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”
You know, I think the bears have the right idea – except lambs and things would be a bit upset with you if you did the same thing right now!
It’s dreary winter here still also. I’m rather sick of it, but I know I’ve said that before.
I found an old recipe you might want to try:
Buttermilk Sherbet
Whisk 1 quart buttermilk, 1 c sugar, 1/2 c sour cream and the zest and juice of 1 lemon in bowl until the sugar dissolves. Refrigerate at least 2 hours (more if you can). Then churn. Transfer to an airtight container and freeze until firm, at least 3 hours.
I remember it as tasting yummmy!
Linda
*♥´¨) ¸.-´¸.-♥´¨) ¸.-♥¨) (¸.-´ (¸.-` ♥♥´¨
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com
I would love to try that, this would be a good use of the butter milk. thank you linda.. c
Dreariness is never fun, but it makes one appreciate those perfectly warm sunny days even more. 😉
I’m in Chicago too and the sparrows are fighting over the birdhouse and I hear cardinals calling too. So spring is coming. The birds are certain of it.
I have to ask, is Bobby not going to be around much longer? He’s sooooooo cute!
My grown daughter just love the pictures of the lambies with their coats on! So do I!
Your description of The Tall Teenager was quite poetic. Celi you write word, but they come as magic. Have a wonderful (sunny??) week-end. XXOO V.
Lovely photos, but they do look cold. Be great if The Winter of Extreme Dreariness was followed by the perfect summer of long warm days!
Just noticed – so you had lambs early – when were they born? Love the little jackets – are they dog’s overcoats?
I think February and March are the hardest winter months. I am so OVER it! 😉 Cloudy and yucky here today too. Although we get way more winter sun here in NH than we did in WA state so I guess I can’t complain too much. Can’t wait for warm weather!
Have a nice evening~ April
Well, your blog is anything but dreary! It’s the first time in my life I have a chance to see little lambs growing up to begin with 🙂 ! Yes the farmy animals seem to think all this a bit ‘ho-hum’ also but the cold does not seem to bother – I wouldn’t have my bare tummy flat on the snow the way TonTon quite happily has . . .
That chookie does not look happy! Ours are learning to swim at present as an awful rain system moves away. The weather certainly keeps us on our toes. Joy
It’s almost over. Just a few weeks to Daylight Savings Time (or “fast time” as my grandmother used to call it).
Fast time.. i love that expression, i may adopt it.. can I?.. c
You sure can! It’s great, isn’t it? And she was a great farmy wife.
thank you.. have a grand day!! c
Glad that the winter weather of extreme dreariness hasn’t caused your to become weary. 😀
not weary and having a lovely few hours with our book!! stunning..how could you bear to be parted with it.. makes one want to be a writer doesn’t it.. c
May *you* have loveliness, today and tomorrow and further forward–no more dreariness! Wish I could send some of our beautiful sunshine to you, not to mention a bit of the warmth for the lambs and all of the other darling creatures on the farmy!! xoxo
It sounds like winter is dragging its heels. Here the hot weather continues; another day without clouds. I am full to the brim with it and happy for the sun to smile on you soon. The weather may be dreary, but milk is flowing, eggs are being laid, the children are being schooled, and the Coupe is taking shape — to say nothing of frisky little lambs in bright coats!