Yesterday morning, as a way to unwind from a busy couple of days what with Mary's recital and then a double wedding to attend, Dan and I took Ana down to our pasture for a walk. Our pasture only used to be a pasture. Now it's in the federal conservation program. It's a beautiful nature area that we love to visit as often as we can. And it's only a 1/2 mile walk through fields to get there.

As usual, Stewart joined us. Because although he looks like a cat, acts like a cat, and is a cat, he's actually a dog and follows us wherever we go. But it was Stewart who alerted us to an unusual wildlife scene. One of the old dead trees around our pond in the pasture has become home to a den of minks. It was quite a scene to see old Stewart, yes the same Stewart who couldn't care less about mice, find and follow a shocked and sharp toothed mink into his bedroom. Minks are known for ferocity as much as for their silky fur, so we high tailed it outta there to get Stewart home and away from his new friends.

Here's the tree that hosts their den, and Stewart on the prowl:

Then, to make the morning more exciting, as we neared our house, we heard little tiny mews barely distinct from the songs of birds. Dan looked at me, I looked at Dan. KITTENS! Yes, Butterscotch's kittens were out and about. Here's a peek at their cute little three week old faces.

Speaking of kittens, it appears that one of Butterscotch's offspring from last year is also expecting. I named little Stevie after Stevie Wonder. Now, let's say that I named her after Stevie Nicks. In a few weeks, this place will be crawling with little tails and little whiskers.

Later in the afternoon, while Ana slept and Dan studied, I got a chance to plant the rest of our potatoes and to start marking out where our permanent vegetable beds will be. Dan and I are trying out the no-till method of gardening made popular in the 70's and 80's by Masanobu Fukuoka, a method which has become quite the norm among organic farmers.

In the foreground, you can see our cold frame and the little lettuces that are defying the snow and sub-freezing temperatures that still stalk Minnesota. In the back of the garden are our tomatoes and string that is outlining their beds. To the left, I have started to mulch foot paths to keep our feet from compacting the beds ... essential to no-till.

And, of course, the littlest gardener.