It had gotten up to a balmy 16 degrees this morning when I went out to feed. The girls almost didn't know me since I been gone for two days but as usual they can be counted on to remember the grain bucket.
The sheep seem to be the only critters on the place that get happier when the temps fall below 10 degrees and the snow and sleet comes down. Truth is the sheep are almost always happy except when the ewes get put in the breeding pens (Then only the rams are happy) or get separated from the lambs for the first time but cold mornings brings out their special goofiness and they run around like idiots. I could honestly spend hours watching them frolic around. They jump up in the air, head butt unsuspecting victims playfully and just generally run around like they haven't a care in the world.
As much as I like Winter for getting fence and brush clearing done I must say I am NOT fond of Winter storms. Especially when they begin stressing me out and squeezing me for time. It seems that starting around February the storms always come in on Fridays and usually kill my one for sure day of woodcutting which is Sunday. Then once I start getting behind I can always count on work to pick up like it has this week.
I am now down to maybe two full days of split wood in my racks. My plan was to split another big load today but then I got talked into making a run for work. What I thought was going to be an easy 5 or 6 hour milk run turned into a 10 hour trip through freezing rain so thick the wipers couldn't keep up and I had to crawl along on twisted one lane highways literally out in the middle of nowhere driving a brand new F150.
The trip back was along roads I am not familiar with most of the way and in the dark with ominous abandoned cars being illuminated in the center median the last couple of miles once the highway finally became divided.
So now I am yet another day further behind. Tomorrow the phones get taken off the hook and the log splitter comes out no matter what mother nature is sending down on me. Tomorrow will truly be a catch up day.
The good news is my truck is fixed and the mechanic didn't charge me a thing for it. He said it was still covered from when I got the transmission fixed last year. So there is a shiny spot anyway.
Keep Prepping Everyone!!!
Glad you made it home safe. I know I've become a total wuss since moving down from Northern Illinois, but the sleet / ice on the roads make me so darned nervous that I don't want to drive anywhere unless it was a life or death situation.
ReplyDeleteCarolyn - I really dislike driving in snow and ice, especially when it's a brand new vehicle with less than 10 miles on it when I took it and belongs to my employer LOL. Seriously though it's the other drivers that worry me the most. That and I was in some pretty remote spots last night and if I had went off the road I would have been stuck for a very long time I imagine.
DeleteThat is good news with the truck. I never had sheep but they have them at work and they are really equipped for cold weather and were probably a major survival necessity for our ancestors. Our chickens and horse do well in the cold, it is 11 with sleet and now snow and the horse is standing outside. They say it will warm up tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteSf - My Mother's riding horse is a gelding and the other three are nag mares. Those mares are so mean to that gelding. When it snows or rains they will get in the loafing shed and refuse to let him in with them. Those nags are just as mean to the donkey too.
DeleteWhen I drive around by the cabin I always see the sheep acting silly. The new calfs also act a little crazy when I see them.
ReplyDeleteSheep, bighorn sheep, cattle, deer, elk, turkeys, antelope, bunnies, hawks, eagles, coyotes... just a typical drive to the cabin. Another month and I'll be able to add in bear, mountain lions and bobcats!
I hope your catch-up day ended up great.
Max - Wasn't bad I got a lot finished. Prolly take me another week to get caught up though.
DeleteIt never fails if you plan things to do several days out. Maybe you should cut and split more wood in the warmer months so you don't have to rush to get caught up?? Just saying.
ReplyDeleteRob - That would be nice but then I would have to scale back on the warmer month activities in place of wood cutting. Each season has it's priority activity it seems. Besides lol I can tell you have never tried to cut trees down in Missouri during the Summer. Trust me if you ever attempted it you would wait until Late Fall.
DeletePP,
ReplyDeleteGood to hear you made it home okay. This cold, and snow OMG............Enough of this stuff already!!!! It's time for some continuous nice weather. This way we can get things done around the farm/property. Stay warm and be safe!!!