Storm Drill

Yesterday after Thanksgiving dinner I rallied the troops and we went out to the barn to practice a storm drill. When a storm comes in,  often we do not have a lot of time to get all the animals into the barn. 

And depending on where they are outside and where their designated pens are inside, there is an order that needs to be decided and acted on. They need to be stacked into their pens in that order with gates going this way and that way and people being gates. 

I know that this seems complicated but the barn is small and my needs are great and blizzards are not nice. Do you see that door leaning? That is one of the mobile gates I get my asssistants to hold.

All the animals came in like good boys and girls, came in and looked mystified as we began to close all the doors, checking that all the latches still worked and that their seating pan worked.  Except for the two little sheep, Minty and Meadow, who have not been in the barn since they were newborns they proceeded to  jump the short  fence, on one side of their pen, raced through the bins of feed, out the slowly closing front doors and were away off down the drive. Bleating in a delighted fashion.

So back to the drawing board. They may need to go into one of the back sheep pens, which are so dark, but it would only be for a few days at a time. Do you see that red thing in the water there? That is an heating element. All the waters will need to be heated for the winter or the  buckets freeze solid. I have to get these sorted and into the new pens and given a test run too. 

In Ten days you and I are off on my adventures. I need to make sure that everyone can do everything in my absence.  In any weather. I am really hoping that the weather is kind to everyone while I am away and that they have no runaways.

I can just stand in the doorway and call the little sheep back but it does not work like that for the others so it is imperative that they have NO escapes and are ready for any emergency while I am gone. 

Look at that lovely Daily View and as I write we are just above freezing with a screaming gale.  Cold. I already have my hattie on. 

Have a lovely day.

celi