More starts and our first chicken dinner

King Winter and Brother Wind decided to pay a visit again this week which has put our plowing and greenhouse building on hold but we did manage to plant 200 tomato starts, 75 eggplant and 75 sweet pepper starts on Saturday. We also slaughtered our first chicken when we discovered an "egg pecker" in the bunch who gave herself away with egg dripping off of her face. Oyster shells in the food should prevent the others from pecking but we didn't want her to teach the rest of the flock. A whole new relationship with our food is developing. I have done much reflection on how to present the slaughtering process to the boys so they are not desensitized but also have a healthy understanding of what it means for us to eat meat. In the midst of all of my reflection and desire to make it all as repectful as possible, I have come to realize that it is all very straightforward for them. It seems their way of honoring the process is in accepting it with such grace and lack of judgement.

Yesterday we were on our way to the warm springs when we got to experience the moment we all wait for to tell us that spring is truly on its way; the little creek in the bottom of the arroyo starts flowing with icy cold runoff! The kids were so excited that we had to sit down right then and there and eat our snack. We listened to the steady trickle and told stories of flakes of snow patiently waiting to turn to drops of water that adventure down past new sights and sounds, the happiest of all being exuberant children.

Watch out where you're stepping

Watch out where you go

The river is rushing

It's all the melted snow.

From stone to stone we're stepping

It's such a sunny day!

From stone to stone we're stepping

For spring is on its way!

Tono's third birthday was a hit! When Rafa had his birthday in November, Tono was curious when his birthday would come around. "When the flowers start popping up out of the ground," I told him. All winter, he did not forget and reminded us regularly, "When the flowers are popping up, then it will be MY birthday!" So the afternoon before his birthday, Rafa came running into the house to exuberantly enthusiastically announce that indeed it was Tono's birthday and the flowers were here to prove it. Tono couldn't have been happier.

Usually we throw a little party for the boys' birthdays but this year we decided to do a family excursion instead. We met up with some friends in Santa Fe and took the brand new double decker train down to Albuquerque only to enjoy a glass of orange juice in downtown and then hop back on the train. A fantastic ride and then the day came to a close with a special birthday dinner and cake at home.

One of my favorite moments of the day was when Rafa ran for his guitar while I lit the birthday candles and proceeded to belt out an impromptu solo custom birthday song for his beloved brother with intense passion and vigor.