Seeds to be Seen

I haven't gotten one in some time but for a while there seed catalogs were coming to the ranch it seemed by the truckload. That's dropped off maybe because I didn't buy much and the companies that sent them got tired of having nothing to show for their efforts.
Anyway, the catalogs were filled front to back with all kinds of interesting things to grow along with pictures of what could come out of one little envelope or box if you put your mind to it. I never did, of course, and so they might just as well have left the pages blank.
Seeds need TLC and lots of it, something I never seemed to have time for. My father-in-law did and when he was alive this time of year would find him in his basement patiently putting tomato or cucumber seeds into tiny cups filled with soil then putting them under a grow light. He bought very few seeds preferring to pick the best of what grew the year before and reincarnating them the next summer thereby always improving his crop. I had no patience for such things.
Still, I liked to look at the catalogs and imagine what I might grow out back if only there were more hours in the day. Over the years I found it more convenient to patronize a local farm stand and buy all the produce we need there. Less work that way and it tastes about as good as if I grew it myself.
Still, a catalog now and then, this time of year, would be nice. The promise of things to come can help you get through the roughest winter.

The Sound of a Hole in the Snow

So, taking pictures out in the hills is a hobby of mine. There are a lot of folks who do it much better than I (see Photo-Link Library each Friday at 6) but I enjoy being out and if a "keeper" picture accidentally makes it into my camera, well, all is good.

On Saturday I went out to a wooded area and stopped a few times here and there to see if anything might need to have its picture taken. At one point the wind stopped and I heard what I can best describe as the sound of water slowly running down a bathtub drain but I could see no water. Since I never try to hurry when I'm out on an adventure I stood and listened for a bit more and finally tracked the sound down. It was coming from a hole in the snow.

A thin layer of snow covered the small stream above and below from where I stood so the only place this little trickle of water could make itself known was at this hole in the snow made, perhaps, by a critter that wandered by. I was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time to hear it saying hello.

Mother Nature can make some spectacular sights when she is of a mind to and some perfectly wonderful tiny ones as well.