The Gift of a Day to Prepare for a Storm.

Yesterday was almost warm.

I know it doesn’t look terribly warm, and blowing so the snow was washed up into beachy tidal drifts but warm enough so I could spend hours outside preparing the barn and my animals for the deep cold that is forecast.

Though I will believe the weather when I see it. Weather is such Big News that there is a possibility that there is some exaggeration. Last nights radar was telling me an entirely different story.

However last night there was some snow, I am not sure how much yet I will tell you in the comments,more today  and  soon the temperatures will take a wicked dive pushed under by a strong arctic wind and tonight and tomorrow will be dangerously cold. It is the cold and the wind in tandem that is the worst.

So everyone is eating exceptionally well. The ruminants have a wonderful system of stomachs that enable them to store masses of fermenting grass which I call the stomach compost heap,  heating themselves from the inside out. So I am stoking their boilers with extra hay.  And making sure they do not run out.

The pigs are also over fed, all diets are on hold, and they have got their beds all sorted out. Sheila spent some time yesterday testing hers out.

i am trying new covers for Sheila. At least when she rips these up they are biodegradable.

The Plonkers were having way too much fun in the snow to come in. The sheep have their North door shut and a belly full of hay and oats. The chickens have their heat lamps, the peahens are perching above the little pigs light and the tracks are all plowed (then the red snow plow truck broke down but there you are.. you can’t have everything!)

The bees will  be grateful for the added protection of the insulation (I hope) they still have all their air vents and housekeeping doors.

Hopefully  this helps them keep themselves warm when it is so  very cold.  And I don’t doubt that the cold will come.

The dogs and I had an extra long walk in the afternoon, in a failed attempt to wear out Bad Boo. 

He still had plenty of energy for a little Sweetness.  Though Marmalade is growing up. 

Boo tries to entice him into play with his soft toys but Marmalade does not even want to play with the Gorilla. Do you remember when Marmalade Cat was this big?

And now he is a sulky adolescent. Poor Boo Nanny. I know exactly how you feel.

I hope you all have a lovely day. I wonder what today will bring to us?

Your friend on the farmy

celi