Finally, the ice is melting away. By 2 p.m. today, this patch and a few larger sections in the shadows of the woods remained, but the rest of the farm had gone to mud. The ducks are happy. They love mud. They love puddles. We have plenty of both now. I don’t mind the mud much myself. It’s not nearly so hazardous underfoot, and if one does fall, the landing isn’t as painful.