. Their patient mama's settled nearby, too.

In my last blog I posted about hanging bandanna curtains in the coop to give the ladies a little privacy. Our efforts were rewarded the very next day. The girls have rarely laid an egg in these boxes, but with the added security screens I was rewarded with a pile of eggs. I'm calling this a win.

It began to get a little chilly as the sun went down. Chris grilled us a couple of burgers from our stash of grass fed beef, and we came back in to the welcoming warmth of our little house. We managed to "social distance" perfectly all day, never seeing another soul as we puttered about.

Many more outside clean up chores await, but I am pleased with today's efforts. Perhaps tomorrow some flower beds will get the attention they need?