Spring Has Sprung

Winter is the season for planning and spring is the season for action.
The days are long and filled with activity. I'm on vacation this week, but I'm putting in my time on the farm. 
On the weekend I went horse shopping with the help of long-time friend Crystal Fullerton. After a disappointing first stop Crystal suggested we stop by the farm of her neighbour. They had a Canadian/Percheron cross for sale. Joe is a stocky boy and after two visits, riding in the ring and taking him out in the cart I decided to purchase Joe. He'll be moving to the farm early in June.
In preparation for Joe and Dahlia (who is waiting for registration information and tattooing) we have been setting up posts, clearing underbrush and stringing a fence line around the front the field. Rob ordered a shelter package from Home Hardware last week and we expect it to arrive any day.
We have chickens. In addition to last year's layers we hatched out nine chicks earlier in the year and they are now on pasture, we have 20 in the back porch (plus one duck) and 11 meat kings. The incubator currently has a dozen duck eggs in it. Within a month they all should be out on pasture. In addition, one of the barred rocks decided she wanted to hatch her own brood. We moved her out to the barn in a protected pen. She had 13 eggs under her. Last week we put a second hen in the pen, the rooster has been a little too friendly with her and her back was scratched. She ended up causing two the the eggs to break. The good news is they are fertilized and life is growing in them.
We've planted six apple trees and three pear trees in one corner of the largest field. The picture is me taking the lawn mower and water to the trees. I mowed around them this afternoon and watered them.
I've also planted two clumps of rhubarb, 25 strawberry plants and over the last few days I got the garden in. Last year's pig pen is now home to a modest-sized vegetable patch. I have so far planted: potatoes, lettuce, beats, beans, Swiss chard, spinach, peas, onions, cauliflower, peppers, broccoli, cabbage and carrots. I had to rig up a net to keep the hens out of it after they dug up the first row of peas and half the onions. So far so good, they haven't figured out to walk behind their coop and into the garden.
Everything is lush and green right now. The apple blossoms are out, as are the lilacs. Already, the choke cherry trees are starting to fruit and last year's asparagus plants are poking through the ground (although the chickens keep eating the tips of them.)
Spring is busy and full, and I'm enjoying it to the max.