Is it Spring or Winter?

 We are still waiting for winter to arrive with its wet, cold, sleety, slushy weather.  Instead, we have only had a bit more than 8” of rain this season (from last Oct 1st forward).  Typically, we have over 20” by now.  I worry about having an adequate snow pack in the Sierras; I worry about our well slowing or, worse, drying up; and I worry about fires next summer.  Other than that, the weather is glorious and begs me to be outside in the garden.

My Christmas gift from Brett was a new tool shed.  

The dogs had destroyed the cute, but flimsy, one we had purchased at a local nursery.  The dogs were after ground squirrels that were nesting under the tool shed and they ripped off the sides and the flooring in their pursuit.  Now I have a big, beautiful tool shed with a brick floor, shelves and peg board. 

 I definitely came out ahead on that one.

Brett has also been wanting to expand my garden by moving one of the fences down to the stream.  I will be able to fit some more planters in the new area and all the fruit trees will now be inside deer fencing.  Not that deer come onto the ranch very often with three dogs patrolling.  

Yes, three dogs.  Last November we added another Aussie to the mix.  Acorn is three months old now and enjoying ranch life.  

Sage is teaching him about his duties — barking at deer, chasing squirrels, digging for gophers and supervising us humans.  Kersey will be eleven this summer.  She watches from the front porch and only joins the others for meals (she’s a lab, she never misses a meal) and squirrels.  Sage is my constant companion in the garden.  Acorn tends to hang out with Brett — when he and Sage aren’t racing around.