Yesterday really did dawn bitterly cold without a touch of sun all day. 
We heat the house with one fireplace as you know (the bedrooms are unheated) and yesterday the warmth did not reach the glass house so we took all the pots into the house but the plantings in the beds had to just brave it out. Unfortunately there have been losses. All good learning though as this is the first winter we have had the glass room attached to the house.
The wind picked up as it snowed and the day looked like this. Close to zero visibility. 
What can you do.
Oh – here is what you can do!
Sleep on top of your mother.
Oh thats it!
By 5pm last night my legs were jelly from fighting this wind and snow. I was never cold because as you know I wear a lot of clothing. I dress for the winter. Thanks to my New Zealand sisters I wear wool. And wool is the best thing for keeping a body warm. So I am not cold – but the wind was blowing and house did not warm up (we got as high as 56F (13C) in the house) and when I was outside the wind slapped me in the mouth at every opportunity. I had to run a new line out to the sheeps water and everything got tangled and my language deteriorated. I was out there fr too long. Even Boo was a little shocked. The kittens were due to be taken to the vet for their jabs but my little car would not have made it to the end of the track so that was re-scheuled. And my hairdressers appointment was postponed. Yes I have a wedding to attend and no I have no intention of attending it looking like a Wild Man from Borneo.. (A very sad story at the best of times those two little wild men – they were strong though.)
Contrary to that popular catch cry – “They can take me as they find me” I do care what I look like and refuse to look like a worn out old farmer.. so I will crawl through the snow to get to the hairdressers if I have to! Though I may not have to as the weather is supposed to get better. Thanks Gods as My Godmother used to say.
When I go outside I line up everything that I need to take to the barn by the door. That way once I have my boots on I can just reach in the door and grab what I want. (You cannot take things out too early – they freeze.) So I lined up the pig feed (soaked beet shreds, carrots, eggs and grated apple) and the waters and my boots and gloves (Eva’s Canadian mittens covered in Kim’s fingerless mittens ) and went to get my clown suit and jacket hanging by the fire and here is what I found when I returned.
Do you see? Boo had added one of his squeaky toys. The opportunist supreme. But this is an inside toy and so we had to sit down on the floor so I could explain to him that he had to take it back the the toy box. We do not take toys outside. He knows this and put it away very reluctantly. With very bad grace actually. He hates the toy box, it is a little too proletarian for him, Tidy is so Tuesday! He is such a snob this dog!
Godot is aloof as usual yesterday. Sheila was cold but sturdy. Poppy is in heat and wrecking things. Queenie looms enormous, Tima and Tane wander about scavenging and Elsie asks for food in her little cow-girl voice. How I wish I could really show you the oasis that the barn is when the weather is bad. It is where I want to be. It is a little chilly heaven.
I hope you all find loveliness today.
your friend
celi
c
The Kitchen's Garden 
42 responses to “Zero Visibility”
Egads! The cold, white, blustery landscape chills me just looking at it. And then there are kittens piled on their Marmie mother. Excellent transition from bleak to blissful. Sorry BooBoo, inside toys stay inside, otherwise, old man winter will bury them until spring. Good try tho.
Wow, it looks beautiful and soo cold! The cats have got the right idea 😉
Cripes! that looks and feels really cold…with no heating in the bedrooms , do you use hot water bottles..I cannot sleep if I am cold….
I really hope that the weather will ease and that you will be able to get your hair done..when is it you go to NZ?
Ah Boo, you are so cute. Marmy looks in heaven snuggled with her babies. Hope it warms up a little today.
The scene on your porch reminds me of the movie “Dr Zhivago”. Stay warm. xx
If the house didn’t get above 56, I would never ever get warm and eventually the stress of that would do me in. You are a brave, hearty woman….I would have crumbled, long ago, from the bitter cold.
Oh gosh Celi, only 56 degrees inside all day!!! You must wear long underwear under your clothes all day long. I know I do, and have all winter. Our house, closest to the wood stove insert stays between 65 and 68, and sometimes higher when we really fire up the stove. I just don’t like being cold! Sending you warm energies!!! xo
Brrrr! I’m a wimp! I would be lost without my woodstove! During extreme cold, try putting another layer over your inside beds in the glass house, but raised off the plants so they don’t touch them. Even a length of clear plastic will help. Our second layer is agricultural fabric (Reemay, Agribond.) It does wonders, adding a whole extra temperate zone, but lets in the light. The spinach and lettuce don’t grow much, but they abide nicely, even in this extreme cold, waiting inside the outdoor hoop houses under their extra layer, supported by hoops. When we (finally) get a sunny day, I will pull back the covers and all those glorious greens are there for my harvest! We are getting a small snowstorm here. We really haven’t had much snow yet, so we’re due. Hopefully you won’t have any more until after your plane takes off! Good luck getting to the hairdresser!
Just popping in quickly to wish you all good things for 2015. Have had no telephone line since 24/12. Line now restored but no adsl yet, so currently on dial up – groan. Will catch up properly next week. Love to all, Laura
I bloody well wish I could send you some of our heat!
It is what we call a white out! I can feel the cold all the way over here.
Now that’s a decent pair of boots… I hope you survive the weather, make it to the hairdresser, and escape to warmer climes and swankier footwear. If your feet get cold, you can always push them into the basket of kittens, a fur-lined, centrally heated footwarmer in a fetching shade of ginger! Look after yourself, Miss C, not long now till lift off.
Oh what a lovely basket of kitties! They look so very warm!
I wish I could tell George that the toys are for inside, but alas, with a dogie door he will slip them outside. So each day, I step out onto the patio and have the discussion with him. Same one – each day – ‘George, the squeaky purple fleece bone is an “INSIDE” toy. And your little sister Peggy likes to play with daddy’s holey socks, and they are HER toys, not yours.’ He just wags his tail, runs over to the bone and throws it up in the air for me to catch. Yes, he throws his toys to ME so I can throw it back to him once we are back inside.
George & Gracie are beagles – almost 10 years old. Peggy is a 5 lb Yorkshire who hates everyone but us and will steal a sock if the opportunity arises!
We actually had a blizzard warning last night from 5 to 3 am and it was indeed a blizzard with all the interstates and main roads officially closed. I had houseguests—-a blogger friend who lives on a farm 25 miles out from me who is 6 days overdue with her 3rd baby. She and her hubby spent the night and headed to the hospital early this morning—there is going to be a baby today!!!! So glad they took me up on my housing offer. Brrr….it is bitter cold here but I keep my house much warmer than your 56 degrees. I am a wimp!
Wow, you’re a midwife! Hope your home is 25 miles closer to the hospital .
“…my language deteriorated” made me laugh, as I too have been known to let the curse words fly when fighting hoses and water/buckets.
Glad Godot was properly aloof. Must be that he got a chill and was stuck cold under that bush.