I believe last weekend I was talking about the mud. Then the weather turned cold again. Now we’re even warmer still. Most of our snow has gone.
This weather is really hard on the birds. I’ve lost a goose, my Naughty Rooster Boy and now two peahens in these crazy up-and-down temperatures. The rest of the geese seem to be doing well, though. Gabby and her hubby were enjoying the mud puddles.
Gabby
After drinking and cleaning up in the puddles, there’s nothing like preening in the afternoon sunshine.
Our temperatures are supposed to bottom out again. I hope everybody stays well through this next swing.
Linking to Weekend Reflections, Farm Fun Friday, Farm Photo Friday, and Camera Critters.
Teresa
Jan 18, 2013 @ 18:04:40
Oh, I always feel sad when you lose a resident of your farm. Poor feathered babies. xo
Jan 18, 2013 @ 18:05:31
I have a lot of animals that are getting old. The rooster was old and my white peahen was about 13.
Jan 18, 2013 @ 18:06:49
Great reflections of the ducks!! Hope all of you have a great weekend!!!
Jan 18, 2013 @ 18:12:15
Thanks. The geese love every drop of water they can find.
Jan 18, 2013 @ 18:11:43
i’m sorry for the ‘not-so-good-for-fowl’ weather! sad…
Jan 18, 2013 @ 18:12:38
A lot of my birds are getting old, but this weather is really hard on all the animals.
Jan 18, 2013 @ 18:34:40
Your geese pictures are precious! I’m so sorry you lost some birds to the weather…I imagine you feel about them the way we in town feel about our pets.
Jan 18, 2013 @ 18:35:59
I don’t get quite as attached to my birds anymore. Still, I hate to lose them.
Jan 18, 2013 @ 18:51:09
It’s definitely not been a pleasant winter thus far. Sorry for your losses, they are still losses. No more stories of Naughty Rooster Boy… Sigh…
Jan 18, 2013 @ 18:53:36
I hated to see NRB go, but I think my mom and son were cheering.
Jan 18, 2013 @ 19:01:19
A charming series of captures, Teresa, especially the reflection of Gaby – just captivating!
Jan 18, 2013 @ 19:22:06
Thanks. I guess all those mud puddles are good for geese and photography!
Jan 18, 2013 @ 19:48:22
beautiful shots. i can not imagine how tough it is to keep the farm going through the cold months. you are such a tough woman & family. i wish you all the best, my friend. i really do. have a good weekend. big big hugs. ( :
Jan 18, 2013 @ 19:56:44
Thanks. You plan for everything and then hope for the best. Hopefully we’ll make it through this next drop in temperatures without any problems.
Jan 18, 2013 @ 19:55:45
This weather has been tough…it’s to be really cold here the beginning of next week. I’m not sure that we’ll know how to act! But hopefully it will kill some germs! We’re starting to hear coughing heifers.
Jan 18, 2013 @ 19:57:54
I’ve been pretty lucky with the mammals, but my birds have really been stressed. Poor things. Millie worries me too.
Jan 18, 2013 @ 20:12:06
Has she been sick? Or are you thinking of her age and what could happen if she does get sick?
Jan 18, 2013 @ 20:13:53
She has CAE. It’s just the stress of the weather is really hard on her lungs.
Jan 19, 2013 @ 00:02:51
A great reflection post!
Jan 19, 2013 @ 07:44:54
Thanks. I was surprised how clear her reflection was in the melted snow.
Jan 19, 2013 @ 00:45:40
I like the shots where the goose is drinking they have something very delicate. But all of this set of pictures is interesting : poultry power !
Jan 19, 2013 @ 09:36:03
The geese are certainly at the top of the pecking order when it comes to the birds. They are very tough impressive birds!
Jan 19, 2013 @ 06:42:00
So sorry about your losses, Teresa — especially Rooster Boy. That’s hard.
Jan 19, 2013 @ 07:45:24
Thanks. It’s a part of having birds. None of them were young (except the goose).
Jan 19, 2013 @ 08:57:01
Sorry for your losses. I didn’t realize the up and down temps could be so hard on the animals.
Jan 19, 2013 @ 09:25:18
I was sweating doing chores yesterday, so I took off my jacket. The poor animals are stuck in that one coat. Sadly, I did see Cinnamon starting to shed, but she’ll need all the fur she can get come Monday. Consistent, slowly changing temperatures are much better.
