No, we didn't get snow last night. These are pics from our light snow back in November. But, we have experienced some pretty cold days over the past week. And, we spent one of those days fence building.
In fact, last week when we were putting the finishing touches on that quarter-mile stretch of fence it was just plain A$$ COLD. Please excuse the language. This is not a euphemism. "A$$ Cold" is a term used here at Brood Farm to mean "weather too cold in which to drop your pants to pee." Classy, right?
This lovely term originated a few months back when John and I were working on a more remote part of the farm on a VERY cold day with even colder wind. John noticed that I was starting to get cranky and pointed out that I'm usually pretty tough about cold weather. I revealed to him that my coffee had worked its way through me but that the mere thought of taking a farm-style pee right there in the field was making me pretty cranky. He paused his work for a minute, looked at me pretty intently and proclaimed: "You're right. It's A$$ COLD out here. Let's drive back up to the house."
Winter farming is not for the weak spirited. The animals have to be cared for no matter what Mother Nature hurls at us.
I remember a time in my life when a rainy day meant nothing more than that I needed to grab an umbrella on my way out the door. Now, waking up to a rainy morning, means a different get-up for farm chores. It means we need a towel to dry off the seats of the Ranger and that we'd better drive it forward before throwing it into reverse unless we want a lap full of water.
And, of course, "cold" used to just be "cold." Now, there's a REALLY big difference between waking up to a 28-degree morning and waking up to a 34-degree morning. 28 degrees means the hoses are frozen and that water has to be hauled from the barn down to the field for the chickens. It means that the goats' water has to be "broken up" and that the chicks will need new water even if their waterer is full because it'll be a solid chunk of ice. And, if the temps stay well below freezing throughout the day, eggs need to gathered every few hours to keep them from freezing and cracking.
Even on the coldest days, I'm thankful for the fresh air that being outside provides. It clears my head and refreshes my spirit. But on A$$ Cold days, I sure am thankful for a warm home to huddle up in when the chores are through!
