The nights are coming so early and the clouds have been so thick and low lately that it seems to me I have to start evening chores straight after lunch or I won’t be done by dark. Sunset is at 4.24pm.
Luckily Our John has taken to the milking and is doing very well, so while he milks I can zoom around the farms feeding and watering and be back inside by 4pm when it begins to get dark. My animals go to sleep at dark so I like them to be all tucked up according to their natural rhythms when it is cold.
The plonkers have come in from the Rat House paaddock and are lodged in the barn as five of them are sold on Wednesday so I have to draft out the five biggest. Plus there is snow forecast for today and if we get snow and then it melts, the trailer will not be able to get across the muddy fields. And if by some happy chance (I love snow) the snow does not melt it is hard to run pigs up to the barn through snow drifts so I am erring on the side of caution (actually I am erring on the side of what is easiest for me and the least traumatic for my pigs).
And now that I am ahead of the game there will probably be no snow at all and I will be sad because it has been so gray and gloomy lately that snow would be a nice break. They are forecasting between one and three inches but we will see. Our temperatures are hovering around the low thirties. 32F is freezing point. I am not sure it is cold enough for a significant snow “event” as they say.
Boo is still limping though I think he is putting his foot down a little more now, (lots of wishful thinking there) but when he pauses he definitely holds it up off the ground. I miss having him with me all day. I take him outside with me on a leash then he goes to his chain or he will be hooning about jumping on and off everything. But he looks so despondent, and he is so BORED! But I have to believe that the forced rest of that joint is helping the cartilage build up around it as protection.
Do you see Mr Flowers’s tail growing back in? The eyes are showing – it is going to be a beautiful long tail this year.
I am going to get to work early, the snow is forecast to roll in about 9am so I intend to have all the chores done by then.
I hope you have a lovely day.
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
51 responses to “The dark-en deepen-eth”
It’s snowing here right now – 11:11am. It’s not supposed to stick to roads and sidewalks, but we’ll see. Smoky has done something to his right front elbow, it’s swollen, not hot or painful if touched, but he’s limping a bit. I can’t say I don’t expect things like this, he’s 13. We also have very slippery floors in these temporary quarters, he may have strained or sprained something. I hope Boo will be better soon. It’s hard to watch them wanting to do what they always did and not being able to understand why they’re not allowed anymore. I know Butch finally accepted that he couldn’t run anymore, he didn’t like it but he accepted it. I think that’s one lesson my dogs have taught me well, to accept some of the things that life brings that you don’t like at all. Sweet shot of Tima and Tane in their nest.
Poor old Smoky . c
Smoky is fine today, all the swelling gone. No telling with him anyway, he’s a strange dog. Have a lovely afternoon.
Mr Flowers’ beautiful feathers, add a nice splash of colour. Nice picture of Sheila with the cows. It certainly gives us a good idea of her size, and she does look svelte and healthy. Fingers crossed for Boo. Time and patience will make a difference. “And they all settled in for a long winter’s nap..”
A wonderful idea in theory.. c
l love that pig trying to blend in and yes poor Boo…..hopefully he willed over time. At least it’s winter and less daylight for him to be penned up.
Plus less going on – I will be IN more – no visitors etc – so much easier to rest.. c
Boo’s situation is heart-breaking for both him and you. Did your vet say his injury could be fixed with surgery? I didn’t remember that. People start GoFundMe for all sorts of good causes. Maybe that would be a possibility.
The vet said – first we try to rest the limb and a course of anti inflammatories – if after two weeks he is not putting his foot down we sedate him and get an xray (200 dollars) – the xray would tell us if he needs further intervention. Surgery would also mean he would be crated and carried for 6 – 10 weeks. TEN weeks! This is why i am keeping him on a strict no exercise regime. Surgery is probably not an option for us. c
It is easy for me to say (living in perpetual sunshine) but the dark gray gloom of December sounds a bit delightful for the holiday season.
I imagine everyone needs a break from perpetual sunshine every now and then! c
Such a contrast between your seasons and their repective workloads. Winter seems like working a part-time jobs hours… you still have to get the fulltime workload done pretty much…
Not sure if would help Boo’s situation but the doctor suggested krill oil and green lip mussel supplements for the G.O.’s dodgy knee. Years ago glucosamine helped my cattledog Bo’s mobility as she aged.
Yes both and and Tane are on glucosamine for the rest of their lives.
Your photos are beautifully real…and soooo very pleasing to the eye! I’ve been ‘offline’ for quite a while, But now that I’m back I’m reminded of what an eye-pleasure it is to browse your site…which is reality displayed at its very best!
You HAVE been gone a while. I hope you are well. c