o a.m. this morning, and we finally got it again. Everybody stay safe, now ya hear?!!!
Live in a Very Cold Winter area? Post link to your personal page here!
- Thread starter patandchickens
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o a.m. this morning, and we finally got it again. Everybody stay safe, now ya hear?!!!
We're having what I regard as a 'perfect' winter day- -3C and sunny. Even with ice underfoot, it feels warm, and the animals are calm. Had a quick ride in the truck to town to pick up a hew things and the hardware store had play sand, so the girls get a fresh dust bath this evening. I'm going to make a shepherd's pie. Oh and a friend was at the store, fresh back from the Dominican Republic for a week (farmer's break), she is *so* tanned and relaxed that not even the damage her 17-year-old did to the farm truck upset her.
Our drainage ditch in front of the barn held nicely even after the freeze-up, and I hope all of you struggling with too much water get a break soon so everything dries out. I think we cold-hardy owners deserve some kind of a certificate ($$$ would be better) for getting this far.
Our drainage ditch in front of the barn held nicely even after the freeze-up, and I hope all of you struggling with too much water get a break soon so everything dries out. I think we cold-hardy owners deserve some kind of a certificate ($$$ would be better) for getting this far.
Yesterday, January 26, 2009 was the coldest day of the winter so far. So cold it was difficult to breathe when working in the barn. So cold the horse marched back into his stall when I approached the door- 'Close the DOOR!' he whinnied. The hens spent the day scribing in the frosty window with their beaks, and the barn cats huddled in sleeping boxes in groups of five. Please let this winter END!
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This morning it was 18 below zero here F. I do have a blog that I blog in but havn't had time to really update every day or anything but I do talk about the cold ALOT LOL I just wish it would get out of this negative weather and get back up to ONE degree or something! I have a heater going constant in my shed. ANd two heat lamps in the hen house (one over the water and the other facing the roost) the one over the water just keeps the water thawed where it comes out and that's it when it gets this cold. And I practically have it laying ON TOP of the waterer. In the bantam coop it's been nice and toasty just with one heat lamp but the coop is IN the garage for now since that is where we built it. It will be pulled out soon and then I'm curious as to what the temps will be.
There's obviously no chance of a January thaw this year, it's frigid here, too, although nowhere near as bad as it is up by Lynne. Tomorrow we're supposed to get snow, then rain - I wonder if this winter we'll break the record for continuous snow cover? I can't remember it lasting this long, since the middle of December til now, I doubt the rain will make a dent in it, there's at least a foot of packed snow out there, five more inches plus rain just means a solid frozen mass! At least it's supposed to be at freezing for the week during the day, not below, as it has been. Poor girls won't even stick their beaks outside, I don't blame them! It's 25.7°F in their coop right now, while it's 20°F outside.
We have had a few weeks here of no thawing in site. With a storm on the way the future looks brim.
I'm lucky enough to have free gas on the farm to heat the layer houses in the winter when we keep birds. The barns are kept at 40 degrees in the dead of winter to keep water and eggs from freezing and to keep the chill off of the animals so they don't get too stressed.
I'm lucky enough to have free gas on the farm to heat the layer houses in the winter when we keep birds. The barns are kept at 40 degrees in the dead of winter to keep water and eggs from freezing and to keep the chill off of the animals so they don't get too stressed.
- Thread starter
- #157
I dunno, I actually approve of this winter's weather pretty much. I could have lived without it getting *quite* as cold for *quite* so many days a couple weeks ago but you know it does happen so one can't be too surprised
In the plus column, the post-Christmas thaw cleared out a lot of standing snow and ice, and wonder of wonders it actually lasted long enough for the ditches to mostly finish draining *and* we got snow back before the cold winds returned, which really helps the pasture and plants. Since then we have had constant snow cover (good), but not excessive amounts (good), without any thaws to ice things up (good), and it has not been especially snowy or overly windy (good), and looks to stay about the same for the forseeable future here (good)
And for us the coldest part of the winter is likely past now.
