How do you know when it’s spring?

This blog post is by Nicola Baird sharing ideas about thrifty, creative and eco-friendly ways to raise children. This post asks how do you know when it’s spring… For more info about my book Homemade Kids, with lots of ideas about parenting, click here.

On 12 January 2012 one of our family’s three pet hens laid the first egg of the year. The hens have been looking gorgeous for the past week – gleaming feathers, red combs, plump bodies – and now they’ve done what they are supposed to do. This blue egg (on the crumby plate) is from one of our two Aracuana hens (a Chilean breed). I love the way it has a lumpy, non oval shell. It amazes me how eggs for sale in shops look so perfect. Cross fingers another is laid soon, because it’s a sure sign at Mayhem Corner that it is nearly the end of winter.

I reckon it’s on the way to spring when:

• I’m used to being cold so know where all my woollies are located and my bike lights are all working
• Christmas is over (duh!)
• The hens are laying again
• There’s a hedgehog early end of hibernation story on Radio 4 (see more here)
• It’s daylight when I get up (not yet then on 18 Jan)
• I’ve seen snowdrops on the walk to school (tick)

A slight aside
As you can see from the pix Pete has moved into the pond. Joking! A truly happy spring would see him get his shed back. We replaced the shed with a chicken house a few years back much to his irritation. He used to hide in it during any too-noisy breakfasts, or for a secret beer. Indeed his whole life would be improved by a shed, but he claims that the water feature is a reasonably good substitute…

Over to you – what makes you and the kids think it is nearly spring?

Explore posts in the same categories: parenting

Tags: hens and eggs, homemade kids, is it spring, kids and hens, postaweek2012, snowdrops

You can comment below, or link to this permanent URL from your own site.