Well, I guess Jack Frost is hanging out over the Pacific North West...in fact, he's hung about so long I think he has about moved in and I for one am finding him a pretty disagreeable "house guest". Jack Frost has seriously outstayed his welcome. Logic tells me that we are in fact very fortunate, certain parts of the United States are digging out after historic November snow falls, some states are mopping up after historic rainfall and others clearing up after wind damage. On the grander scale of things.....some discomfort, frozen fingers and toes, neon nose and watering eyes are a reasonable trade off and I'm sure.... it is only going to get worse. This morning, once again.....just as I have for the past week, I scanned the frigid landscape from the warmth and security of my cozy bed. The pond was covered in a glassy sheen of rippled ice, the huge cedar trees sprinkled with a dusting of icy crystals, the barn roofs were white and the pastures sparkled with frozen droplets of ice. Clutching my steaming mug of Tetleys tea I summoned the willpower to brave the elements and test the ambient temperature with a toe test...it wasn't good but the cuckoo clock had spoken in the kitchen, the meteorologist on KOMO tv wasn't able to give me any better advice than to ensure that I put my gloves on before my mittens ( seriously worrying !) and in the bathroom, a piping hot shower was running. Time to go out into the big frozen world...again.
Down at the barn, crystallized spider webs twinkled between the tree branches, the lock was frozen (again)....Daisy accusingly informed me that her water bucket was a pink frozen block, the two less than happy barn cats met me at the farm gate, tails twitching in irritation....so now the inclement weather is all my fault ? The White Leghorn chickens huddled into a feathered mass braving the brutal temperatures whilst the apparently much more astute Rhode Island Red birds lined the perches relatively warm and cozy within the walls of the chicken coop. In the barn, a warm moist aroma emanated from the cow stall, Misty Moo and Daisy patiently waiting for the day to start. The sheep, having spent yet another frigid night huddled together in their stall anxiously bleated for breakfast and in the horse stalls, our equine guests warmly rugged up to fend off the cold, stamped and neighed in restless impatience. Bran the Border Collie, apparently impervious to the challenges of life in a virtual frozen tundra continued to take life at his habitual pace...twice the speed of sound whilst Luke, (he of uncertain parentage but believed to be at least nominally Australian Shepherd) wisely retreated to the warm hay nest that he has fashioned behind the hay stack, there to stay entombed until it was time to head back up to the house. Heritage turkeys are (aren't they ?) by definition American ancestral birds...the white commercial turkey is notoriously stupid, apparently able to drown itself when it is raining....Heritage turkeys are noted to be more astute.... intelligent even, not at our ranch. The automatic waterers had, not surprisingly frozen solid and, by necessity been replaced by a temporary watering system in the turkey house. Said "intelligent...astute......native" turkeys clearly had a serious problem working out how to take water from the turkey waterer being used to the automatic system and consequently preferred to dehydrate than drink from the alternative and much more labor intensive method of watering. Conclusion....turkeys are ALL dumb !
Well, another day on the ranch draws to a chilly close, livestock are all bedded down in the big cedar barn, Bran and Luke are snuggled up on their fluffy dog beds, Greg is close by, I have a warm mug of mulled wine.... all's good in my world. Take care, keep safe and warm, M
Down at the barn, crystallized spider webs twinkled between the tree branches, the lock was frozen (again)....Daisy accusingly informed me that her water bucket was a pink frozen block, the two less than happy barn cats met me at the farm gate, tails twitching in irritation....so now the inclement weather is all my fault ? The White Leghorn chickens huddled into a feathered mass braving the brutal temperatures whilst the apparently much more astute Rhode Island Red birds lined the perches relatively warm and cozy within the walls of the chicken coop. In the barn, a warm moist aroma emanated from the cow stall, Misty Moo and Daisy patiently waiting for the day to start. The sheep, having spent yet another frigid night huddled together in their stall anxiously bleated for breakfast and in the horse stalls, our equine guests warmly rugged up to fend off the cold, stamped and neighed in restless impatience. Bran the Border Collie, apparently impervious to the challenges of life in a virtual frozen tundra continued to take life at his habitual pace...twice the speed of sound whilst Luke, (he of uncertain parentage but believed to be at least nominally Australian Shepherd) wisely retreated to the warm hay nest that he has fashioned behind the hay stack, there to stay entombed until it was time to head back up to the house. Heritage turkeys are (aren't they ?) by definition American ancestral birds...the white commercial turkey is notoriously stupid, apparently able to drown itself when it is raining....Heritage turkeys are noted to be more astute.... intelligent even, not at our ranch. The automatic waterers had, not surprisingly frozen solid and, by necessity been replaced by a temporary watering system in the turkey house. Said "intelligent...astute......native" turkeys clearly had a serious problem working out how to take water from the turkey waterer being used to the automatic system and consequently preferred to dehydrate than drink from the alternative and much more labor intensive method of watering. Conclusion....turkeys are ALL dumb !
Well, another day on the ranch draws to a chilly close, livestock are all bedded down in the big cedar barn, Bran and Luke are snuggled up on their fluffy dog beds, Greg is close by, I have a warm mug of mulled wine.... all's good in my world. Take care, keep safe and warm, M
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