I milked this morning and Willow seemed to be shivering a little. I don't think it was the cold. She was nervous because the babies were confined and she tried to pull loose from the stanchion and I had to tie her up tighter. I do think I got all the milk though.
DH reported the electric heating bottom to the chicken waterer was not working. They don't last long for us. So, he is headed off to the local MFA Farm Supply later this morning to pick up one "on sale" for $36! Outrageous, I think.
I will also turn a burner on low in the milk parlor. I don't want water pipes or my canned goods to freeze.
All the hoses are put away. We do have some plastic waterers that are almost full and frozen solid. DH is bad to overfill in the winter.
We also have to leave water dripping in the house. I am afraid to trust temps below 10°.
I looked out at the bird feeder this morning and here is what I saw:
So, I raised the feeder much higher on another limb that I could barely reach. I don't think the cats can jump that high. They seem to agree with me; no one is lingering under the feeder now.
The Grass Bed is in full winter dress:
When I couldn't feel my fingers, I went back inside and made a fresh pot of coffee.
DH just called from the east fields to say he was looking at ll deer over behind the round bales of hay. They begin to show up again after deer season is over. I don't know how they know, but they do.
I am feeling the urge to bake something..........maybe oatmeal cookies again.
When it was so hot and dry this summer I said I wasn't going to complain when cold weather came, but, I sure do hate to see it get that cold. Just so we don't get any ice with the precip. I always leave some water dripping on those really cold nights. Our house was built in the early 60's, is a pretty big house and not well insulated and we need new windows-an arm and a leg there!!
ReplyDeleteFinally put my Christmas tree up and getting some cards and bills ready to mail out. Was gone Monday and Tuesday so nice to be home today and just 'putter'! I made the Pumpkin Chocolate Chip cookies I put on my blog. I made half a recipe and not sure I would make them again-I thought just so so but of course DH liked them because they were sweet!
Back to my puttering----------Bev
Neat bird photos and of the cat, of course.
I love the pattern on your bird-feeder, Glenda. Perhaps the cat was just admiring it's pretty design. LOL I had to look up the 3 sparrows in the one pic, but can't tell if they are 'white crowned sparrows' or 'lark sparrows'. Both look similar in my Audubon handbook.
ReplyDeleteHope you and your plumbing all make it through the cold snap. Bundle up!
That bird feeder is beautiful. I agree, the cat was just admiring the bird feeder. *grin* It was 7ยบ here this morning. We put a 3lb. coffe can with a big stubby candle under each of our sink cabinets at night when it's this cold. That keeps the pipes from freezing. During the summer I buy all the fat candles I find at yard sales to use for this purpose. When they burn down pretty short I melt them down, repour and use them again. Sometimes the place smells of a number of various fragrances but the pipes don't freeze. lol
ReplyDeleteAre there any good solutions for chicken watering in the cold? We never had to worry about it much in Oklahoma but up here we're having to dump and refill their water twice a day -- and it's only the beginning of December!
ReplyDeleteWe've had 'cold' weather here for us too. Not as bitter as you have had, but for us, it is something we have to deal with, as we don't have very much of it.
ReplyDeleteIt is going to be warming up again, and I will be grateful. I don't do well with cold, I don't do well with extreme heat and humidity either.
We are using our little radiant heat heater and it is keeping our little cottage comfy.
Your header picture is cute, looks cold and there is the kitty near the bird feeder. Glad you raised it higher.
Love and hugs to you ~ FlowerLady
Been seeing on the news the cold weather you all have been having or getting ready to have..I don't know how you do it!
ReplyDeleteBrrr! My sister in law lives at Springfield and she was telling me Missouri is in for some North Pole weather. Farm life seems wonderful but it's hard work especially with having to get out in temps like this. We are to be in the 20's over the weekend. Wrap up good Glenda!
ReplyDeleteGlenda, I love to bake when it's cold and it's cold in your neck of the woods! Enjoy those cookies & I'll have some on this end!...:)JP
ReplyDeleteWhen it snows, I want to bake bread. When it rains and is cold, I want to make soup. Do you think it's ingrained in us to want to generate heat in the kitchen when it's cold?
ReplyDeleteLoved the picture of the cat. Heh. Could almost caption it, "Hope". Heh.
No snow here yet. Getting record low temps starting later today. I don't look forward to it. You'd think after such a hellish summer we could all catch a break. But that's Mother Nature for you.
Animals seem to know when the weather's going to get bad, I hope Willow's shivering is not because of that.
Hang in there, bake those cookies, stay warm. Hugs
I like your bird feeder. I hope the cat quits stalking it. Your grass area looks good, even in fall/winter mode.
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