Feb Fog

Weirdly Warm Winter Weekend

This was a crazy warm weekend, with temps 40 degrees above normal. There's just one thing to do to when it gets that warm...clean the chicken coop! Well, not JUST one thing -- we also  took down the rest of the holiday lights, cut up and hauled wood, cleaned up dog poops, and power washed the patio. 

The sap started running, so we hung some buckets and  boiled down a bit of maple syrup.

 The guineas raced gleefully around the farm.

The chickens played king of the compost pile and scratched around in the  mud.

Jitterbug lounged in the sun atop the  compost pile.

 Oops,  LaFonda wanted to star in that photo.

Luna also soaked up the sun, sprawled across the top step.

Today felt just as warm as yesterday, but it rained all day. By chore time this evening, most of the snow had disappeared and the pasture looked like it  was actually starting to green up!

The farmyard was mostly mud, but the ducks were enjoying it.

The guineas and chickens were  soggy and bedraggled, but  nevertheless chose to be out in the rain all day.

Fog began forming in the prairie and it became quiet and mystical.

We are forecast to have a couple more days of this balmy weather, and then wonter will return Thursday with cold  temps and  possibly a foot of snow.
I think all of us who do not have the luxury of escaping to a warm, sunny getaway are appreciating this respite from winter this year!

Disco, Inferno

Disco Ball delivery

"The Winter of Our Disco Tent"

A cold mid-January night - the perfect time to hold a disco party in the greenhouse!
First, we had to find a disco ball. I ended up ordering one on line (complete with motor for spinning and lights.) It arrived a couple days later and when opened the box, it threw sparkles everywhere!

We created dozens of ice luminaries in balloons (balloominaries!) to line the driveway and path to the greenhouse.

Our farm assistant, Ruth, found us some color-changing stage lighting that enhanced the discotheque experience. Our friends, Laurel, Darin and Pat co-hosted the party, so they took over the food and music. Darin created an awesome dance track! We also had an open stage set, including a parody "Stayin Alive in Minnesota" song and Darin's  soliloquy from Shakespeare's Richard III reading, "Now is the winter of our discontent". 

We invited guests to contribute their spent trees for a Burning of the Christmas Trees.

What a beautiful night--and so much fun! 

My camera was not working that night, so a huge thanks to Ruth for supplying most of these photos and the video clips.

Stayin' Alive in Minnesota (lyrics by R. Nelson)

Well you can tell by the way I blow this snow

It's a great big drift and it's got to go.

Hands are cold, and my woman's warm. We get to together

In a big snowstorm.

And if our pipes start to freeze

We will burn our Christmas trees.

We will try to understand

The windchill factor's effect on man

 

Maybe you’re a skater and you have a radiator

You're stayin' alive, stayin' alive

When the ice is breakin' and everybody shakin'

And we're stayin' alive, stayin' alive

Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive, stayin' alive

Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive.

 

Well now the temp is low and the moon is high

If I wear my parka I might get by.

Cleats of steel on my sorrel boots

I'm a dancin' man and I just can't lose.

You know it's all right. It's OK.

But I'd rather be in San Jose.

We will try to understand

The windchill factor's effect on man

 

Maybe you’re a skater and you have a radiator

You're stayin' alive, stayin' alive

When the ice is breakin' and everybody shakin'

And we're stayin' alive, stayin' alive

Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive, stayin' alive

Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive.

 

I built this snowman. Somebody help me

Somebody help me with the head

I built this snowman, somebody help me with the head

Stayin' alive.

 

Well you can tell by the way I blow this snow

It's a great big drift and it's got to go.

Hands are cold, and my woman's warm. We get to together

In a big snowstorm.

And if our pipes start to freeze

We will burn our Christmas trees.

We will try to understand

The windchill factor's effect on man

 

Wordless Wednesday

Icey, Dicey

Yesterday afternoon, freezing rain began and continued through the night. The roads were so slippery, my car slid past the driveway and down the hill three times before I finally was able to make it in. All evening I watched cars slide backwards and sideways down the slope, and tried to assist one driver getting his pickup out of the ditch (alas, it is still there.)
This morning, we found a huge branch had broken from one of the large maple flanking the barn stage. There may be a bit less shade next summer.

It is amazing we did not lose power--ice covered branches were resting atop the power lines.

Last night chores were quite a challenge--even with  yaxtrax I was slipping and sliding all over the place, as were the chickens and ducks, which would be more amusing if I wasn't so worried about  crashing to the ground.

This morning the ice was a bit softer with a crusty layer of  snow, so it was much easier to get around. After feeding everyone, I went for a walk around the farm with my camera.

The ice is now beginning to melt, but early this morning the wild birds had a hard time landing on the feeder perches. I saw a sparrow try to land on an ice-coated branch and slide down it like a kid on a stairway banister.

Wild cranberries.

Bird nest in a buckthorn.

Somebody walked across the pond --raccoon?

A few days ago I went through all the squashes in the basement "root cellar"and threw a bunch that were deteriorating out into the woods for wildlife. (Don't worry, I used the best parts to make a gigantic pot of squash soup. The cows and chickens got their share, too.)