“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”
I didn’t know about sundogs – but now I do. I love the photo of the dogs waiting for “The Stick” – lovely
Thank you Blue – yes those dogs love their sticks! c
Oh yeah, a sundog. Great. I always was wondering about a song in Beethoven’s Winter Journey why the lyrics were talking about “three suns”. Never understood until I saw a sundog in 2015 and fotographed it too. Rainbow coloured.. And then I read all the informations available about it. There are a lot of super beautiful pics on the web (at Google pictures). So it must have been a sundog in Beethoven’s song. I think the expression Mock Sun means the same. It’s such an interesting phenomenon… That one of 2014 is gorgeous, thanks for the link, Celi! So beautiful!
Bye-bye Amanda…
Sorry, sorry for the Beethoven – it’s Franz Schubert (1797-1828) for sure. I’m getting sooo old now…
You’re not old until you’re well into your 90s, irmi. I’m sure Franz would forgive you and Ludwig couldn’t have heard you anyway. Frohes neues Jahr!
Thank you Aquila, you’re too kind…. Made me smile. Franz & Ludwig RiP –
Ebenfalls frohes Neues Jahr!
Oh I would love to sit with a glass of wine with you and your music – such a clever girl you are! c
I so would agree to sit with you by the fire having a glass of wine or two and listen to some good music. And maybe lateron I myself would sing some of these songs (Winter Journey and others) to you as a gift – just out of an impulse or a deep urge from my heart… I’m not a singer – no. You just made me “Dreaming of a white Christmas” you see… 😉
perhaps a UFO? It’s bitterly cold here too- stay warm- there’s a reason we eat more in the winter! Cheers and HNY!
It does look like a UFO – do agree.. c
Beautiful sundog. Nice reward.
Yes – and I think you would know more about them than me! c
A great treat on a New Year’s Saturday to read about the pigs, feel the dogs’ excitement, and see such a sky! I am continually thanking my little screen for bringing such delights into my living room. Grateful to you too, Miss C., for faithfully posting. Best wishes for a happy farmy year.
I love the life we have created here! It keeps me going! c
I’ve seen several wonderful sundogs, even have a couple decent photos of them. Those are really bright that you captured.
It’s cold here too, never liked being cold. I guess Poppy will be ready when she decides to be, at least she and Manu are behaving and not being nasty. Smoky goes nuts for “Stick” he has to have it thrown for him almost every day. Stay warm.
Manu is being very well behaved I am heartened! c
Definitely a sundog! Lucky you!
I am lucky!! thank you.. c
Am so glad to see those bluish skies on your photos – half our newscasts seem to be full of the rains and floods both in the British Isles and central US – have even had the Governor of Illinois on on a few occasions about the tragedies in the State. Uhuh: had to go talk to Mr Google about sundogs also – absolutely fabulous picture but don’t believe I have seen one either . . .
Bad Weather is such good news!! and not a new thing either .. mankind has always talked about the weather i think!
Oh … didn’t get here until late tonight! Your cold wind arrives here on Monday. Whipped right up through Lake Michigan – set right to chill it down even more! Great sundog! Those are ice crystals up there! Brrrrr!
Yes – we have a few cold days ahead – c
The anticipation of “The Stick.” Dogs are fun. It seems Amanda just got here! Time flies, doesn’t it?
I’m so sorry Amanda is leaving already. I’m sure the cold is easier to take with the warmth of a friend nearby. Keep well, and Bon voyage Amanda.
Your sundog photos never cease to amaze me, Celi. I’ve never seen one and would need to head to the Lake to do so. Given that they only show up on or coldest days, that ain’t gonna happen anytime soon. If only they weren’t so damn inconvenient. 🙂
Yes! I am lucky with my wide skies! c
You will miss her .. I have never heard of a sun dog before .. Stunning images Celi
The last sundog I saw we were living in Calgary 17 years ago. That winter we had the coldest weather recorded and the most snow. In the spring we moved back to Vancouver. Hurrah!!!!
I had to laugh at the first line. Only if you have been there does it make sense. Glad you’ve had some warm company (Nothing more serious than a dog on guard for a stick, is there?)
Amazing skies. It was clear here today, too. Ran out to soak it all in and store to get us through the next stormy front on the way. Button up