Now to keep the cat from snacking on my baby greens.
Monday, January 29, 2018
Post Thaw
Temperatures soared into the high forties this weekend, which meant a lot of melting. Unfortunately, everything was a block of ice beforehand, so it just turned wet and now it's freezing back up. Can't seem to catch a break these days. I'm a little surprised at the effect this thaw has had on me. I like winter. I love snow shoeing, I love cross country skiing, I love the way the sun lights up a snow covered field, so why am I so ready for winter to be over before it's really begun? It seems that each winter has become more of a chore than a welcomed distraction, and I can't help but wonder if the season has changed, or am I just getting old and even more cranky? At any rate, I am so ready for April.
Photos before the thaw.
The last storm was pretty gross; about 2" of snow and then a day of sleet and freezing rain. The weight of the slop brought down a massive limb off one of the pines near the main paddock. I came home to find the run in shed entrance completely blocked by one limb the size of a small tree, and three limbs laying on the run in shed roof. Some of the pipe panels were bent and one had a weld let go. Thank goodness for a very kind neighbor with a chainsaw, because it was much too heavy and large for me to simply move. The mules were thankfully unscathed, but cold, wet, and on edge.
Yeah, I've had enough.
Photos before the thaw.
The last storm was pretty gross; about 2" of snow and then a day of sleet and freezing rain. The weight of the slop brought down a massive limb off one of the pines near the main paddock. I came home to find the run in shed entrance completely blocked by one limb the size of a small tree, and three limbs laying on the run in shed roof. Some of the pipe panels were bent and one had a weld let go. Thank goodness for a very kind neighbor with a chainsaw, because it was much too heavy and large for me to simply move. The mules were thankfully unscathed, but cold, wet, and on edge.
Yeah, I've had enough.
Friday, January 26, 2018
A Little Life
The winter blahs are beginning to set in, so time for some green therapy. A few weeks ago I brought down my standing grow light and set it up for some of my struggling house plants. It wasn't long before I was itching to start some seeds. Typically I start strong, and my interest peters out very quickly. I honestly have more of a black thumb than a green one, but it doesn't slow me down. So here goes the first attempt of 2018!
This is a fairly simple seed starting venture. I've washed out a plastic container that contained mixed salad greens. It's a perfect little greenhouse! I've filled it with generic potting soil and let it sit for a few days to come to room temperature (the soil was out in my barn and very cold).
Today I scored big time at a local hardware store. They had a basket of seeds that were packaged for 2017 that didn't sell, so they were ten cents per package. I spent one healthy dollar and came home with two packs of arugula, two packs of salad mix, a pack of spinach, a pack of mustard greens, basil, summer squash, and two packs of pumpkin seeds. Not a bad haul! I mixed a package of arugula, salad mix, and the mustard greens and sprinkled them into the container, reserving some for a second round in a few weeks.
I've used this method in the past, and it works really well. Spritz some water on the soil, close the top, seeds sprout, and once they're growing well remove the cover and use that as a base. The only hard part is keeping my seedling eating cat from decimating the greens before I get the chance to harvest them.
This is a fairly simple seed starting venture. I've washed out a plastic container that contained mixed salad greens. It's a perfect little greenhouse! I've filled it with generic potting soil and let it sit for a few days to come to room temperature (the soil was out in my barn and very cold).
Today I scored big time at a local hardware store. They had a basket of seeds that were packaged for 2017 that didn't sell, so they were ten cents per package. I spent one healthy dollar and came home with two packs of arugula, two packs of salad mix, a pack of spinach, a pack of mustard greens, basil, summer squash, and two packs of pumpkin seeds. Not a bad haul! I mixed a package of arugula, salad mix, and the mustard greens and sprinkled them into the container, reserving some for a second round in a few weeks.
I've used this method in the past, and it works really well. Spritz some water on the soil, close the top, seeds sprout, and once they're growing well remove the cover and use that as a base. The only hard part is keeping my seedling eating cat from decimating the greens before I get the chance to harvest them.
Saturday, January 20, 2018
Sky Watching
I never really paid attention to the sky until I acquired my first digital camera. I received it as a birthday gift and suddenly everything was so much more vivid, more intriguing, more gasp-worthy. Colors, textures, patterns...I started to notice these amazing things in nature more often, because I saw them as potential photographs. Clouds in particular. I love noticing something I've never witnessed before, like the first time I really saw a mackerel sky. I'd probably noticed them dozens of times, but I'd never really seen them. Anyway, today was one of those times.
