Ice was clinging to the trees as I went out to milk yesterday morning.
Not a lot though and only a little snow. 
No-one minded. 
There was just enough ice in the trees to fill the air with the noise of … cracking and sliding and slipping as the ice melted slightly and released its grip on the trees to come crashing down on unsuspecting heads below, who should know better. All the little pieces of fallen ice have reassembled as a bobbly solid frozen floor on the ground making night time lamb feeds interesting.
The Daily View reflects the bleakness of the last few days, in fact this winter is officially the most dreary winter on record. We shall call it The Winter of Extreme Dreariness.
But that is only the weather. 
Sorry, snow plough, no work for you this year. You may blame the Winter of Extreme Dreariness.
Plenty of excellent work for us though. It is not dreary in the barn. It is alive and mobile and busy. Mama is busy too. Daisy is giving her usual 3 gallons of tasty healthy raw milk a day, shared between the calf, the pig, the two lambs and the house. I am still feeding the calf milk because we are getting so low on hay and this way I know for sure he is still getting his protein. The bigger animals are pushy and certainly getting their share and I hate to pen him up all by himself and Queenie and Hairy have no interest in stealing his milk.
Yesterday I made my second loaf of kefir bread. It is an excellent starter, the bread is easy to make, much more forgiving than sourdough. Once I am sure I have the recipe right I shall share it with you. I wish I could share the kefir grains too but most of you are so far away.
It is 27F (only -2) that is not too bad. Cloudy though. No sun again today. It’s Dreary darlings. But thats OK. We cleaned out the barn yesterday so today I can focus on writing.
I can hear Triple T (The Tall Teenager)and his friends murmuring in deep boys voices upstairs, soon they will go out running. (I told them they will need rugby boots to get some purchase on the ice). Then they will bring their young mens laughter back into the house and eat piles of toast and eggs before disappearing back into the loft to work on teenage things. Time I got out to do the chores.
Have a lovely day. I really mean that.
celi
I so hoped you were going to get some good drought-busting moisture out of that storm…if only there was a way to make it turn back to you, instead of coming here where we’ve plenty to dump rain and slush for 24 hours.
Loving the lambie photos
we were too, maybe next time.. as john says it will rain sometime.. c
Beautiful pictures – I love the tones – white on white and dirty white on white if you know what I mean!) Nicely written, as ever.
i do know what you mean, i once created an enormous oil painting that was white on white, with tons of texture to catch the dust and get that dirty white on white thing.. I wonder where that is now.. c
there is much joy in your house dreary? the dreariness is within let spring shine in your heart then the seasons will not unsettle you have a blessed day SAINTS
gee that don’t sound right sorry Celi, that sounds like i am calling you a bummer you are NOT a bummer the music that comes from your heart is beautifully written down on screen
Oh dear, i did not mean to sound like I was dreary, just that this endless pattern of low cold cloud is dreary.. I must be more careful how I write so you do not get the wrong idea!! morning saint, there is plenty of spring in my heart, never fear..lovely to hear from your cheerful self as always.. c
The Winter of Dreariness has a certain ring to it. Too bad it doesn’t feel as entertaining as it sounds.
Morning Ronnie! i am not sure it is the kind of title that will attract a big audience to the theaters though!! c
Thw inter may be followed by the summer of joy and happiness… I hope so for your sake…
Summer of sun-showers would do it! c
Those are terrific photos – so stark and I love the white on grey.
Morning Tammy and thank you.. white on grey is pretty much where we are at now.. c
I know that you live in America but which state..I have to put you on my map…..what a wonderful life you lead..I am envious..except I don’t like the cold too much
We are in Illinois, what an excellent idea to have a map of where your people are! c
Oh, to hear the murmur of a deep boy’s voice…I miss my 300 miles away at college teen boy/man.
Your photos today just strike me, especially the second one, reminding me of my youthful years on the farm.
I love how the farm brings back these memories for you, i know it was a hard time then, but there is something solid about working in the harshness, striving and winning.. c
Hmm Triple T and co wouldn’t be planning a coup on the Coupe – Would they? I love your snow and ice pictures, they never appear drab and dull to me
Laura
Thank you Laura.. you have a great day out there in your summer.. c
Roll on destruction of dreariness. We had snow everywhere this morning, but the sun came out and melted it all in time for a (very) bracing walk. Returned home gasping for hot tea and almond buns made yesterday. It’s drear again now, but I”m now just about thawed.
Have a lovely day.
PS I’ve pinched that lovely picture of your bright babies to send to my sheep-loving daughter.
Lovely to see the animals thriving in the cold, though they do look a bit fed up.
Love the story your pictures tell.
Cheers
Marcus
I can’t imagine eating hay, whereas grass seems quite salad like. The farm looks lovely in the snow
Hmm, this West Coast rainy weather is unrelenting, unromantic, leaden and…um…very wet. It’s true. Coast to coast winter dreariness abounds. Still, with your encouragement and some Dunkirk spirit, it’s going to be a good day. Hope you also have the best day and look forward to tomorrow’s report.
