Yes. You read that right.
Yesterday our temperatures rose to freezing point and oh it was lovely. Remember, I am not complaining, or comparing, merely reporting. We reached freezing and it was lovely! 32.0F (00.0C).. And for the record Mr Fahrenheit was bonkers! What was he thinking? But who is Mr Celcius? Anyway. Why can’t these scientists agree on a number!
It is now NOT too cold to snow.
Everyone was out. The snow was not expected until night time. And just a little at that.
Except Mama. Mama stood at her gate in the barn and repeatedly asked me to let her out into the field. Leave me there, she said.
You need looking after, I said. Your poo is still a bit runny.
Don’t talk about my poo in public. I raised you better than that. Let me out. She said, Let me out.
Plain as day.
There is snow coming, I told her. They are forecasting 2 to 4 inches. I am a sheep, she told me. Have you seen how much wool I have? I belong in the cold. I spit on snow. I need to cool down. I will come back in if I need to. Let me out.
But one thing I know for sure, she said as she marched out the gate and into the field, this barn is not where I want to be. Too smelly. Germs, miss c. Germs.
I checked her late last night, I climbed over gates and through the fences, the snow lightening the sky, my gumboots crunching on the newest of snow. Everything was light, the dark cold air was light, it was not my torch creating the light – it was as though each little flake of snow had its own light, a glow, a blush, a white rose at dusk, like the whisper of a tiny angel, the tiniest, driftiest, mutest of lights, silver and diamonds as miniature melting sandcastles, floating down past my cheek.
Yet they combined to make one glow, not a million individual ones like fireflies, but one cloud of light that reflected down from the vast heavy sky and back up from the snow. They drift to the ground with a tiny unheard cry, a shard of alchemy. Gold that is silver. Shooting their crystal reflections back upwards as they fade. Gathering in the wool Mama wore. Sparkling there. She was resting, leaning up against the barn, sheltered from the snow. Covered in twinkling gossiping white perfect snowflakes. Go to bed, she said. You are such a worrier. It is so nice out here. I don’t know how you can sleep in an airless house like that. Off you go now.
It was beautiful outside in the gently falling snow. Beautiful as a real word. Strangely warm. Safe almost. Sad.
But, I am afraid you are going to die out here, I said.
Mama just looked at me. I am a sheep, she said. I will be how I am meant to be. I don’t need to fight and rage and make speeches. I just breathe and when I stop, I stop. This cool fresh air is all this old sheep needs for the moment.Thankfully I will not need to grow old like you might. Being a human looks so heavy.
I nodded, she kindly let me scratch the top of her head but shook her head when I tried to feel her ears.
So I left her. As I walked back through the barn – Sheila said. There you are. Yoo Hoo! Yoo Hoo. Avon Lady! If you are desperate to do something for someone, push more of that straw up against my body on that other side. N,o not that side, the other side. I have a draft. Mad said I could have an electric blanket! Where is it!? I promise not to bite it!
Mama snorted from outside. That pig.
Who are you calling a pig?!
It snowed, the sun is not up yet so I am not sure how much but it looks like enough. No wind or wildness. Just softly falling snow. All night.
Life must be able to be how it is. We can only do our best. So long as we Know it was our best. So long as we Know it in our heart of hearts where no-one needs an answer. Only you.
When the sun rises we will see what we will see.
Have a lovely day.
your friend on the farmy
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
69 responses to “Popping up to freezing, and then into the snow”
Night Snow is such a lovely thing – your description does it justice. Here’s to Mama, she’s quite a gal!
Have a sparkly day, C!
Tthe whole world is white now. Your kids would love this soft snow.. c
ROFL
They both look happy and content in the snow 🙂
How I envy your gentle, beautiful snow! Here we have serious tree-bending (and felling) gales once more, accompanied by heavy rain. Mama would definitely be indoors I think!
