More frigid

Not the best photo, but I had to go outside and quickly take this shot because the camera lens was frosting over...and so was I without my coat. 

This is the coldest I have seen here. It is a few degrees colder because this is on the back porch where the "sun don't shine" until much later in the day.

Update: Later in the day, about 10:30 am, the back porch had warmed up to almost -10°. Crazy Cyrus decided that was warm enough to go outside and lay down in the sun. Apparently some dogs do actually like the cold. I had to get The Husband to convince him to come back in.

Frigid

The below freezing temperatures are somewhat easier to handle when the views from inside are still beautiful, and the temperatures inside are hovering around 80°.

They are not easy at all for the outside creatures who do not have the luxury of snuggling on the sofa with me. Both roosters are truly suffering from frostbite on their combs, which somehow doesn't seem to affect the hens.

And we are still praying that no goat kids come until after this mighty cold spell has passed.

Snow shark

This is the same view out the living room window as the icy one from last week—with the addition of some extra snow and a shark swimming in the foreground.

This sleeping Cyrus is pretty much the only house creature who enjoys the cold. Even in single digit temps he will ask to go outside and lay down on the porch.

How could you like that more than "your" spot on the sofa? You must have some husky in you, Cy.

The wood stove is my friend. When it's up and running it is too darned hot in here...but that's okay...

Difference of a day

A coat of ice covered all the windows facing south when we woke up today. This was after enough of it had melted that you could actually see through to the backyard.

I am not sure how we could have had all the icy rain last night, and melting ice today, since the temperatures were only in the 20°s. Today looks to be the warmest day of the week—Tuesday has a predicted high of 8° and a low of -8°.

It was cold yesterday too, but at least we had blue skies. The goats weren't really interesting in coming out to pose for me. I had to lure them with some fresh hay.

I am pretty sure all of the ladies in these pictures are pregnant, even little Gracie. We are praying they don't feel like delivering their kids in the midst of this cold spell. Molly, who could barely stand up to come outside, will probably be the first to go. At least I still have plenty of goat coats from last year's cold kids.

Tiny moon and a Woody portrait

It was hard to decide which of these photos to make large. Both have a story.

The sunset picture barely shows the horizontal artwork left by some small planes. I was watching them for quite awhile until I just had to go outside to take some photos. There are at least 6 "contrails?" that you can still see. And a very tiny sliver of a moon.

The second pic is of the ever-prevalent WoodMan. He loves to sit by the woodstove, sometimes so close I don't know how he doesn't get singed.

But the story part is that our friend Julie painted a truly accurate portrait of the WoodMan and his charming personality as a Christmas gift for us.

You too can appreciate it in the photo.

A walk in the woods with Woods on New Year's Eve

The first pic is Woody wishing you a Happy New Year. I'll post the video version on Facebook in the comments.

He wasn't supposed to still be here. They gave him 6 months to live back on March 5 when they found a tumor on his spleen. Since then he has been to his real vet who thinks he still has a way to go.

Way to go, WoodMan.

He took me on a walk today, his choice of direction. We went to a part of the creek where I don't normally go.

Apparently the beavers are back. And they have almost taken down one of my favorite apple trees. It's the only one that gets red apples, and they are high enough that the deer can't easily reach them.

Of course that means I can't easily reach them either, but I think this poor tree won't make it to spring 2022.The second tree is just behind this one. It definitely won't make it to spring.

Wishing you all clear sailing to spring 2022!

Merry Christmas Eve!

I took this photo of the fully decorated tree to show how all my hard work straightening it out paid off. But now that I compare it to the crooked tree photo posted here earlier, I can see it's not much better.

That's OK, it still makes me happy.

I should have taken some pretty snow pictures this morning when it was still pretty. I don't think there will be enough left for a white Christmas tomorrow, but you never know.

We continued our Christmas Eve tradition of visiting with Don on the Hill for his birthday. 83 years old today! Happy Birthday Don!

Creek and goats

Yesterday I finished the lights on the now perfectly straight Christmas tree. While I should have been hanging ornaments on it today, instead I was knee-deep in a cold creek doing this month's water testing for Otsego County Conservation Association.

While I was out walking Woody the other day, a much warmer day than creek-testing day, I caught a photo of a studly Walter Becker standing on his stage with a few of his very pregnant ladies behind him.

I think we are going to have some early kids this year. Which could be a good thing since we did not get electricity in the barns yet. No way to connect the heaters...

 

Christmas preparations

The Christmas cards and tree have arrived in spite of all the delays (you know who you are, Concept Man.)

I spent most of the week writing out the cards with the help of 2 generous cats. Willie likes to sit in the Tiffany's box that holds the cards and envelopes.

Monkey offers much needed emotional support.

The dogs are mourning the loss of their favorite dog bed in the corner where the tree goes. Now they have to choose from their 10 other favorite places to sleep.

I bought a new expensive tree stand last year based on a recommendation from Wirecutter.com. I really wanted it to work and last forever. It didn't.

So I purchased their second 50% cheaper recommendation for this year. I think it will probably work out just fine, but it still took 2 humans 2 days to get the biggest fattest tree ever to stand up straight.

Nothing is ever easy.

Decorations to follow. 

Ho Ho Ho.

Mother Nature is an artist

Calling on all science-minded folks to explain this one!

Yesterday, I was sitting just inside that bank of windows (they called it a 5-gang) where I do my morning tea drinking and bird watching, and I saw what looked like a white bird (probably not) or maybe a plastic water bottle, stuck in the copper bird bath.

Sadly, I waited too long to investigate. The sun reduced it by about half its size before I went out for a closer look. 

My little bird bath somehow created this little sculpture all by itself. It was windy the day and night before, so I am thinking Mother Nature had a hand in it as well.

I was discussing with a friend who thinks this sort of 3-sided vase-like thing is a dreidel.

I am in awe.

In the spirit of the season

So I was trying to get some catalog Christmas shopping done, but no, my 2 helpers are insisting that I toss the catalogs and shop local. So be it.

Getting the Christmas cards to the (local) printer was an equally frustrating task. The Husband likes to keep the design process going until the very last minute. Even my threats served no purpose. The cards were sent on Tuesday, but are still not ready to pick up. And the printer is near the tree farm where we get our Christmas tree every year, so the tree is on hold as well.

Then we have UPS. I have been battling with them for the past 3 years. For whatever reason, the Yuletide drivers are afraid to come down our long driveway. 

Last year we put a large plastic dog crate at the end of the driveway so they could leave the packages there. The guy that plows our driveway destroyed the crate.

This year they hung an early present, a laptop, from a very thin branch of one of the maple trees. Broke the branch, and it was pretty much sitting on the ground.

Seriously, if my chickens on their short little legs can make it down the driveway, so can you in your big honking truck!

All festive from here on in. I am done with my Christmas rant.