Is it Spring Yet?

It's been awhile since I posted last!  To start, I have some very sad news.  Our world was turned upside down two days after Christmas when my father, Richard, died very suddenly and tragically.  He was very involved with the farm and all the goings on here.  We've been trying to get back on our feet and pick up the pieces.  We'll get there! 
We have been getting all our seeds and onion plants ordered for this years garden.  It seems like I was just getting seeds started and transplants taken care of the other day.  It's amazing how fast a year can go by.  We order most of our seeds from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds.  I absolutely love this company.  Their selection of heirloom seeds is simply unbeatable!  I have to get all our seed starting soil and organic fertilizers yet, but thankfully there is still some time! 
I am happy to report that we are on track to sell free-range eggs at the Grandview Farmers' Market this year!  We have a couple more things to get lined up before we call for our inspection (mainly deciding on the egg cartons) but we should be able to get that taken care of in the next month or so.  The chickens are happy and healthy.  They are loving the warmer weather we've been having.  It makes it easier for them to want to wander around the farm.  Although, I think my chickens would be out foraging even if there was a foot of snow on the ground! 
Our bees have been taking advantage of the warmer weather, too!  On all the nice sunny and warm days we've had this past week, the bees have been out of their hives.  They've been taking cleansing flights which is an important part of bee health.  I've even been able to start giving them sugar syrup to help supplement their winter honey reserves.  This basically helps give an extra layer of protection to help ensure (hopefully!) the survival of the hive.  This time of year we're also busy getting honey frames put together and ready to go for spring, summer, and fall.  One less thing to worry about! 
I don't want to forget the newest additions to the farm.  We have sheep!  I am the now the caretaker of two Lincoln Longwool sheep named Gandalf and Razel.  They will be one this spring.  I purchased them from my spinning teacher, Kathy Cunningham, out of Sardinia, Ohio.  She is the owner of The Black Sheep Fiber Farm.  Such a nice lady!  Lincoln Longwools are used primarily for their wool.  They grow very long fleeces, sometimes up to 15 inches long!  They are an old breed that originated in Lincolnshire, England.  They are believed to be the largest breed of sheep in the world with adult rams sometimes exceeding 350 pounds!!  Gandalf and Razel aren't little, lets put it that way.  They are still growing, too!  Gandalf is white and will produce the fleece that I will be using to experiment with natural plant-based dyes.  Razel is dark.  She will mature to a beautiful dark gray.  I can play with some dye with her fleece, but more than likely I'll just leave it as God intended.  Her fleece will be lovely on it's own.  They will need to be sheared next month and then the whole process of fleece washing, picking, carding, spinning, and dying will begin.  I plan on a nice long blog post and picture tutorial of that process when it comes. 
There is never a dull moment here and as spring approaches, life will get more and more busy.  It's okay though.  Spring also brings longer days, green grass, the first of the flowers, and new life.  I can't wait.