Thick Ice

As you know the day before yesterday it was  warm and much of the snow began to melt, then in the night the temperatures dropped and a cold Northerly wind came up and by yesterday morning the slushy snowy covering on the ground had been turned to heavy ice. Not a crust of ice. Polished hard packed Ice right to the ground. Do you remember those old cartoon drawings of the wind with the fat cheeks blowing icy air onto someone who then turns rigid and cracks up into a million pieces. Well that is what it was like yesterday. 

Thank goodness for my Swedish snow boots with the sprigs. Yesterday was a day that reminds one that we should not take easy walking for granted.

I spent most of the day carting manure out of the barn cleaning up the cows beds. 

My cows are getting dirty.  When it is very cold the manure is frozen solid,  a raise in the temperature and they get dirty. I use a deep litter system as you know, just keeping their beds clean is enough for me.  

How this bird stays clean in the barn I do not know.  I have discovered why he has broken feathers, when he is down eating, the kittens play with his tail. Poor old Godot. Harassed by kittens. 

I have started counting the hay bales. We have at least two months of feeding-out to go before there will be any grass in the fields. 

Here is a shot of Sheila and Poppy from the loft. Sleeping as usual. LuLu seems to be featuring in pictures today. Usually she is far from the camera. Not being much of a people cat. Very self contained girl that she is.

I hope you all have a lovely day.

Your friend on the farm

celi