It looked as if the sky had been torn open, then stitched back together. Isn't it beautiful? If I were a better photographer, or had the editing skills to really bring this out, you would be able to see what I saw standing under it this morning. This is the kind of stuff that makes a tic mark in the "reasons I'm glad to be alive" column of life.
It looked as if the sky had been torn open, then stitched back together. Isn't it beautiful? If I were a better photographer, or had the editing skills to really bring this out, you would be able to see what I saw standing under it this morning. This is the kind of stuff that makes a tic mark in the "reasons I'm glad to be alive" column of life.
Monday, January 15, 2018
Things That Make Me Happy
Yesterday I was headed out to feed the mules their supper and realized it was nearly a quarter to five and it was still light enough to see my hand in front of my face. Yessssss!
We lost a ton of snow to the rain, but it did lower the snowbanks enough so I could take the Christmas swag down off the fence. The mule paddock is a massive block of ice, but I sanded it enough so the boys can move around.
I had a little issue with the snow blower last week, too. I took it out to do some cleanup only to discover that both tires had gone flat, and being tubeless, they were half off the rims. After a bit of a struggle I was able to get one tire off and take it to a local garage to have it reseated. A few days later the other tire thawed enough that I was finally able to take it off the axle, but I had searched YouTube and discovered I could fix it myself. If you do a quick search, you'll see that all you need to do is use a rope or ratchet strap to help reseat the tire. I wrapped a ratchet strap around the center of the tire and tightened it so the edge of the tire was behind the edge of the rim, then began to inflate it. I wasn't quick enough to remove the strap and it kind of popped off, luckily and surprisingly not injuring me in the process. If you watch how-to videos, it's actually pretty easy. New skill learned! And my snow blower is back in service just in time for the next storm. Oh yeah - good idea to grease that axle when you put the tires back on.
Speaking of tips and tricks, I was filling water jugs the other night and realized my faucet set up is pretty kewl. Instead of struggling to fill water jugs in the bathtub (tall jugs+short faucet=half filled jugs and sore back from being bent at a weird angle) I fill them at the kitchen sink. In the winter you can't generally use outside faucets up here (I don't have any of those, actually), and right now I'm avoiding using my livestock hydrant because of the extreme cold weather. So for less than $10 I was able to set up my kitchen sink as a water station. All it took was a faucet-to-hose connector that can be purchased at any hardware store, and a short hose. I removed the aerator at the end of the faucet, put on the connector, and voilà! I can hook up a hose or my little roll-out washing machine to my faucet. And the aerator fits right back on the connector, so I'm always ready to roll. I bought a four foot leader hose on Amazon for short money and now filling water jugs is a breeze. Behold:
The connector also came in handy when my mixing valve in the shower blew. I was able to run a garden hose from my sink through the house to the bathroom and take a shower of sorts. Whatever works, amirite?
We lost a ton of snow to the rain, but it did lower the snowbanks enough so I could take the Christmas swag down off the fence. The mule paddock is a massive block of ice, but I sanded it enough so the boys can move around.
I had a little issue with the snow blower last week, too. I took it out to do some cleanup only to discover that both tires had gone flat, and being tubeless, they were half off the rims. After a bit of a struggle I was able to get one tire off and take it to a local garage to have it reseated. A few days later the other tire thawed enough that I was finally able to take it off the axle, but I had searched YouTube and discovered I could fix it myself. If you do a quick search, you'll see that all you need to do is use a rope or ratchet strap to help reseat the tire. I wrapped a ratchet strap around the center of the tire and tightened it so the edge of the tire was behind the edge of the rim, then began to inflate it. I wasn't quick enough to remove the strap and it kind of popped off, luckily and surprisingly not injuring me in the process. If you watch how-to videos, it's actually pretty easy. New skill learned! And my snow blower is back in service just in time for the next storm. Oh yeah - good idea to grease that axle when you put the tires back on.
