A Ton of Hay and Freezing Rain

These beautifully looked after cows shared their hay with us..
cows-004

They are the most contented bunch of dairy  cows I have ever met. cows-005

And with a huge thank you and sigh of relief we are once more in good shape as far as feed goes. cows-023

Everyone is pleased, most especially The  Murphy’s who are already chewing and tasting   everything they see like babies.cows-027

As I write this morning freezing rain has begun to fall. Yesterday I dug  the North door out of the mud, so it would slide but I hate to lock our trio of sheep in.  cows-031

It seems the forecast weather has come and it will be blowing nastiness in  that door. So i have to get out there before it is frozen open. It has been open all winter so far!cows-034

So I am going to say good morning and run straight out my own door to close that barn door and nail a sheet of iron over the gap. We will have a longer chat tomorrow.

Frozen drafts are not good for babies. Actually everyone hates frozen drafts. Me included.

Have a lovely day, I think we are going to get flicked with a bit of precipitation from this storm.  But whichever moisture falls from the sky it will be good for our spring fields.

celi

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About cecilia

I am a New Zealander living in America. For ten years I was a High School Teacher of Drama in New Zealand. Then I travelled to work in Europe. Six years ago I relocated from my job in the film industry in London to the Midwest USA. Together my husband and I are developing our property into a small sustainable farm. We are passionate about good clean food and healthy animals and healthy land. Being frugal, and bucking the consumer trend sounds scary but is actually fun. It is simple. And we really love our simple life. It is a good life.
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44 Responses to A Ton of Hay and Freezing Rain

  1. Anonymous says:

    even in the depths of winter cold you can still be positive about the Spring….wonderful

  2. good morning Celi great post got hay myself yesterday round bales of grass hay SAINTS
    glad you got some too :)

  3. vivinfrance says:

    Great pix I love the melange of animals who get together – that cockerel with the Murphies made me laugh. I hope the weather is kinder to you than expected.

  4. jaz says:

    the same thing is about to start here any moment. stay warm!

  5. colonialist says:

    “Hay there, you with the stars in your eyes …” :)
    You have to be cool, calm and collected where you are. Calm when the weather is too cool, and the hay is the collected thing. :)

  6. Love the pictures today. Glad you no longer have to have that niggle of worry in the back of your mind about hay.

    Yuck, freezing rain. Hopefully that will pass you by and it will come in the form of snow instead. We got another 6 inches the other day and they are predicting yet another storm on Wednesday, then more snow for Thursday and Friday. Honestly, SO READY for spring. Did spot the first Robin this morning though. That has to be a good sign for spring, right?

  7. My goodness, you’ve had the barn door open all winter. Apparently not as cold down there as here in Minnesota.

    • cecilia says:

      Cold does not bother sheep (it is their side of the barn) it is the wind that is the killer and this is the first time we have had a good Northerly blow, though it is more of a nor’east. And we most certainly have not been as cold as you guys, your temperatures have been dreadful.. I would be hard pressed to farm where you are..c

  8. RecyclerSA says:

    Holding thumbs Mia holds onto her lambies until this bad spell has passed over. Charlotte suddenly looks muucch bigger than Sheila. Keep safe and warm. Laura

    • cecilia says:

      Though mia is getting fatter, she has no udder ye,t so if all goes well, she should not do anything drastic for at least a month.. I do hope so anyway.. c

  9. Misky says:

    I’ve just popped in for a quick ‘good morning’ to you; wishing you happiness, warmth and memories to cherish with family and friends. I suspect that building these happy memories is what life’s all about in the end.

  10. So happy you got hay. That always relieves the stress when you don’t have to worry where their next meals are coming from. Will that last until grass? Stay safe out there and have a great day, Celi!

    • cecilia says:

      very true, i often think of you when I am trolling across to the barn carrying my buckets, i hope the winter is not being too mean, I shall pop over and see how you all are.. c

  11. Mad Dog says:

    It looks lovely in your pictures – it’s been cold, damp and grey here for a few days.

  12. There’s no Warm like a barn full of happy critters in the middle of a blow…lovely photos.
    Hope there’s enough moisture to do some good, rather than just make everyone miserable for a few days :)

  13. ChgoJohn says:

    So glad you got the hay you needed. What a relief for you all! The storm is about an hour away. I’ve seen forecasts for as much as 8 inches of the white stuff and as little as a couple inches. Every forecast begins with rain and then ice. Max and I are going for a walk and then we’re staying indoors for the duration. Hope you guys get plenty of moisture with this thing. Stay warm!

  14. Alice says:

    Oh, bundle up if the storm we had reach you! Three snowstorms this week–more that the past two or three winters. The moisture is good–the shoveling is bad. The lambs are so beautiful in their new coats–I am thinking of adapting you pattern for my young dog. Busy season for you–remember to take a breather now and then.

  15. bulldog says:

    You are such a positive person… just like most NZeas.. always seeing the bright side of life…

  16. Those are some fine looking cows and how nice of them to share their hay. I know that’s a godsend this time of year and am glad you can take that stress off your plate. What happy and adorable murphies, and everyone looks fine as frog’s hair today! Stay warm and I hope the wind stops blowing. :)

  17. Purely.. Kay says:

    Those dairy cows look absolutely happy and content Cecilia. I always love coming here seeing your farm

  18. Let my words be few…”Run and close that door!” Brrrr.

  19. belocchio says:

    Security is knowing you have lots of hay. V.

  20. I just love going on your morning farm adventures with you….and your rooster is beautiful !

  21. Them’s some big bales! What a relief, yes?

  22. dayphoto says:

    Now everyone will have a good meal, for several days, hopefully until green grass. And the barn will smell like summer!

    Linda
    *♥´¨) ¸.-´¸.-♥´¨) ¸.-♥¨) (¸.-´ (¸.-` ♥♥´¨
    http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
    http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com

  23. rs694 says:

    I’m glad you got everything battened down for the storm. Your animals look like the happiest farm animals in the world. I can’t wait until we have animals ourselves. Good luck today and stay warm!

  24. pattisj says:

    You’re right, any form of precipitation is necessary, whether we like it or not. I don’t like a freezing draft, either.

  25. Juliet says:

    OOh, keep warm. Freezing rain must be hard to cope with. I would be such a sook trying to live in those temperatures!

  26. Eha says:

    The Murphies have fitted right in, haven’t they! But Charlotte looks as if she might have morning sickness :) ?

  27. Karen says:

    I know you are relieved to have the hay. Hopefully it will get you through until spring arrives. Here in New Hampshire, it is still very much winter with lots of snow on the ground.

  28. Laura says:

    Oh, nothing quite like having enough hay in the bran, right? Sadly, we are now experiencing that freezing rain you already had. I would like to be done with winter now!

  29. Sounds cold. I’m sitting reading this as I put off going out into the cold to cut wood. I think we must be eating wood at the moment, as we’re getting through it as fast as I can cut it. After my last cooking foray, we might be better off eating it.

  30. Love the 1st shot of the cows. :)

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