Keep warm,
Christine
You are right Christine, wind is always worse, stay safe.. c
Beautiful words Celi! Have fond memories of snow as a kid. My Dad (being an over grown kid all his life) would take me first footing in the woods (and across peoples lawns sometimes too!) The woods were always so peaceful, the only sound, snow falling in big lumps from over burdened tree boughs. We would make our own paths and sometimes sink up to our knees in drifts, laughing when we pulled our feet out to find our wellie was no longer on the end of our legs! Then the silly hop, hop, whilst trying to dig out the boot and not put the naked foot down on the snow. Sigh, miss my Dad!
That sounds like the most wonderful memory.. good for your dad, i m sure you were always careful not tp get fresh snow onto the boot either!.. c
very poetic beautiful !
I am feeling quite anxious after reading that, c. Blessings to you, Mama, and the farmy this morning.
Well she is ok this morning, up eating and there are lots of tracks through the snow so i guess she was in and out all night.. c
(breathing in long sigh of relief). Thank you, c.
Pretty post.Celi I am glad she was well enough to just want to be.
You see, after reading this post I am positively envious of your snow and wish I could be there to experience it 🙂 We have had a very soggy,grey week – too much rain (dare I even say it!) but sunny again today -yay. Hope Mama is still up and about in the cool fields this morning. Laura
“I spit on snow”…brilliant! Beautiful writing but I feel sadness coming….
I don’t know, she is just not right.. it may take a while for her to recover.. c
She sounds resigned….not yet Mama! A little more time! Everyone would miss you!
So thrilled the temps got warmer, and that you got snow! Our snow is slowly melting and I just can’t wait for that to happen. I’ve still got the longing for the tropics in my blood, especially when it’s cold and white outside. I must admit that I’m ready for spring….and it’s not yet winter!!! 😦
That is one of your most beautiful posts. Poetry laced with wisdom.
Will someone get that pig a tissue to wipe her nose?
Love
ViV above freezing,
Good morning Celi! Good morning farmy!!! 🙂 I loved your post today! Beautiful!
This conversation made me laugh! “As I walked back through the barn – Sheila said. There you are. Yoo Hoo! Yoo Hoo. Avon Lady! If you are desperate to do something for someone, push more of that straw up against my body on that other side. No not that side, the other side. I have a draft. Mad said I could have an electric blanket! Where is it!? I promise not to bite it!
Mama snorted from outside. That pig.
Who are you calling a pig?!”
LOL I can hear it all now! 🙂
You sound much better today! Do you ever sleep my dear Celi? 🙂
Early morning or when the sun is setting is time for the fairies to be out and about! I know you see them! 😉
Love to you! Glad it has warmed up for you! (((Celi)))
Boo and Marmalade? 😀 Hint hint!!!
When I came to your, “but I’m afraid you will die out here” well my heart just stopped.
I know. But she has once again made it through the night.. I think she needs to be out in the cold..c
That was the line that caught me as well. Mama is more than just a farm animal.
Me too. I wanted to reach out and hug both mama and Celi.
Loved the description of the nighttime snowfall! Gorgeous. Hope Mama is okay. I’m sort of nervous to find out what happened.
She is not rebounding the way she should, but I am hoping that now it is a little warmer she might catch her breath so to speak.. c
It was nice to see Momma outside but I was surprised at how much weight she seems to have lost. Animals do know about themselves much better than we do. Prayers and magic thoughts for Momma! (And you)
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
¸.•*¨*•♪♫♫♪Merry Christmas ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥
˜”*°•.˜”*°•.˜”*°•.★★.•°*”˜.•°*”˜.•°*”˜”
She is eating though and drinking, and she lost a lot of babies.. c
It’s the baby weight that she lost that makes her so thin. Eating and drinking and doing what she wants are all good signs.
Linda
Yes, she is pooping great big cow pats though, hopefully she will start to buck up today, c
maybe all the molasses and honey?
and the garlic, but most of those were small amounts in a cup of water. and she has only just started this .. I think she was a bit better this afternoon though.. but in the end I think it is her body adjusting to a nasty shock and clearing out after a week of problems.
I have some Vit B on order.. hopefully this will help, she just needs to re balance.. c