I can't say I don't enjoy opening the window into the blonde chickens' greenhousified run (I'm using it to slightly heat the coop on sunny days -- down at chicken level it is not too warm but the breeze that comes into the coop window is nice and balmy
). But there have been LOTS of winters less convenient and more problematic than this one. For us, of course - I know things may differ elsewhere.
Pat
Pat
In the plus column, the post-Christmas thaw cleared out a lot of standing snow and ice, and wonder of wonders it actually lasted long enough for the ditches to mostly finish draining *and* we got snow back before the cold winds returned, which really helps the pasture and plants. Since then we have had constant snow cover (good), but not excessive amounts (good), without any thaws to ice things up (good), and it has not been especially snowy or overly windy (good), and looks to stay about the same for the forseeable future here (good)
And for us the coldest part of the winter is likely past now.
I can't say I don't enjoy opening the window into the blonde chickens' greenhousified run (I'm using it to slightly heat the coop on sunny days -- down at chicken level it is not too warm but the breeze that comes into the coop window is nice and balmy
Pat
Pat
I'd be happy too to have snow rather than ice- the last weather events didn't give adequate drainage before the freeze-up and traction sand is in short supply. I did get the horse out today though, using stall and coop sweepings. The hens demanded egress, they've been etching little messages on their plexiglass window demanding this and that. When I tried to empty manure from a wheelbarrow though, it stuck! I had to get a couple of garden trowles to wiggle it loose before dumping it on the far end of the ice-covered manure pile. Usually the pile stays warm enough in winter that you could feel it under the boots, but not this year!
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I must say we've been lucky so far this month. Once the 2 weeks straight of extreme cold (-25 to -35F) broke, we've pretty much been above 0F ever since. Last night was the coldest at 0F, but it's already rising to 6.8°F and getting cloudier so I'm assuming we'll be back up in the teens soon. I'm happy with teens/20s.
We actually had a couple of days when the bunnies' water never froze!
Some of you may appreciate this, arrived in email. With the storm from Oklahoma heading our way, I actually chuckled!
Diary of a Demented Snow Shoveler
December 8 6:00 PM
It started to snow. The first snow of the season and the wife and I took our cocktails and sat for hours by the window watching the huge soft flakes drift down from heaven. It looked like a Grandma Moses print. So romantic we felt like newlyweds again. I love snow!
December 9
We woke to a beautiful blanket of crystal white snow covering every inch of the landscape. What a fantastic sight! Can there be a more lovely place in the whole world? Moving here was the best idea I've ever had! Shoveled for the first time in years and felt like a boy again. I did both our driveway and the sidewalks. This afternoon the snowplow came along and covered up the sidewalks and closed in the driveway, so I got to shovel again. What a perfect life!
December 12
The sun has melted all our lovely snow. Such a disappointment! My neighbor tells me not to worry- we'll definitely have a white Christmas. No snow on Christmas would be awful! Bob says we'll have so much snow by the end of winter, that I'll never want to see snow again. I don't think that's possible. Bob is such a nice man, I'm glad he's our neighbor.
December 14
Snow, lovely snow! 8 inches last night. The temperature dropped to -20. The cold makes everything sparkle so. The wind took my breath away, but I warmed up by shoveling the driveway and sidewalks. This is the life! The snowplow came back this afternoon and buried everything again. ! I didn't realize I would have to do quite this much shoveling, but I'll certainly get back in shape this way. I wish I wouldn't huff and puff so.
December 15
20 inches forecast. Sold my van and bought a 4x4Blazer. Bought snow tires for the wife's car and 2 extra shovels. Stocked the freezer. The wife wants a wood stove in case the electricity goes out. I think that's silly. We aren't in Alaska , after all.
December 16
Ice storm this morning. Fell on my butt on the ice in the driveway putting down salt. Hurt like heck. The wife laughed for an hour, which I think was very cruel.