Jan 19, 2013 @ 09:25:56
It must be tough to lose your animals! I wish the weather would would stop being so extreme!
Jan 19, 2013 @ 09:29:42
Truly, it would be nice to have some normal.
Jan 19, 2013 @ 09:31:21
jolies photos,mm si les annimaux n ont pas l air d etre dans un environement parfait pour eux…
Jan 19, 2013 @ 09:34:44
Merci, j’aime tout mes animaux.
Jan 19, 2013 @ 09:53:24
I don’t like hearing you have lost some of your birds:(
Jan 19, 2013 @ 11:44:49
It’s not pleasant, but it is a constant circle of life on the farm. The winter months tend to eliminate the old and the weak.
Jan 19, 2013 @ 12:18:17
Oh, no. Not the pea hens. Hope it wasn’t the beautiful white one! Sorry for the loss of your birds. I guess the weather we have now is the new normal. Ugh.,
Jan 19, 2013 @ 12:29:41
It was the white peahen. She was getting pretty old, and I don’t think they were the healthiest from the start, probably inbred. I really hope this isn’t the new normal for the weather.
Jan 19, 2013 @ 13:41:23
It looks like they’re enjoying themselves. I’m sorry you lost your birds. It’s never easy even if you know they’re old.
Jan 19, 2013 @ 14:04:24
Sadly, you get used to it living on a farm. I have a lot of animals that are getting old. I guess it’s a good thing that they live long enough to be considered old.
Jan 19, 2013 @ 18:16:27
Oh I love geese and ducks. We lost two this year. But it wasn’t due to weather. We have bobcat, coyote and mountain lion problems in the area.
We had close to twenty ducks and 4 pair of geese summer before last and we only have two geese and two ducks left. The problem has intensified due to the three year drought we have experienced here in the southwest.
Your reflection shots are just beautiful. I love everything and am following you now!
Happy weekend!
Jan 19, 2013 @ 18:41:40
Glad you enjoyed your visit. I have a llama that does a pretty good job wit predators here, and only my geese are loose.
Jan 20, 2013 @ 01:15:56
Fabulous reflections!
Jan 20, 2013 @ 08:22:36
Thanks. I was surprised how clear they turned out.
Jan 20, 2013 @ 04:31:14
Poor birds… I´m sorry you lost some of your critters to the cold!
The reflection shots are beautiful!
Jan 20, 2013 @ 08:23:00
Thank you. Sadly, it’s a part of farming, especially as they get older.
Jan 20, 2013 @ 09:50:39
great shots! the reflections from the goose are so lovely
Jan 20, 2013 @ 10:15:11
Thanks. I really do think they are pretty birds.
Jan 20, 2013 @ 10:10:03
Lovely reflection.
Hope they keep healthy!
Jan 20, 2013 @ 10:15:25
Thanks. I do too with this crazy weather.
Jan 20, 2013 @ 16:00:43
love the light in your last shot…
~Linda
Jan 20, 2013 @ 16:18:04
I love the golden evening light. It’s a good thing because that’s about all I have time for after work in the evenings, but I do notice it staying light a bit longer now!
Jan 20, 2013 @ 16:17:45
I’m sorry about the loss of the birds. Even when they are older, it’s not fun. The reflections of Gabby in the puddle are really cool! We had a whole week of waaayyy below normal temps last week but today, we have the front door and some of the windows open! Jeez!
Jan 20, 2013 @ 16:19:06
We’re on our way to 0* for tonight! I’ve gotten a new (bigger) coat ready for Millie. I just need to go see if she needs it yet.
Jan 22, 2013 @ 15:48:03
Great pictures – the ups and downs with the weather is hard on our 4-legged friends… we are stuck in the COLD been below zero now for a few days.
Jan 22, 2013 @ 17:40:26
We’re supposed to be back into the twenties tomorrow. That’s where I like it in February and March. Hope you warm up!
Jan 24, 2013 @ 13:11:12
So nice to be able to enjoy mud puddles!!!
Jan 24, 2013 @ 13:38:05
It was nice to have our snow melt into the ground. We’ve been so dry. Now we’re completely frozen! It’s been a strange up and down kind of winter.
Jan 25, 2013 @ 21:15:03
Your geese pictures are beautiful.
Jan 25, 2013 @ 21:40:45
Thanks. I think they are beautiful birds.