Our house project was completed before the onset of winter. An early snowfall covered the newly hydro-seeded fields with a lovely protective white blanket that did not completely disappear until Easter. Through the new triple-glazed windows in our warm living room, we enjoyed views of field, forest and mountains unified by the frosty ubiquitous snow.

With the spring melt, the line between what was and what is to come became apparent. Our winter wonderland is now an expanse of muddy browns, faded yellows and bare grey trees punctuated by a few steadfast pines. Even snow-capped Mt. Washington is not in sight, obscured by fog.

The land around the pond and what will one day be a playing field intersects unevenly with what remains of the old pasture. Happily, we can can still see the stone wall on the edge of the forest, which we cleared of bittersweet and encroaching poplars.

During this quiet season while waiting for the landscape to come alive, we have pruned apple trees, raked loam and scattered grass seed, looked for subtle signs of life and enjoyed the birdsong of resident and migratory species.We also sourced raised beds, screened loam and compost for planting a vegetable garden in May.

Ecologist and wildlife biologist Deb Perkins has agreed to help us develop a land management plan to create or restore habitat for more species. The property is already host to deer, wild turkeys, raccoons, porcupines, chipmunks, a woodchuck and frogs who have moved into the new pond! We hear coyotes and know there are bears in the neighborhood, too. Right now we are blessed with birds. This spring, we’ve seen or heard Eastern bluebirds, American robins, Blue jays, crows, turkey vultures, tufted titmice, black-capped chickadees, song sparrows, tree swallows, field sparrows, pine warbler, phoebes, juncos, chipping sparrows, goldfinch, cardinals, Northern flickers, hairy woodpeckers, a white-winged crossbill, geese, woodcock, a pair of American kestrels and a broad-winged hawk.