The Aftermath of the Cold

With the sunrise on Friday morning, we finally also saw some rising temperatures.  I really did a good job of powering through and just taking care of things, but I tell you, I am ready for some easier weather and life in general.

This is actually a sunset (I don’t do mornings well).

I did lose my old gander.  He was about sixteen or seventeen years old, and I was pretty sure he wouldn’t make it through a severe winter.

gander taken last summer

My young goose is lost.  Geese mate for life, and now she’s all alone.  I’ve already talked to my sister, and if this girl wants to sit on eggs this spring, I’ll try to slip some fertilized eggs in with her.  If that doesn’t work, I’ll see if my sister will hatch a few for her to have company.

The same day I lost my gander I realized my little phoenix hen couldn’t walk.  I don’t know how she injured her leg, but she wasn’t able to eat or drink.  That means she got moved into the garage.

Ms. Phoenix Hen, Tony’s butt, Antigone, and Pistol

She seemed to like the accommodations, but she wasn’t too sure about the new roommates.

She really wasn’t sure about me opening the garage door, starting the truck, and backing out.

(Trying to figure out how to get to the rafters)

Then there’s Fionn.  I had planned on moving the bucks and does back into their ususal groups and out of the breeding groups last week, but I didn’t want to make changes with the cold weather coming.

I know you still love me.

Well, it was too long.  Fionn managed to bust my barn wall.  I’ll need to sweet talk my nephew and dad to try and repair it this summer.

That wall was solid until Friday.

That boy is a pain.  Dolly was also continuing to be a pain and pick on all the other goats she was sharing the space with in the garage.  I kicked her out.

Dolly

Now I just need to get everyone else moved back where they belong.  For some (like Zinnia and Cookie), I can walk them through the soap room,

Zinnia checking for treats

but I need to figure out how to get my gates open because I’m not about to try walking Fionn and his big horns through the soap room.

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Here to Stay

Winter seems to be here to stay now.

Annie

We’ve had several rounds of snow and cold and wind.  Nobody is even thinking of going out to pasture.

Front: Penny, Bambi, Buster. Back: Stormy and Haley (behind), Joani (?) and Cinnamon, Maybeline, and Odie

I’m feeding them all hay and grain to help them maintain their weight throughout the cold weather.

Gidget (front) and Blaze

Margarita and Maggie

Of course, the llamas are still working on the theory that they just get to eat whatever they want.

Maybeline, Odie, and Buster (Ava in front photobombing)

A few are still getting special treatment.  I usually let Dolly in for some sweet feed each evening to make sure she’s getting enough to eat.

Dolly

I also let Cutie into the greenhouse so she could be with her daughter and get inside.

Cutie

Everyone seems to be tolerating it well so far.  With more chores each evening, I’m ready for longer days.

I guess I got my wish (kind of) with yesterday and today being snow days from work (although we have to make them up in June).  My nephew finally got his chores done, and then he started clearing driveways (he’s pretty awesome).  He made it at the same time the county finally came to clear the road.  You’ll notice I had already scooped the deck and sidewalk.

I think I’m still missing two food pans under the snow.  Oops.

So far Sky and Bob seem to really have it figured out better than anyone else.

Sky and Bob sharing the register vent

It looks like the next week is going to still be cold and snowy.

Finally Harvested

When I came home from work yesterday, they were hard at work harvesting my corn!

I just got here when the combine was filled up and had to go empty into the big grain truck.

However, the truck had just arrived, and they were already emptying the wagon into it.

I love seeing all that corn!

They filled the truck.

Then it left for the elevator.

It wasn’t long before it was back.  They ran into the night trying to beat the rain/snow that was coming.

Luckily, they managed to get done.

The sunset looks pretty amazing over my harvested field.  I am greatly relieved to have this harvest finished.