By the time we had finished milking yesterday morning and brought everything back inside it was minus 3F (-20C). I do not deal in windchills as I don’t understand the equation so I won’t tell you what the windchill was. There was hardly any wind anyway. But it was so cold that my face felt sunburnt and (quite disgustingly) my nose was clogged with ice. Was that too much information? I never know when to stop. 
Queenie never knows when to stop either, she always always looks hungry. As do this big mob of chooks. 
I have no idea how many chooks there are in the hen house. Probably around twenty or twenty five. I never know. They seem to multiply like Tribbles when I am not looking but without that annoying purry noise. But they have started to lay though only three or four a day so far so things are looking up! A few weeks ago I started putting Diatomaceous Earth in to their feed and their shell dish where they like to have dust baths and they are fluffier and brighter.
Diatomaceous Earth (though used predominantly as an anti clogger and bug repellent in feeds) is a natural pesticide, and general health improver and everyone on the farmy has a portion in their feed – most especially the pigs when they are stuck inside, and it is sprinkled in all the pens to help keep everyone worm free, bug free and shiny. They spend too much time in the barn in the winter.
No wind yesterday and that calm was the saving grace. So everyone was shoved outside into the frigid sunshine, told to go play and be good. 
The Big Dog lost his coat and wandered about for a while looking chilly. Later TonTon found it abandoned out by the trees. We knew Ton had found something because he was barking like a mad thing at it until we came to look. I think he thought the coat was an intruder of some kind. A strangely still blue animal skin that smelt like a dog but had no dog in it. You can see why Ton would call for help to sort this mystery out. 
For the last two nights The Big And Very Old Dog has been cajoled down into the basement to sleep. He actively dislikes being inside and will usually growl and snarl at anyone trying to get him down the steps. He has always had a determined streak, a mind of his own. A half wild demeanor. He will not accept a collar or a bath. But just this once or maybe twice he has succumbed to gentle pressure. Usually he is wrapped up for the night on the verandah, sleeping on his big jute bags full of sheeps wool and covered in blankets and an enormous leather coat. He still had his blankies in the basement, he drags them around with him, but is out of the cold. 
Good morning. They say that today will be warmer. That will be nice. I go down to the local school today to give blood. Because I don’t work for money I am unable to donate to any causes, so giving blood a couple of time a year is my charity. And it is an excellent excuse to lie down with a book, albeit in a cold hall full of pale bustling grimacing people and pretend smiley nurses with needles and other curiously terrifying paraphernalia, but it is kind of restful. Kind of.
Have a lovely day.
celi
This time last year I made lemon honey And if you have another moment look at the pictures from yesterday a year ago. Some lovely colourful shots.
The Kitchen's Garden 
58 responses to “Frigid Sunshine”
Good job Ton Ton found the coat 😉
Sadly my blood doning efforts have waned. I always feel faint for two or three days afterwards, when ever I stand up too quickly – good for you x
that is not nice at all, feeling faint is horrible.. c.
Cecilia….looking at the photo of your dog stopped me dead in my tracks….the front looks exactly like my Frannie that just passed away last week, amazing resemblance….its a bit warmer today here hoping it makes its way up to you…
So glad Old Dog’s coat was found. I do have a very soft spot for him…
Thank you the link …I’ve been looking at several sites wondering which site to purchase from. Now I know. Thanks also for how you are using it…I have started adding in garlic and brewer’s yeast for the chicken’s feed, this winter has been so hard. Having this to add to my care taking will be the next perfect step.
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com
It is excellent for parasites and their feathers love it.. plus getting rid of nasty mites.. the winter is so long for our dear old chooks ! c
Well below 0 here in NH too brrr they say snow and 30’s maybe by end of weekend
The first thing I noticed this morning when I went outside was that my noise hairs froze. Instantly.
One Queenie truly looking out for something, one Lou Lou [?] almost in brambles and one Big Dog distinctly cold – good that TonTon is a hunter-gatherer . . . another day on the farmy . . .
yes that is LouLou!! hiding.. he thinks.. c
Aw, he doesn’t want to be cooped up downstairs. I agree!
I’ve never understood how birds’ feet can withstand so much cold. Old Dog may be an old dog but his coat, his actual fur, is really striking. It must have been something to see him run across the farmy. Good to feel the warmth today — on oh, so many levels! Snow’s in the forecast for the rest of the week but if it’s like today’s, we’ll have to look hard to see it.
Hope you found today a little more bearable to work in and that the water heaters worked well enough so that you didn’t have to go out there to break the ice. The more time you can spend indoors, the better! 🙂
It’s almost impossible for me to give blood due to extremely small and collapsable veins. In fact, I’ve been asked not to try, but I think that’s great that you do it! It really looks as cold as it is there, I think!
Poor you.. such a bore.. i have big fat veins that make the blood letters smile! c
I learn so much from you, Celi. I didn’t know a thing about the role of Diatomaceous Earth on the farm and in promoting animal health. Goodness what I don’t know!!
I had to smile at the thought of you giving blood, imagining that it would come out pre-frozen! Seriously, I don’t know how you can bear such extreme cold. I’m such a wimp that anything below 8 degrees Celsius has me complaining. The task here is keeping cool! – so reading your posts brings my body temp down beautifully. I shiver as I read.
Eggs increasing, that’s a sign that something is changing.
Poor Big Old Dog. He looks so dejected there without his coat! Well done TonTon for finding it out so efficiently.
Have just seen Chicago etc weather on the news. Hope you all are safe, well & warm enough