Skating Through Chores

Our farmyard is a 2-acre skating rink. I left for Superior, WI,  early Sunday morning  just before the freezing rain started and drove back last night just as freezing rain was starting in Duluth. The drive home was a bit slow, through sleet, rain, and dense fog, but the roads weren't bad until I arrived in our own driveway.

I think Rog was a bit happy I got home a couple days early so he didn't have to do chores today. Together we slip-slid the garbage and recycling bins down the driveway to the road for collection, then he headed out for work and I tackled chores.

Our farm is at the crest of a slight hill, so it is a downhill slide to the barn, coop and loafing shed to tend the critters.

My greatest concern is for the cows. They can't get much purchase on the ice with those little hooves. I worry that they will slip and wrench a leg out of joint. I wish there were yaktrax for cows.

The chickens, duck and goose have been sliding all over the place, too.  On the bright side,  it is easy to peck up all the chicken feed and grain when it is scattered on top of the hard ice.

The ice is thick and smooth enough that you actually could ice skate on it! Maybe I will try it later today, if I can find my skates. I haven't used them for decades but I think I still have a pair somewhere...

It is raining lightly now, but temperature is forecast to drop and then we will get snow. The only thing more treacherous than a thick layer of ice is ice covered with a light layer of snow. I  hope we get  substantial melting before the cold hits.