Speaking of tips and tricks, I was filling water jugs the other night and realized my faucet set up is pretty kewl. Instead of struggling to fill water jugs in the bathtub (tall jugs+short faucet=half filled jugs and sore back from being bent at a weird angle) I fill them at the kitchen sink. In the winter you can't generally use outside faucets up here (I don't have any of those, actually), and right now I'm avoiding using my livestock hydrant because of the extreme cold weather. So for less than $10 I was able to set up my kitchen sink as a water station. All it took was a faucet-to-hose connector that can be purchased at any hardware store, and a short hose. I removed the aerator at the end of the faucet, put on the connector, and voilà! I can hook up a hose or my little roll-out washing machine to my faucet. And the aerator fits right back on the connector, so I'm always ready to roll. I bought a four foot leader hose on Amazon for short money and now filling water jugs is a breeze. Behold:
The connector also came in handy when my mixing valve in the shower blew. I was able to run a garden hose from my sink through the house to the bathroom and take a shower of sorts. Whatever works, amirite?
Saturday, January 13, 2018
The More Things Change...
I found a photo from last year and had to laugh. At that point I was lamenting the warm up, rain, freeze up pattern of weather we were in. Hmmmm...a driveway of solid ice? Yes, indeed.
1/12/17
1/12/18
Well now.
Next on the horizon? A two day snowfall that may replenish our snow pack, perhaps over a foot of white stuff between Wednesday and Thursday. Thankfully it's looking like there won't be freezing temperatures or high winds along with this system. I haven't been out yet today, but I'm sure after the hours of rain last night there's even less snow this morning. We should drop nearly 40 degrees between now and dinnertime, but as of 5am I had a reading of 50*F. Things are going to freeze solid, so I'll be spending some time chiseling channels in the ice to divert surface water and laying down traction sand. Beats cleaning house any day!
1/12/17
1/12/18
Well now.
Next on the horizon? A two day snowfall that may replenish our snow pack, perhaps over a foot of white stuff between Wednesday and Thursday. Thankfully it's looking like there won't be freezing temperatures or high winds along with this system. I haven't been out yet today, but I'm sure after the hours of rain last night there's even less snow this morning. We should drop nearly 40 degrees between now and dinnertime, but as of 5am I had a reading of 50*F. Things are going to freeze solid, so I'll be spending some time chiseling channels in the ice to divert surface water and laying down traction sand. Beats cleaning house any day!
Thursday, January 11, 2018
Thaw Is a Four Letter Word
We've finally managed to pull an honest-to-Christ January thaw out of the ether. It was damned near fifty degrees today! The downside? We's a-gettin' rain, and I mean RAIN. The local news channels have been trying their best to hammer home the fact that snow, when soaked with rain, increases its weight like eight trillion percent, and if your roof isn't shoveled, well...good luck. Clear storm drains, chisel out mini channels to divert melt and rain, inflate your emergency rafts, and start hoarding your bread and milk. Friday will be torrential rains, then Saturday will be the two in this one-two punch with a serious temperature drop and a slick coating of ice on everything. Funny enough, I found a couple different weather journals I'd started and never finished, and this is all very familiar. Seems every other winter is pretty much like this, so in essence it's just a regular day in our neighborhood. I grabbed a couple more bags of sand, so I'm good for now.
In the meantime I've been staving off the winter blues by getting in some green therapy. I brought down my grow light and set it up over the water plants I am desperately trying to keep alive. I think I will try them in an aquarium next year, but for now it's plastic buckets and half dead plants. I also started some seeds I harvested from my butterfly weed plant (Asclepias tuberosa), and put my first celery stump in water. Each year I take the hearts from celery and toss them into cups of water to root. By spring I'll have six or eight plants ready for the garden. The stalks never get very thick or as tall as it is when you buy it at the grocery store, but the flavor is fantastic. I haven't had any bugs really bother it, either, which is nice. These are some from last spring:
Is it cheating? Yup. Do I care? Nope.
It may not be home grown organic yadda yadda pretentious blah blah, but it's damned good celery and we have a friggin' short growing season - beggars can't be choosers.
I still haven't settled on a plan with the gardens for this summer. I built a new raised bed and now I just don't know where to put anything. Plus my brother gave me some nifty gadgets for cukes and tomatoes that I'm looking forward to using, but they don't fit my current containers or beds so everything needs to be shifted around. This may be a good thing, because rotation is great for the soil.
In this picture, you can see the celery in the brick bed on the left.
