City Mouse 56 Years, Country Mouse 1 Year

April 21st marks our one year anniversary.  It has been busy year and as with most years at this time in our lives it has zoomed by.
I love living in the country. We are living within nature, much more aware and apart of it.  We live  surrounded by fields and trees.  Sunrise and sunset are a part of everyday life as is the flora and fauna. I step out the door and walk into the forest and the fields.

It is safe to say we are settling in.  A trip to Saskatoon every 4-6 weeks gives us enough contact with family and friends that we are not missing them so much.
The internet and telephone take care of contact between visits.

Having gone on about the beauty of the country, I must say it has become a truly ugly day.  Rain, wind driving the rain and about 5˚C.  We were out for a short walk this morning, we knew the rain was coming and I wanted to get a crocus picture for you.

Take note of the hairs on the crocus. They are bent almost completely backwards in the wind that is roaring down the ravine.  The crocuses are about 4" high at best.  If the sun would shine I know they wouldn't be so afraid to stick their heads a little higher above ground.
Earlier in the week I was out for a walk and picked a few pussy willows as well.  Now I did not have pruners with me so chose smaller branches but they to seem to be stunted and are also waiting for some sunshine and warmer temperatures.

Pat spent a number of hours last fall moving soil and changing where the runoff from the snowbanks will go.  It was a happy day when they started to melt and the water went behind the garage and then down into the ravine.  Last year it went across the driveway in front of the garage.
We still have runoff and road issues but that is another day's problem and post.  In this picture you can see the little river coming from behind the garage and gurgling it's way down the hill.

We had all our children, grandchildren and their dogs visiting over Easter weekend.  We built snow forts, slid down big snowbanks, flew kites and admired the very early crocuses all in the same weekend.
Pat's mom, a couple of his siblings and their families joined us for Easter dinner.It was just warm enough that we ate on the veranda.  A wonderful day.

One last photo, a Nana's prerogative.