He is just so big. He is a whale pig.
It is a little warmer today so I dug out the big South doors to let light and air into the barn.
I hate it when they are closed. The doors. It feels defeated.
I am just not heavy enough to move these doors when there is even a hint of ice at the bottom. They are not well hung and frozen shut. Usually I leave this kind of problem to Him Indoors but walking on ice is not an option for him at this point.
I struggled at it for a while – feeling hard done – by the decided to sit on a bale of straw and think on the problem. So. I did and I did.
I found the shovel and I dug around under the door for a bit then pushed the shovel underneath the door to use it as a lever. I only have two hands so I sat on the shovel to lift the door slightly while gripping the edge of the door with my fingers. I had to take my gloves off. There are no handles – never have been. As I sat and pulled with all my might I slid my body down slightly to the left lifting and moving the door to the right. Much to my delight and as I unbalanced and sat into the snow; it worked. The big door shifted over the ice that was gripping it allowing me to stand up and push it open.
Mission accomplished. Everyone just sat and watched as per usual. Human antics are television to this lot.
Jude is over 6 foot long when he is stretched out like this and has a whole collection of chickens who hang out with him and share his winter warmth.
I am always a little insulted for the pig when I see a chicken standing on him but I don’t think he cares.
I read this last night. The book is simple and a bit silly but I loved this quote from a poem: “The night became as intimate as a little square.” This is how night chores feel. Intimate. As intimate as a little square.
Good morning.
The Tall Teenager who is no longer a teenager came and helped me fill the cows water last night. The water faucet is frozen so I had to bucket enough water from the house to fill up their big water trough. My shoulders got a proper work out. And we had to walk very carefully over the ice.
Hopefully this will hold them until the rain next week. The big trough is positioned to catch rain off the roof of the barn. So a good rain can fill it up nicely and we have rain in the forecast for all next week.
The cold will be back of course in a few days and they say there will snow this afternoon. The sky feels heavy with it.
Then I will have to wrestle that door shut again. 😂
Have a grand day.
Celi
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Last night we watched WaiWai make his bed then snuggle down to sleep. Bless him.
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20 responses to “Deep Down Jude is a Whale”
It’s very cold here, but no snow. However, they predict it will be 14ºC by the middle of next week!
About that barn door, you embodied the old saying Where there’s a Will. there’s a Way! Hooray for You! I’m glad though there are also other willing strong arms & shoulders nearby to help with some of the heavier chores. Good for that former teenager. As for the animals’ tv, you are the Star of all their favorite shows.
We use wood ash from the stove to ‘melt’ ice (think old time soap making where lye was made from wood ash). We lay it down liberally where we walk (it instantly provides traction), spread it around water troughs (where it can get icy and slippery for livestock). And when the sun hits it, the dark color also melts it into the ice. You might also throw it down at the base of your barn doors. Anybody who burns wood would probably be happy to bring you a pail of ash.
I burn wood – at the moment I am still spreading it around the fruit trees. An excellent idea to put it down by the cattle water.
When it gets like this I make pathways with barn straw. That helps for a while.
You have the barn door and ice and snow, but I have rain galore, and mud and mud puddles, plus all the insects who are hibernatiing or relaxing in their underground or above-ground cocoons or ant or termite beds. We all have to contend with weather, so I’m glad your chickens have Jude to keep their feet warm.
The best thing about weather is sharing it. I love hearing about your weather and your insects. I am not as tuned to
Insects. So I enjoy reading about yours. We have your rain coming next week. 5 days of it in the forecast. Hopefully they dial that back.
We are back to rain and 50F by the weekend. I could picture exactly what you were doing to get that barn door open. I know myself well enough and my scenario would have been to use a bit too much “leverage” and break that shovel handle in two. I can be a bit over zealous in my efforts when I want things done 🙂
I have was actually a little worried that the whole door would come off its tracks and fall on me actually so I was going very slowly.
Very smart lady 🙂
I love your refusal to surrender
What direction are the wind turbines from the Farmy?
They are to the North where it is about two inches higher- the locals call it the ridge. 🤭 we are geographically the lowest in the area which hopefully means we don’t get surrounded down here. They buzz.
The ridge? That’s funny.
I thought so. Flat-landers!
I grew up on flat land in western Illinois. Climbed the grain bin or the barn to get a more distant scenic view.
I remember. And I can just imagine you doing that. Looking out as far as you can.
Oh Lord, I hear you about those giant sliding barn doors. I have the same and these past few days they have all acquired new, not very complimentary names. One thing about being the sole boss of buildings, grounds and maintenance – it makes you discover your well of ingenuity!
I think of you often as I puddle about. You are such an inspiration.
I wish I could send you a pair of crampons to strap over your boots while you do the icy, slippery, slidey outdoor stuff. But crampons are hard to come by in the tropics. Stay safe, mind those bones.
I have some but the ice will be over soon- weirdly we have a week of rain in the forecast. So I guess the polar vortex is drifting back upwards!