Historically I've grown cukes in the stock tank to the right, flanked by beefsteak tomatoes in containers, herbs in the small stock tank at the base of the arch, Roma tomatoes in the brick bed nearest the house, which is flanked by tin washtubs in which I grow my sugar snap peas. I have other containers scattered around the yard for peppers, radish, more herbs, and whatever. I also like to plop veggies into my perennial beds just because.
Well, I do have nearly four and a half months before I can even plant outside, so plenty of time to decide what will go where. *rubs hands together gleefully*
In the meantime I've been staving off the winter blues by getting in some green therapy. I brought down my grow light and set it up over the water plants I am desperately trying to keep alive. I think I will try them in an aquarium next year, but for now it's plastic buckets and half dead plants. I also started some seeds I harvested from my butterfly weed plant (Asclepias tuberosa), and put my first celery stump in water. Each year I take the hearts from celery and toss them into cups of water to root. By spring I'll have six or eight plants ready for the garden. The stalks never get very thick or as tall as it is when you buy it at the grocery store, but the flavor is fantastic. I haven't had any bugs really bother it, either, which is nice. These are some from last spring:
It may not be home grown organic yadda yadda pretentious blah blah, but it's damned good celery and we have a friggin' short growing season - beggars can't be choosers.
I still haven't settled on a plan with the gardens for this summer. I built a new raised bed and now I just don't know where to put anything. Plus my brother gave me some nifty gadgets for cukes and tomatoes that I'm looking forward to using, but they don't fit my current containers or beds so everything needs to be shifted around. This may be a good thing, because rotation is great for the soil.
In this picture, you can see the celery in the brick bed on the left.
Historically I've grown cukes in the stock tank to the right, flanked by beefsteak tomatoes in containers, herbs in the small stock tank at the base of the arch, Roma tomatoes in the brick bed nearest the house, which is flanked by tin washtubs in which I grow my sugar snap peas. I have other containers scattered around the yard for peppers, radish, more herbs, and whatever. I also like to plop veggies into my perennial beds just because.
Well, I do have nearly four and a half months before I can even plant outside, so plenty of time to decide what will go where. *rubs hands together gleefully*
Saturday, January 6, 2018
Almost forgot...
Post storm:
Not really an epic amount of snow, but everything looks fresh and clean.
Not really an epic amount of snow, but everything looks fresh and clean.
Current Mood: Cranky
We survived! It wasn't much different from any other blizzard up here in my neck of the woods, but the wind may have been a little more intense than normal. We ended up with about 12-14" of snow; hard to accurately measure with the blowing and drifting, but I went out to shovel three times and that's my best guesstimation. Amazingly, the power only flickered once. Let's hear it for light, fluffy snow, huh? So, what's next? Well...
How does that grab ya?
These are the temperatures and wind chills we'll be dealing with until around noon on Sunday, when we should finally get above zero. The good news? A thaw is a-comin'! We just need to get through the next 48 hours. *hunkers down and waits*
Thursday, January 4, 2018
Bombogenesis 2: Preparation
I thought I would share a few of my typical preparations for getting through winter storms, and winter in general. Living alone and in a rural area, it can be a challenge, but I've found the following to be helpful.
1. Water - I purchased relatively inexpensive 6 gallon water jugs that I fill before a storm hits. This water is for the animals, flushing the toilet, and miscellaneous use. For drinking water, I have multiple pitchers that I fill with filtered water and keep refrigerated. Don't forget to leave faucets dripping during bitter cold spells to keep pipes from freezing.
2. Fresh batteries - I have multiple flashlights scattered throughout the house. Some are just key chain sized, but they still do the trick in the pitch black. I like to carry one in my pocket during the evening so I'm not caught off guard should the lights go out. Since daylight is scarce this time of year, I have a headlamp I wear when I do morning and evening barn chores, and that makes it easy to function without having to balance a flashlight. I usually buy batteries in bulk so I have them at the ready. Remember not to store batteries loose in a drawer; there have been multiple house fires that started from batteries bumping up against each other and sparking a fire. I also have motion activated battery operated spotlights in key locations, like the room between the main house and the barn, and outside where I need to shovel or snow blow.
