“I can’t feel my face.” Amanda said to me after we had spent a good deal of the afternoon cleaning downed branches out of the electric fence across at the West Barn. All the little branches were carried to the growing bonfire heap and all the big limbs were sawed up for next years fire wood.
The dogs watched the traffic of branches just in case one should come loose and become “The Stick. ” They could not care less about the cold.
It was only a bit cold (we are below freezing now for a while) but the cold was made worse by a stiff wind. Even I was not speaking much by the end of the afternoon. Earlier we had been sitting by the fire trimming Tima’s nails. Giving a pig a pedicure in front of a warm fire seemed much more of New Years Day activity wouldn’t you say? Though Tima was well behaved but not amused.
Good morning. We got Tima back on her feet and out the door and after clearing the trees, the electric fence was turned back on and the cows on the other side could come back into their winter field again, Molly the little pig got lost, was found and returned to her house again, Tane walked so far out into the field I could barely see him, Poppy said No Thank You I don’t particularly want to have sex with Manu today if that’s ok with everybody watching, Lady Astor yelled loud and long because her bale of hay was not up to her standards and then Jake came round, we made dinner and ate too much again and now I swear I am going on a diet from tomorrow!
But look at this!
I think that is a sundog, what do you think?
Last time I saw one out here was the day after Sheila got in a fight with that mean boar in 2014. Do you remember that? That incident is why I am being so careful with Poppy and Manu. (There has been a little shoving but no nasty fighting. Mostly they are separated by the gate waiting for Poppy to come into a standing heat.)
I hope you also had a good day. Today I am taking Amanda back to the airport to fly home to Texas. Sad, me, I am.
Love celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
70 responses to “A sundoggy day”
Now that is definitely a sun dog! How brilliantly bright it is! It looks so cold, everything sort of tightened up and folded in on itself to stay as warm as possible. Except the dogs, of course. I’m glad Tima was ladylike about her pedi, and Poppy clearly has a bit more modesty than we all gave her credit for. I feel sorry for poor Manu, he must be standing there with his tongue hanging out, with all that ample beauty parading up and down but not coming to the party! I hope both your faces defrost properly, bon voyage Amanda!
That definitely look like a sundog to me – it’s a shame that Amanda has to leave you 🙂
It has been great though – she makes me think about data and research – she keeps my mind alert! c
For sure a sundog. The old timers say in three days (on the third day) you will experience even COLDER, COLDER weather.
Linda
That’s definitely a sundog. Do you really only get them as unusually as that? I see them here (England) maybe a few times a month or even more than once a week sometimes. But I guess it’s all about when a change is coming, and being a relatively small island a lot of weather changes come in a small area quite often. 😀
Happy New Year!
Technically we do not get sundogs every time we get a weather change here – I only really see them when the sun is very low and it is very cold and ice crystals have formed low in the atmosphere .. interesting that you get so many – are they coloured? c
Oh yes, like little swirled up rainbows. 🙂
I love the photo of ‘the dogs’ waiting the The Stick. Good morning, c, and a very happy weekend to you.
They were wild with excitement abut all the stick throwing that was going on.. c
I could see it in their eyes!
Haha, when we first got Mac, my little schnoodle? who’s your daddy dog we were trimming a few tree branches. Mac was ecstatic as they fell, I’m sure he thought he landed in a place where chewy STICKS rained from the sky.
That is one beauty of a sundog, yes ma’am. I have to force myself to work out in the cold, but when I do I am then SO happy I did. Makes the coming in by the fire all the better.
Menopause is keeping me warm this winter so working out in the cold is a snap!! ‘Scuse the pun! c
Fabulous sky pix – inspiring.
Poppy’s “No Thank You I don’t particularly want to have sex with Manu today if that’s ok with everybody watching,” does not surprise me – I wouldn’t want that with the handsomest sexiest chap in the world with everybody watching!
Bye bye Amanda – it was good to see you again.
love from saturated Normandy. It’s pouring because Sally and family have to drive across France to Zeebrugge in Belgium for their ferry home.
