Now that it is colder I need the white truck to transport me and the dogs and the pigs food and waters across to the West Barn.
Of course I am usually carrying 6 x 5 gallon buckets of water. But yesterday was warmer and the faucets were working so I did not need to fill the buckets in the house. I could fill them at the barn. When we arrived I discovered that one of the cows had pooped in the water trough, so not only had I filled it up with the buckets then I had to empty it with a bucket, and then fill it up again. But I was happy. There is a zone you go into when you work like this, especially in the cold.
Some pigs just lay about sleeping as I worked!
Half the problem at the moment is getting the peacocks out of the truck before we drive off.
Geraldine does not like to leave the truck and sometimes I drive around the circular drive just to give her a ride before getting out and lifting her from the deck and putting her back in the barn.
Geraldine sometimes flies along with the truck when I drive back – which is an unusual sight. Driving along with a peahen flying next to you. And a wee bit terrifying. Peafowl swoop as they fly, not a straight line. Terrifying.
Aunty Del has frozen whiskers.
I hope you have a lovely day.
Love celi
c
The Kitchen's Garden 
39 responses to “The White Truck”
It looks cold but beautiful. Happy Friday.
It looks beautiful in the snow, but I’m sure it’s much more work. Those pigs lead the life of Riley 😉
I caught this one just on the verge of going to sleep! I knew the lovely Sheila would come round, and there she is, warming her bottom on one of the twins. They are so chocolatey next to her – was Sheila that dark when she was younger, or is it particular to them? That description of Geraldine swooping and looping along beside you as you drive was wonderful but had me trembling for both your safety. Night night. Have a lovely day on the Farmy. I’ll be back in the morning to see what everyone has to say.
A winter wonderland. Be careful under those icicles! Have a great day 😀
Your photos are beautiful today Celi. I’m reminded if those cultures that live in cold all year and have many more words for blue and for ice than we do. A surreal and magical landscape with its warm inhabitants.
Of course no cow would own up to the faux pas. I wonder if you stuck a brooder lamp on the verandah, if the birds would abandon your truck? Just set the timer for your escape?
Wonderful our “ménage-au-troi” at last 🙂 🙂 Geraldine is attempting to train you into opening the drivers door and allowing her to ride home on your lap for the last few yards, less scary than swooping around you. Those icicles on the roof look even more scary. Laura
Oh my, the frozen whiskers of Aunty Del. It’s that cold! Next is frozen eyebrows and frozen eylashes… (Or maybe just with humans, don’t know). Brrr…. – Take care of being “in the zone” working… It can let you forget your self…
So nice that you give Geraldine an extra drive!
The first picture is wonderful. Again it reminds me to the songs of Schubert’s Winterreise… What a light! – Have a lovely day too, Celi!
Isn’t it just fantastic when the faucets become unfrozen, and you can rest up for a while from packing water to the animals!!! 🙂 That should happen here this weekend! Hurray!!! Sending you warming thoughts! XO
I love the thought of you driving along accompanied by a peahen. There have been many times when I wonder if we really are the more intelligent species as I’ve mucked out and broken the ice on the water trough while the animals just lifted their heads from their warm bed to watch me work.
Lovely pictures and I giggled when I read about the peahen’s behavior. I am afraid that would freak me out a bit when I was driving.
Nice triangle in the sky of your first photo.
Such fantastic pictures again….Geraldine cocking her head to the side as if to say “Don’t think I’m leaving my perch Miss C, oh no, no way.” I have to give Aunty the prize though with those frozen whiskers 🙂
I laughed at the image of Geraldine’s pleasure ride before you put her back in the barn, but mostly because it’s exactly the kind of thing I’d do. When an animal really enjoys some simple thing, it’s a pleasure to make it happen. Enjoy your Victory Lap, Ms. Geraldine!
By the way, do you have some kind of special lids for the 5-gallon buckets to keep from losing a lot en route? I use smaller buckets now (arthritis in my hands) but when I carried 5-gallon buckets I used to slosh just between the tap and the paddocks.
Have a grand day 🙂
Your description of working with the water, loading and carrying and cleaning – has me thinking back ten years when my real heavy work began on this place. I was like you, doing it all by hand and a lot of physical exertion each day. This is the first year my body has rebelled. My hands hurt and I’ve lost good grip. My feet have peripheral neuropathy from accidents and injuries while doing heavy and physical work. Thankfully, we have the electric buggy and a small tractor now to help with moving and lifting. It hasn’t stopped me, but it sure hinders how fast I get things done around here. Always take care of yourself… especially those hands and feet.
Geraldine flying and swooping alongside seems magical – though I can imagine it’s quite nerve wracking! Not at all the same, but when Daisy deer was little and she saw me traveling along in the electric buggy she would bound and leap alongside me. It was simply amazing!
I surely know what you mean. The first 10 years I lived here alone and all fence post holes were dug by hand and all hay and feed etc etc were lugged without mechanical assistance. I am paying for that now with a bulging disc in my neck and while my shoulders still look like they belong to a half back or at least a star swimmer they, along with my elbows, wrists and hands just don’t have the ‘oomph’ they used to! It hasn’t stopped me either but it has definitely slowed me down.