January 26, 2024

The cold snap is over, and the weather warms up. The snow melts, seeping slowly into the ground. The farmer sees this and is glad. There is little runoff when it melts slowly like this, and the moisture will be needed in the coming summer.

Farmer girl opens the big barn doors. Ida Mae watches the cows go out and amble slowly down to the pasture, one by one. Way down to the sheltered part with tall oak trees on three sides...there they find bright green grass to snack on. It isn't much, but it is so good.

The farmer's wife seizes this moment of mild weather and winter sunshine. She whisks the row covers off the spinach she has been keeping from cold all winter, and gathers fresh spinach leaves.

Ida Mae gazes out over the meadows. "I can't wait until spring comes" she says to herself. "Then the doors to the calf pens will open wide, and I will run with the big girls. Ida Mae has never been out to pasture yet, but she is sure she will love it thoroughly.

Farmer girl walks over to the calf pens; Ida Mae runs and jumps to greet her. She drains the bottle of nice warm milk. After Ida Mae is done, farmer girl unties her jacket and hangs it on a nail where it will stay until the next cold winter day.