3. Fire Wood - Since I don't have a generator for back up power, I rely on my wood stove for heat. I make sure to fill the wood box before a storm, and I'm lucky enough to be able to keep my firewood stacked in my barn, so I'm not having to dig it out when I run low. I have had to do that in the past, in which case covering the wood pile with a couple tarps makes cleaning off snow and keeping wood dry much easier. In the past few years I've come to rely on those compressed wood fuel blocks for bitter cold nights or days when I'll be away from the house. I use the three pack blocks available at Tractor Supply (and sometimes Lowe's) as I've found they burn slower than the smaller blocks that come in six packs. My wood stove is relatively small, but I can manage five or six big blocks in the stove, turn it down, and it will keep the house warm for about six hours. In comparison, I can load the stove with firewood and within three hours it's needing to be stoked again.
4. Hay - Anyone with equines knows the key to keeping them warm is providing lots of fiber in the form of good quality hay. Grain is ok, but being low fiber it doesn't digest the same as hay, and it's that digestive process that helps maintain body temperature. I rarely increase grain rations (the mules don't get much, to begin with), but I load the boys up on hay during cold snaps. I'm lucky enough to have a large hay loft above my barn, so I only buy hay once a year, and I always figure in at least 15-20 wasted bales to my total purchased between bad bales and overfeeding during winter. I like to have at least a dozen bales down in the main barn so I don't have to worry about moving any during or shortly after the storm. I worry about colic in the winter more than any other time. Because I'm increasing their hay, and because they can react to different extreme weather changes, I feed a warm soupy mash all winter long. It's a way of getting water into them if they're not drinking, though they do have a heated water bucket. I can crumble Probios soft chews into their mash at feed time to give them a little boost, too.
5. Large bowls - Wait, whut? People who live in cold climates will often move perishable foods to unheated rooms or outside in coolers if the power goes out for long periods. I discovered that filling large bowls with snow and placing them inside the refrigerator actually works just as well. You have to stay on top of them, because the snow will melt and needs to be refilled multiple times, but it sure beats having to go outside to retrieve your milk or eggs, and food is less likely to freeze solid.
6. Oil - I do have a furnace, and I try to fill my oil barrel in August when the price is relatively low. This past cold snap has really used up a lot of oil just keeping the house around 64*, and that's with the wood stove going at the same time. If you rely on an oil furnace or propane heater, be sure you have enough fuel to get through a storm. I try not to run low or out of oil, but sometimes it happens. I like to put a reminder on my phone to check the oil level at least every two to three weeks so I'm not caught off guard. I also generally keep the thermostat set to 59* to use as little fuel as possible and stretch a barrel of oil out as long as I can. Of course, when it gets colder than the twenties, I have to turn it up.
7. Snow blower - I like to run my snow blower at least a month before snow falls to ensure it will start up, run, and function as needed. Check the oil and the tire pressure, and have it serviced at the end of the season if possible so you're ready to go for next winter. It doesn't hurt to be prepared long before you need to be.
8. Shovels - I have to shake my head every time there's a storm and hardware stores run out of shovels. What the heck do people do with them, throw them out every summer thinking they'll never need them again? I've had the same shovel for ages! I actually have three different shovels for different types of snow. A deep metal manure shovel is great for hard packed snow, but not wet snow so much. A lightweight plastic snow shovel is great for most types of snow and doesn't tire my arms out as quickly as the heavy duty shovels. I also have a snow scoop/pusher for large areas, like the mule paddock. It can be a chore to move a lot of snow with that one, so I like to get out a couple times during big storms.
9. Sand - Since I will use it around the mules and my wellhead, I like to use mainly traction sand with no salt in it. Play sand will work, too, but washed sand is useless. I have buckets filled with sand at the back door, the barn door, and the mule shed door so I don't have to lug heavy buckets around. I try to get those in place before Thanksgiving so I'm ready for icy conditions. I rarely use ice melt but I do have some on hand. I think I've been working on the same 4 pound bag for nearly six years.
10. Gas - I try to top off the gas tank in my vehicle before a storm. There's no reason other than I've been caught having to fill up during a blizzard, and standing at a gas pump in the weather just sucks. I also try to keep two 5 gallon jugs of gas on hand for the snow blower or my vehicle if I do run short.
11. Propane - I will never not have a gas stove. I can still boil water and cook when the power goes out. The propane tank gets filled in August and I don't have to think about it until spring. For that reason, and to start the wood stove, keep some matches on hand, too. I prefer those long lighters because it keeps me well away from the flame. I'm not very good with fire.