ViV xox
You have had SO MUCH rain – waterlogged indeed! c
I have never seen a sundog, but your photos are amazing. I can feel the cold with the two dogs waiting and wishing for a stick to fall. Sorry to hear Amanda is heading back to Texas, but I am sure she is already planning her next visit. You have only a month to your own journey to the airport for fun, family and adventure. Knowing you, there will be plenty to keep you going in the meantime.
I leave here on the 16th of Feb so I have a ways to go before getting my suitcase out – though already i am tucking things into my travel shelf.. c
The shelf is a great idea, on a tough day go touch the stuff on the shelf… evidence you are going away! In the meantime… enjoy the dancing pigs, dogs looking for sticks and the fowl chorus each morning!
Look at the intensity and focus on those dogs!!
Love your sundog too ❤
Did you see any down your way? I am sure you are sinking into the cold now too! c
No, I’ve never seen any here. We’re still in summer 🙂 Not that it gets cold in winter anyway haha
It seems like ages and ages since I’ve seen a sundog – and delighted to see one on your farmy. A very Happy New Year to you.
Happy New Year to you too! c
I have never seen a sundog. Fab pictures.
I always feel a little blessed when i see one – like they are visitors from outer space.. c
Learn something every day, they say (whoever ‘they’ are)…. and I have. I had to ask Mr Google what a sundog is and received a rather thorough explanation. I don’t believe I have ever seen one…. or at least, if I have, I never knew what it was.
The photo of the dogs could be titled ‘Great Expectations’.. it’s a wonderful shot. Also the one of Amanda.
Cold here too… just dipping below freezing a little until Monday when it is predicted to plunge down to minus 11 c. before creeping up to just above freezing again for the rest of the week. I figure anything over freezing this time of year is a huge bonus and I accept it with humility.
Sorry your friend is leaving today but, as Grannymar reminds us, it is not long before you, too, are off on your mid-winter adventure to the other side of the world. Once Amanda is winging her way south you will likely move into preparation mode for your trip. I can hardly wait… I have always wanted to visit Australia and, even more, New Zealand.
Have a great day! ~ Mame 🙂
Minus 11 is getting into some serious cold. We have been so lucky so far this winter – the pigs are grateful.. c
Yes, we have been so very lucky also… so far, so good, and I am just loving it!
Yes I’d say a sun dog. A good omen for Amanda’s travels. Maybe it will put love in the air for Poppy? Who knows. Just wishing good things for you and your farm community for 2016.
And wishing good things for you too.. c
Beautiful skies. Miss C there I was thinking you were going to build a hugelkultuur bed with all those branches. Dig a trench ( is ground too frozen now?) pile in all the branches cover with compost, cover with topsoil and later in spring you will have the most wonderful organic bed for summer veg plantings. Bye Amanda, shoo this was a flying visit, over too quickly. Laura
What a wonderful idea – but no = we are going to have a bonfire with a few drinks and some dancing! c
Amanda only just got there! Surely it has only been a week or even less…or is time passing me by! Also cold here at -15 C and I am wrapped up but I am still cold. Take care Miss C…don’t be sad..look forward instead to the next volunteer..you never know it could be me
that would be nice 🙂
I’ve never seen a sundog and your photo of one is simply beautiful. Wow – you worked hard yesterday…. but probably no harder than you work everyday. I’ve never heard of cutting a pig’s toes…. is that because she comes into the house and would ruin the floors? Sad to hear that Amanda has left, but happy to hear you’ll seen be spending time with your family and friends. There’s nothing like that!!! ; o )
She has a bad toe that curls up – it is a bit of bad kunekune breeding.. they get a bit inbred i think when they are not in the bush.. c
Interesting !!!
Interesting !!!
Percy has one on one of his back feet too! It’s kind of strange looking and seems to have a big callous on one side and seems to curl at an odd angle.
yes.. they are wonderful wee pigs but not well bred I think.. (and that nail that you describe is so hard to keep trimmed) .. but we must keep working at them.. c