Did I sleep through winter? I sometimes feel like Rip Van Winkle.
I went to bed one night with rain pelting on our red tin roof, cover pulled to my chin, my feet freezing and wake to bright sunshine and a balmy temperature. It seems if we just completely jumped out of winter right into spring. The ground has warmed and we have already planted cabbage plants and onions. 
The dandelions are swaying their fuzzy heads in the breeze, yellow wildflowers are generously presenting their showy petals all through the pastures, and wild onions cover our front yard. The cows are enjoying the new green grass/weeds covering the pastures. New baby calves are hastily making their way into the new landscape and our little horse, Sport, seems to be losing his fur coat of winter.
There are sounds of striking metal made by the big machines as new catch pens are being built, and fences mended. Tractors and other machinery and equipment is tweaked and made ready for its purpose. However, the one sure way I can know it is the beginning of our spring season is the arrival of the “engrais de poulet,” Scoop Poop from the Coop! We have several large heaps lying in our pastures. This is the fertilizer that my husband declares is the BEST of all fertilizers. I know he uses other nourishments because we trek over all the pasture lands collecting small bags of dirt to be tested to determine just what the soil needs. But, the chicken poop is the first to be expended.
The piles of the “GOOD” fertilizer rest across the road from our house now before being spread. As long as the wind blows from the north, we are fine. When the warm breezes puff from the south, we are overwhelmed with the aroma. I do not really believe all of our cool rainy weather is over. As soon as the rain starts and then the wind blows, I assure you the “engrais de poulet” does not smell like wildflowers.
Weekly Recipe
Chicken with Stuffing - Place 4 deboned chicken breasts in a greased casserole dish. Layer Swiss cheese over the chicken breast, the more the better. Pour 2 cans of cream of chicken soup overall and cover with a package of chicken stuffing, pushing it into the cream of chicken soup. Bake 350* for about 45 minutes.
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Peggy Sims is a local food columnist and resident of Kosciusko.