Gymnastics, then teaching, then wushu for us, today! Somewhere in there I also need to register the kids for baseball, and read one of the three thick texts assigned for “reading week”. (Aren’t I supposed to be flashing Gone Wild cameras in Cancun during reading week? Since when to university students actually READ during reading week?) Anyway, it is mild and grey and dreary and snowy here, too, c. Good weather for reading and writing, I think.
You’re certainly right about this Winter, Celi. How could it be anything but? There’s little snow and no Sun. Hang in there. Spring will be here in a month. And in the meantime, you’re certainly doing your part to brighten things up a bit — at least in the barn. Those lamb coats would brighten any setting.
Enjoy your day of writing.
You know, I think the bears have the right idea – except lambs and things would be a bit upset with you if you did the same thing right now!
It’s dreary winter here still also. I’m rather sick of it, but I know I’ve said that before.
I found an old recipe you might want to try:
Buttermilk Sherbet
Whisk 1 quart buttermilk, 1 c sugar, 1/2 c sour cream and the zest and juice of 1 lemon in bowl until the sugar dissolves. Refrigerate at least 2 hours (more if you can). Then churn. Transfer to an airtight container and freeze until firm, at least 3 hours.
I remember it as tasting yummmy!
Linda
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I would love to try that, this would be a good use of the butter milk. thank you linda.. c
Dreariness is never fun, but it makes one appreciate those perfectly warm sunny days even more.
I’m in Chicago too and the sparrows are fighting over the birdhouse and I hear cardinals calling too. So spring is coming. The birds are certain of it.
I have to ask, is Bobby not going to be around much longer? He’s sooooooo cute!
My grown daughter just love the pictures of the lambies with their coats on! So do I!
Your description of The Tall Teenager was quite poetic. Celi you write word, but they come as magic. Have a wonderful (sunny??) week-end. XXOO V.
Lovely photos, but they do look cold. Be great if The Winter of Extreme Dreariness was followed by the perfect summer of long warm days!
Just noticed – so you had lambs early – when were they born? Love the little jackets – are they dog’s overcoats?
I think February and March are the hardest winter months. I am so OVER it!
Cloudy and yucky here today too. Although we get way more winter sun here in NH than we did in WA state so I guess I can’t complain too much. Can’t wait for warm weather!
Have a nice evening~ April
Well, your blog is anything but dreary! It’s the first time in my life I have a chance to see little lambs growing up to begin with
! Yes the farmy animals seem to think all this a bit ‘ho-hum’ also but the cold does not seem to bother – I wouldn’t have my bare tummy flat on the snow the way TonTon quite happily has . . .
That chookie does not look happy! Ours are learning to swim at present as an awful rain system moves away. The weather certainly keeps us on our toes. Joy
It’s almost over. Just a few weeks to Daylight Savings Time (or “fast time” as my grandmother used to call it).
Fast time.. i love that expression, i may adopt it.. can I?.. c
You sure can! It’s great, isn’t it? And she was a great farmy wife.
thank you.. have a grand day!! c
Glad that the winter weather of extreme dreariness hasn’t caused your to become weary.
not weary and having a lovely few hours with our book!! stunning..how could you bear to be parted with it.. makes one want to be a writer doesn’t it.. c
May *you* have loveliness, today and tomorrow and further forward–no more dreariness! Wish I could send some of our beautiful sunshine to you, not to mention a bit of the warmth for the lambs and all of the other darling creatures on the farmy!! xoxo
It sounds like winter is dragging its heels. Here the hot weather continues; another day without clouds. I am full to the brim with it and happy for the sun to smile on you soon. The weather may be dreary, but milk is flowing, eggs are being laid, the children are being schooled, and the Coupe is taking shape — to say nothing of frisky little lambs in bright coats!
The daily photo of the farmy is so pretty, even if tje sky is a tad dreary.
Dreariness is the worst enemy. I have a feeling that February maybe one, or both, of Dreariness’ parents.
Ah, i can tell that you know exactly what i mean! c
dear C you make dreariness beautiful today and I have enjoyed this post. Also I have kefir from a friend and it took over and I got a bit scared of it, so would welcome your take on kefir management and am really looking forward to your bread post. We have had so little sun this winter that I long to flap my mon existent wings and go off somewhere just a little brighter, never mind. xx
You must have very active grains. maybe I should do a full post. but just quickly, I strain mine every morning and pop the grains into fresh milk. I make small amounts at a time. I only ever drink half a cup at a time once a day, the rest is made into bread, or used instead of buttermilk or yoghurt in baking. If it is getting away from you cool it down. Sometimes if I don’t want it too thick I put it in the fridge for half the day. I am making the bread today so hopefully we will have the recipe for tomorrow..! Have a lovely day out there, I am glad spring is coming for you.. c
I have parked them in the freezer, surrounded with milk powder, I am going to get them out of cryo and see if they survived:)