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”
I love Queenie’s curly hair. And the shot of – who, Lou Lou? – in the brush is divine. Thank you for the reminder to make time to give blood. I did so regularly at my last workplace, because they came to us. Not so at this one. And by the way, for your “reader map” of yesterday, I’m in Colorado too. They say it will be 70 today, so a bit of a warm up is headed your way.
I love Queenie’s curly head too. Do you ever just bury your hands in Hairy Mclairy’s coat? That’s how I’d spend my winters I’m afraid! Thank god TonTon found the blue coat.
Stay warm out there!!
I love Big and Very Old Dog. I have a thing for partially domesticated, determined and occasionally growly dogs.I love the wildness, like they are a throw-back to Ancient Dog. I’m soooo glad that he has, this time, let you persuade him to sleep downstairs even though his veranda bed sounds lovely.
What does one do with lemon curd besides make lemon cake?
A great shot of the Big Dog ! His markings are quite fun….complete with
a tail tipped in white paint ! Hairy looks like he has something to say !
Sending this crazy warm spell from Colorado ….high 60’s in January.
Next week we will be back in the deep freeze…very strange…
I hope your tea is extra hot today !
Thank you for giving blood. When needing it I was terrified having someone else’s blood until a good friend reminded it is the nice people of the world that do give blood. THANK YOU!.
I am impressed that the kitties are still lounging around outside in the chilly weather (with or without windchill it is -17C here today too! I still can’t wrap my head fully around F temps, especially when dealing with the cold :)).
The dog with the blankie. This could be a children’s picture book.
How nice of you to give blood. My husband always has and I finally tried it several years ago and found out there was nothing to fear. Nothing at all.
very cold here for one more day
Here am I. Complaining because we have been shrouded in fog for four days. I can just see the other side of the road Celi. At night the fog rolls in even heavier and visibility as we drive is two telephone poles away. Some members of our family live in Winnipeg. It is minus 45 degrees below zero. I’m raking and doing a little garden clean-up. I shan’t complain about the lack of sunshine. I will simply paint another room Monet Yellow, and light many candles. XXOo V.
It is brutally cold here too, so naturally our thermostat took this moment to quit. Forever. So inside is almost as bad as outside. I suggested to my husband that we should spend tonight at a warm hotel but of course he threw that idea right back at me. I can barely move with all the layers of clothes I’m wearing.
Staying out of the cold is an impossibility for farmers; so I won’t say, “stay warm” , I will say..”work quickly and get back into the warmth.” Somehow, though, I can never resist the urge to go out and check on Andy just one more time…(he is so frail) He sleeps between 2 old fluffy girls for warmth.
Your fingers must freeze when milking…yikes.
J
I would like to be shiny and worm free, too. Pass the diatom powder!
That reminds me that I’m due for a blood donation too. I try and go every 8 weeks. My grandpa donated every 8 weeks his whole life. Told me he thought of it like an oil change. 😉 Stay warm and enjoy your book today.