December 17
Still way below freezing. Roads are too icy to go anywhere. Electricity was off for 5 hours. I had to pile the blankets on to stay warm. Nothing to do but stare at the wife and try not to irritate her. Guess I should've bought a wood stove, but won't admit it to her. God I hate it when she's right. I can't believe I'm freezing to death in my own living room.
December 20
Electricity is back on, but had another 14 inches of the darn stuff last night. More shoveling! Took all day. The darn snowplow came by twice. Tried to find a neighbor kid to shovel, but they said they're too busy playing hockey. I think they're lying. Called the only hardware store around to see about buying a snow blower and they're out. Might have another shipment in March. I think they're lying. Bob says I have to shovel or the city will have it done and bill me. I think he's lying.
December 22
Bob was right about a white Christmas because 13 more inches of the white poop fell today, and it's so cold, it probably won't melt till August. Took me 45 minutes to get all dressed up to go out to shovel and then I had to pee. By the time I got undressed, peed and dressed again. I was too tired to shovel. Tried to hire Bob who has a plow on his truck for the rest of the winter, but he says he's too busy. I think the butt hole is lying.
December 23
Only 2 inches of snow today. And it warmed up to 0. The wife wanted me to decorate the front of the house this morning. What is she, nuts?!! Why didn't she tell me to do that a month ago? She says she did but I think she's lying.
December 24
6 inches - Snow packed so hard by snowplow, I broke the shovel. Thought I was having a heart attack. If I ever catch the son of a grump who drives that snow plow, I'll drag him through the snow by his balls and beat him to death with my broken shovel. I know he hides around the corner and waits for me to finish shoveling and then he comes down the street at a 100 miles an hour and throws snow all over where I've just been! Tonight the wife wanted me to sing Christmas carols with her and open our presents, but I was too busy watching for the darn snowplow.
December 25
Merry very' Christmas! 20 more inches of the darn slop tonight - Snowed in The idea of shoveling makes my blood boil. God, I hate the snow! Then the snowplow driver came by asking for a donation and I hit him over the head with my shovel. The wife says I have a bad attitude. I think she's a fricking idiot. If I have to watch "It's A Wonderful Life" one more time, I'm going to stuff her into the microwave.
December 26
Still snowed in. Why the hell did I ever move here? It was all HER idea.
She's really getting on my nerves.
December 27
Temperature dropped to -30 and the pipes froze; plumber came after 14 hours of waiting for him, he only charged me $1,400 to replace all my pipes.
December 28
Warmed up to above -20. Still snowed in. The WITCH is driving me crazy!!!
December 29
10 more inches. Bob says I have to shovel the roof or it could cave in. That's the silliest thing I ever heard. How dumb does he think I am?
December 30
Roof caved in. I beat up the snow plow driver, and now he is suing me for a million dollars, not only for the beating I gave him, but also for trying to shove the broken snow shovel up his butt. The wife went home to her mother. Nine more inches predicted.
December 31
I set fire to what's left of the house. No more shoveling.
January 8
Feel so good. I just love those little white pills they keep giving me. Why am I tied to the bed?
Diary of a Demented Snow Shoveler
December 8 6:00 PM
It started to snow. The first snow of the season and the wife and I took our cocktails and sat for hours by the window watching the huge soft flakes drift down from heaven. It looked like a Grandma Moses print. So romantic we felt like newlyweds again. I love snow!
December 9
We woke to a beautiful blanket of crystal white snow covering every inch of the landscape. What a fantastic sight! Can there be a more lovely place in the whole world? Moving here was the best idea I've ever had! Shoveled for the first time in years and felt like a boy again. I did both our driveway and the sidewalks. This afternoon the snowplow came along and covered up the sidewalks and closed in the driveway, so I got to shovel again. What a perfect life!
December 12
The sun has melted all our lovely snow. Such a disappointment! My neighbor tells me not to worry- we'll definitely have a white Christmas. No snow on Christmas would be awful! Bob says we'll have so much snow by the end of winter, that I'll never want to see snow again. I don't think that's possible. Bob is such a nice man, I'm glad he's our neighbor.