12. Snacks - Hey, it's going to be a long storm. Might as well enjoy it, right?
1. Water - I purchased relatively inexpensive 6 gallon water jugs that I fill before a storm hits. This water is for the animals, flushing the toilet, and miscellaneous use. For drinking water, I have multiple pitchers that I fill with filtered water and keep refrigerated. Don't forget to leave faucets dripping during bitter cold spells to keep pipes from freezing.
2. Fresh batteries - I have multiple flashlights scattered throughout the house. Some are just key chain sized, but they still do the trick in the pitch black. I like to carry one in my pocket during the evening so I'm not caught off guard should the lights go out. Since daylight is scarce this time of year, I have a headlamp I wear when I do morning and evening barn chores, and that makes it easy to function without having to balance a flashlight. I usually buy batteries in bulk so I have them at the ready. Remember not to store batteries loose in a drawer; there have been multiple house fires that started from batteries bumping up against each other and sparking a fire. I also have motion activated battery operated spotlights in key locations, like the room between the main house and the barn, and outside where I need to shovel or snow blow.
3. Fire Wood - Since I don't have a generator for back up power, I rely on my wood stove for heat. I make sure to fill the wood box before a storm, and I'm lucky enough to be able to keep my firewood stacked in my barn, so I'm not having to dig it out when I run low. I have had to do that in the past, in which case covering the wood pile with a couple tarps makes cleaning off snow and keeping wood dry much easier. In the past few years I've come to rely on those compressed wood fuel blocks for bitter cold nights or days when I'll be away from the house. I use the three pack blocks available at Tractor Supply (and sometimes Lowe's) as I've found they burn slower than the smaller blocks that come in six packs. My wood stove is relatively small, but I can manage five or six big blocks in the stove, turn it down, and it will keep the house warm for about six hours. In comparison, I can load the stove with firewood and within three hours it's needing to be stoked again.
4. Hay - Anyone with equines knows the key to keeping them warm is providing lots of fiber in the form of good quality hay. Grain is ok, but being low fiber it doesn't digest the same as hay, and it's that digestive process that helps maintain body temperature. I rarely increase grain rations (the mules don't get much, to begin with), but I load the boys up on hay during cold snaps. I'm lucky enough to have a large hay loft above my barn, so I only buy hay once a year, and I always figure in at least 15-20 wasted bales to my total purchased between bad bales and overfeeding during winter. I like to have at least a dozen bales down in the main barn so I don't have to worry about moving any during or shortly after the storm. I worry about colic in the winter more than any other time. Because I'm increasing their hay, and because they can react to different extreme weather changes, I feed a warm soupy mash all winter long. It's a way of getting water into them if they're not drinking, though they do have a heated water bucket. I can crumble Probios soft chews into their mash at feed time to give them a little boost, too.
5. Large bowls - Wait, whut? People who live in cold climates will often move perishable foods to unheated rooms or outside in coolers if the power goes out for long periods. I discovered that filling large bowls with snow and placing them inside the refrigerator actually works just as well. You have to stay on top of them, because the snow will melt and needs to be refilled multiple times, but it sure beats having to go outside to retrieve your milk or eggs, and food is less likely to freeze solid.
6. Oil - I do have a furnace, and I try to fill my oil barrel in August when the price is relatively low. This past cold snap has really used up a lot of oil just keeping the house around 64*, and that's with the wood stove going at the same time. If you rely on an oil furnace or propane heater, be sure you have enough fuel to get through a storm. I try not to run low or out of oil, but sometimes it happens. I like to put a reminder on my phone to check the oil level at least every two to three weeks so I'm not caught off guard. I also generally keep the thermostat set to 59* to use as little fuel as possible and stretch a barrel of oil out as long as I can. Of course, when it gets colder than the twenties, I have to turn it up.
7. Snow blower - I like to run my snow blower at least a month before snow falls to ensure it will start up, run, and function as needed. Check the oil and the tire pressure, and have it serviced at the end of the season if possible so you're ready to go for next winter. It doesn't hurt to be prepared long before you need to be.
