I just LOVE LOVE LOVE this cold weather!!!
I spend more than half the year melting in the oppressive heat. It burns away my motivation, I find I don't even want to move outdoors. The gardens and perennial beds go neglected, construction & repairs are put on hold. I feel like I'm being smothered by a huge hot hairy dog lying on top of me, panting its steamy dog breath on my face.
When the temperatures finally moderate, and the humidity finally comes down to an acceptable level, I start to feel alive again. Days like these cold snaps only last a short time and I try to make the most of them.
I really don't worry about the chickens, ducks or geese, I figure they can handle it. Their coops are airy, but have solid walls on the north sides to block the worst of the cold winds. They fluff their feathers & huddle together for warmth.
I do bring in our elderly bunny, even though she has a nice fur coat. I let her spend the cold nights in a carrier inside the house, but she goes back outside to her hutch during the day. I have 3 snakes that live in tanks on the patio, they are also brought inside at night. Their wild relations stay outside in this weather, but I pamper ours a little in the cold.
Tonight for the first time I brought our guinea hen indoors for the night. My kids were concerned that she would be too cold with no feathers on her head & neck to protect her. She scrunches her neck into her shoulder feathers, it looks like she's wearing a turtleneck sweater.
There's supposed to be a meteor shower visable tonight, look towards the north after midnight.