December 14
Snow, lovely snow! 8 inches last night. The temperature dropped to -20. The cold makes everything sparkle so. The wind took my breath away, but I warmed up by shoveling the driveway and sidewalks. This is the life! The snowplow came back this afternoon and buried everything again. ! I didn't realize I would have to do quite this much shoveling, but I'll certainly get back in shape this way. I wish I wouldn't huff and puff so.
December 15
20 inches forecast. Sold my van and bought a 4x4Blazer. Bought snow tires for the wife's car and 2 extra shovels. Stocked the freezer. The wife wants a wood stove in case the electricity goes out. I think that's silly. We aren't in Alaska , after all.
December 16
Ice storm this morning. Fell on my butt on the ice in the driveway putting down salt. Hurt like heck. The wife laughed for an hour, which I think was very cruel.
December 17
Still way below freezing. Roads are too icy to go anywhere. Electricity was off for 5 hours. I had to pile the blankets on to stay warm. Nothing to do but stare at the wife and try not to irritate her. Guess I should've bought a wood stove, but won't admit it to her. God I hate it when she's right. I can't believe I'm freezing to death in my own living room.
December 20
Electricity is back on, but had another 14 inches of the darn stuff last night. More shoveling! Took all day. The darn snowplow came by twice. Tried to find a neighbor kid to shovel, but they said they're too busy playing hockey. I think they're lying. Called the only hardware store around to see about buying a snow blower and they're out. Might have another shipment in March. I think they're lying. Bob says I have to shovel or the city will have it done and bill me. I think he's lying.
December 22
Bob was right about a white Christmas because 13 more inches of the white poop fell today, and it's so cold, it probably won't melt till August. Took me 45 minutes to get all dressed up to go out to shovel and then I had to pee. By the time I got undressed, peed and dressed again. I was too tired to shovel. Tried to hire Bob who has a plow on his truck for the rest of the winter, but he says he's too busy. I think the butt hole is lying.
December 23
Only 2 inches of snow today. And it warmed up to 0. The wife wanted me to decorate the front of the house this morning. What is she, nuts?!! Why didn't she tell me to do that a month ago? She says she did but I think she's lying.
December 24
6 inches - Snow packed so hard by snowplow, I broke the shovel. Thought I was having a heart attack. If I ever catch the son of a grump who drives that snow plow, I'll drag him through the snow by his balls and beat him to death with my broken shovel. I know he hides around the corner and waits for me to finish shoveling and then he comes down the street at a 100 miles an hour and throws snow all over where I've just been! Tonight the wife wanted me to sing Christmas carols with her and open our presents, but I was too busy watching for the darn snowplow.
December 25
Merry very' Christmas! 20 more inches of the darn slop tonight - Snowed in The idea of shoveling makes my blood boil. God, I hate the snow! Then the snowplow driver came by asking for a donation and I hit him over the head with my shovel. The wife says I have a bad attitude. I think she's a fricking idiot. If I have to watch "It's A Wonderful Life" one more time, I'm going to stuff her into the microwave.
December 26
Still snowed in. Why the hell did I ever move here? It was all HER idea.
She's really getting on my nerves.
December 27
Temperature dropped to -30 and the pipes froze; plumber came after 14 hours of waiting for him, he only charged me $1,400 to replace all my pipes.
December 28
Warmed up to above -20. Still snowed in. The WITCH is driving me crazy!!!
December 29
10 more inches. Bob says I have to shovel the roof or it could cave in. That's the silliest thing I ever heard. How dumb does he think I am?
December 30
Roof caved in. I beat up the snow plow driver, and now he is suing me for a million dollars, not only for the beating I gave him, but also for trying to shove the broken snow shovel up his butt. The wife went home to her mother. Nine more inches predicted.
December 31
I set fire to what's left of the house. No more shoveling.
January 8
Feel so good. I just love those little white pills they keep giving me. Why am I tied to the bed?
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