8. Shovels - I have to shake my head every time there's a storm and hardware stores run out of shovels. What the heck do people do with them, throw them out every summer thinking they'll never need them again? I've had the same shovel for ages! I actually have three different shovels for different types of snow. A deep metal manure shovel is great for hard packed snow, but not wet snow so much. A lightweight plastic snow shovel is great for most types of snow and doesn't tire my arms out as quickly as the heavy duty shovels. I also have a snow scoop/pusher for large areas, like the mule paddock. It can be a chore to move a lot of snow with that one, so I like to get out a couple times during big storms.
9. Sand - Since I will use it around the mules and my wellhead, I like to use mainly traction sand with no salt in it. Play sand will work, too, but washed sand is useless. I have buckets filled with sand at the back door, the barn door, and the mule shed door so I don't have to lug heavy buckets around. I try to get those in place before Thanksgiving so I'm ready for icy conditions. I rarely use ice melt but I do have some on hand. I think I've been working on the same 4 pound bag for nearly six years.
10. Gas - I try to top off the gas tank in my vehicle before a storm. There's no reason other than I've been caught having to fill up during a blizzard, and standing at a gas pump in the weather just sucks. I also try to keep two 5 gallon jugs of gas on hand for the snow blower or my vehicle if I do run short.
11. Propane - I will never not have a gas stove. I can still boil water and cook when the power goes out. The propane tank gets filled in August and I don't have to think about it until spring. For that reason, and to start the wood stove, keep some matches on hand, too. I prefer those long lighters because it keeps me well away from the flame. I'm not very good with fire.
12. Snacks - Hey, it's going to be a long storm. Might as well enjoy it, right?
Bombogenesis Is My Least Favorite Thing
Hello, 2018! Let's celebrate by having the East Coast hammered by a blizzard with hurricane force winds, ok? OK!
Ugh.
I've been making myself sick following about a dozen different professional and amateur meteorologists gleefully tracking this storm from its infancy. By yesterday, I was a complete ball of anxiety.
Snow isn't bothersome, but the raging winds and sub zero temperatures are. I don't worry so much about myself, but having outdoor animals who can't be enclosed through this mess makes me want to vomit with worry. I've done my best; last night I screwed a couple pieces of scrap plywood to the front of the run in shed to help block the winds. I was surprised this morning to find them still there, as I fully expected the mules to have them mostly eaten. Mules are the hybrid offspring of a horse and a donkey, but I'm telling you, they're actually 1/3 horse, 1/3 donkey, and 1/3 beaver.
Last night I raked up all the waste hay and mixed it in with the shavings inside the shed to make a nice, thick bed. There are four piles of new hay along the walls for eating, and I've moved the water bucket from the doorway to the back of the shed. I admit, all this only serves to make ME feel good, because those mules will stand up in the back corner of the paddock in the weather until the snow stops. Makes me crazy.
The snow started coming down around 7:00 this morning, and now at 9:30 it's coming down at a good clip.
(pre-snow)
Water jugs are filled, wood box is filled, electronics are charged, and shovels are sharpened. I'm not happy about any of this, but what can you do?
Well...I can bitch about it. 😁
Ugh.
I've been making myself sick following about a dozen different professional and amateur meteorologists gleefully tracking this storm from its infancy. By yesterday, I was a complete ball of anxiety.
Snow isn't bothersome, but the raging winds and sub zero temperatures are. I don't worry so much about myself, but having outdoor animals who can't be enclosed through this mess makes me want to vomit with worry. I've done my best; last night I screwed a couple pieces of scrap plywood to the front of the run in shed to help block the winds. I was surprised this morning to find them still there, as I fully expected the mules to have them mostly eaten. Mules are the hybrid offspring of a horse and a donkey, but I'm telling you, they're actually 1/3 horse, 1/3 donkey, and 1/3 beaver.
Last night I raked up all the waste hay and mixed it in with the shavings inside the shed to make a nice, thick bed. There are four piles of new hay along the walls for eating, and I've moved the water bucket from the doorway to the back of the shed. I admit, all this only serves to make ME feel good, because those mules will stand up in the back corner of the paddock in the weather until the snow stops. Makes me crazy.
The snow started coming down around 7:00 this morning, and now at 9:30 it's coming down at a good clip.
(pre-snow)
Water jugs are filled, wood box is filled, electronics are charged, and shovels are sharpened. I'm not happy about any of this, but what can you do?
Well...I can bitch about it. 😁
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