Yesterday I could not get going. It was so freezing cold outside – hovering around 20F (-6C) – not that cold compared to what is coming but the wind was screaming and it felt so much colder – I was driven back inside, straight after doing the most basic of the chores, but I could not get busy in the house. I kept looking in the kitchen and rearranging the washing then drifting back to the chair by the fireplace to have a think. I wanted to be outside with my animals. I wanted to think.
Do you think there are days when we really should listen to our inertia and just sit and think?
While I was inside forcing myself to get the house work done Sheila was out in her sleeping room rearranging the straw, she shifted her entire bed to the other end of the pen, then scooped it all up very high. The wind had changed to a howling Westerly and I think she felt a draft. Plus the floor of this barn is concrete and sometimes I think she is like the princess and the pea and she is trying to get as far off that cold floor as possible.
Last night I stood leaning on the pig gate and said “Go to bed Sheila, Go to bed, darling.” I say this gently, quietly, repeating the same words and tone over and over. Poppy was being an idiot, as usual, leaping about but Sheila turned and lumbered up into her bed, pushed things around for a minute, then lay down and grunted softly as I forked all the extra straw on top of her. She ended up looking like an untidy pile. Then I made a wee bed for Poppy next to her but Poppy scorned it and ran out into the night to chase dogs. “Let her go,” said Sheila. yawning (and pigs do yawn as you know) “maybe I can get a moments peace before she comes to bed.”
It was forecast to be 10F last night (that is – 12C) so I am sure she was glad to have Poppy to eventually cuddle up to.
This is why I like the Hereford pigs, their faces are so smiley and cheerful.
Elsie is still doing very well. I stand very still and wait and eventually she comes over to sniff and say hullo. She will be fine. (Yesterday I got a call from a Dutch Belted breeder, who is also a reader, to tell me that the new numbers for the breed say there are almost 1,000 on the US. So I stand corrected.)
Last night I shut all the barn doors to cut down on the drafts. 10 degrees is Cold. 10 degrees with howling gales all night is FacePeeling Cold and Nasty.
I hope you all have a lovely day.
Your thoughtful friend on the farm,
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
65 responses to “Getting Going”
I’ll need a day of inertia but instead I’m on the go 14 hours a day to do as much as I can for my mom and family here in Germany. We had lovely weather here for November but tonight it is getting colder.
Oh you are there! Wecome back to germany! Your other home.. I hope the weather stays kind so you can spend lots of tme out on the farm.. c
I’m back again, what are you going to do when your mom is 91 and needs your help. I’m only staying for a little while.
Oh Celi, one would not be ‘normal’ whatever that means if on some days one’s ‘mind/body’ did not go on strike! Wish I could huff and puff like Sheila to send some of our heat to you probably ’cause I do not particularly like our weather forecast of 34 C + every day for the next week either – a LONG trip to the cardiologist tomorrow at 39 C temps and an uncertain outcome: so bear a tiny, tiny wee positive thought!!! I almost cancelled this morning and then thought I better be ‘sensible’ and know the worst 🙂 !
Oh my.. sending many positive thoughts across the ocean.. hoping for the best – not the worst.. much love c
love back . . . I know you mean it . . .
I do darling mama eha.. rich.. c
I’ve had computer problems and missed this comment about your impending trip to the cardiologist…..which was yesterday now. Dear Eha, I hope all is well. Positive vibes chugging down the highway to you.
Maybe you needed someone to toss straw over you and say, just hunker down darling and come out again when it’s warmer!
I think that sometimes when we feel that way it is because we have gotten overtired without realising it and need a bit of rest.
Poppy was being an idiot–I had to laugh. Those young’uns! I think is good sometimes. Sorry to hear it’s so cold up there already.