Springtime is always marked for me in many various ways. When I was younger and we lived in CA one of the first signs of spring to me was when Grandma Oakley's crocus bed bloomed. Everything was dark and dreary and then her crocuses would show their beautiful faces with such bright yellow centers. Another one growing up was the daffodils and Grandma's plum tree. Oregon was different because the seasons were so much more pronounced. I had never lived in such distinct seasons before. Montana is different yet. We have four seasons but some years they blur together around the edges. Last year at this time it was already quite warm and things were greening (then we got snow in May and early June) This year we still have a couple of inches of snow on the ground in some places, deep mud in others and everything is still brown and dormant. So one of the first markers of spring for me in Montana is the chicks arrival at the feed store.
I LOVE the sound of their little peeps and chirps and the sight of the small-feathered critters. Of course, particularly the turkeys and meat birds do not stay cute -- I can't even say with good conscience they are pretty. Some of the chickens are pretty when they are grown. Turkeys.......no.
I wasn't going to buy any this year. I was going to restrain. Then I thought, well... I have to get a few turkeys for the holidays. So we went to the feed store today to get them. Sales haven't been great for fowl this year and they are getting another batch in tomorrow morning. The few turkeys I intended to buy actually ended up being a smashing good deal, a complete blessing from the Lord for our winter freezers. The salesman gave me 12 more than I purchased for free AND he threw in a box of six chicks. So now peeping away in our downstairs is a huge appliance box holding 22 turkeys and 6 chicks.
I know I'm crazy --- but it's fun :)
