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
The Kitchen's Garden 
51 responses to “The Winter Weather of Extreme Dreariness”
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.