Spring is in full swing. The weather is fickle, the grass needs mowing, but is always wet; the garden needs planting, but it is muddy too.  Fire danger is low.  The creek is high. Cherry trees are in full bloom, also my pear tree, some of the apple trees; and the flowering plum finally has fat green buds. The daffodils are continuing on, a few tulips have bloomed, lilies of the valley and stinging neetles are growing like weeds.  The hens must be happy for they are laying quite well.  Mice, voles, shrews, and moles are active, and the barn cats are having fun.  The abundance of stuff to mow means that I can make some hot beds for my garden seedlings, so I'm shoveling the soil out, and making layers of compost - hoping to have it heaped up in a few days and shovel the soil back in.  Plant nurseries in the area have been busy, and tree farmers are culturing their trees.  The grain crops planted last fall are looking good.  Some fields are being limed.  The Clackamas River is full, but I don't think it's flooding.  Robins are singing before dawn and after sunset.  Swallows are buzzing our swallow house.  I've seen a killdeer and osprey this week.  Earthworms are up near the surface sometimes, snakes might be lying in sunny areas, and I found a few big grubs in the garden beds.  Box elder bugs are showing up more and more.