Making Mud

Enough rain already. Enough!I hate to head out the door these mornings because the footing is getting slicker, the buck is a wimp and won't go out when it rains, and its plain old wet and miserable! Who needs it?OK. That's out of my system, but its all true. We have all sorts of makeshift paths and "bridges" because its so hard to walk and the goats will downright refuse to cross the water or mud.We are not just saturated, ...we are flowing. At least the chickens are having fun digging for worms.

Jock hates the part where we're done and he has to head for the showers. Sorry Jock! But if you want to come inside...

Sometimes You Get What You Wish For - Groundhog Day

VIDEO OF GROUNDHOG DAY HAILSTORM

All our complaining about the cold and snow and this is what we get.

A warming warning! A sure sign of spring is mud, and yesterday's thaw that took us into the mid to high 40's, gave us a taste of it.All the manure that was getting hidden by the daily two inches of snow became exposed.
The underground springs that erupt from our hills started to flow.
Grass appeared in spots. So did the slush. Unfortunately, the puddles started at the barn door, so it took a little coaxing to get a couple of the fussier goats out. Also hampering the task was the high winds that did not allow me to block the door open with the usual rock. At one point the gust was so strong, it was all I could do to hang on to the door with all my weight, so that it didn't smash three goats in the head as they were thinking about stepping in the mud.

Walking through the calf deep, sloppy snow was akin to walking against the surf in soft sand at the beach. Boot sucking work!
Midday I had to drive along the Loyalhanna Creek just as the ice was breaking up and rushing downstream. Huge ice blocks were thrown up onto the causeway access road.

The causeway itself way blocked with ice and submerged in the rising water. I can't imagine what flooding problems we could have had if the freeze didn't return so quickly in the afternoon.

Aside from Punxsutawney Phil not seeing his shadow to predict milder weather in our futures, we have our own predictor at the farm. Egg production. Just a month ago we were counting the zero egg days, but soon enough the count picked up to four this week. Considering we are down to six hens(just lost one a week ago), that is great. There is one other way to know spring is coming - the calendar. If we are patient enough, Spring will be here soon, bringing her sultry friend Summer.

Dreary Damp Day

The kids are usually game to be outside in most weather, and usually the pictures I post of the farm are more pleasant, but not today. Today we have melting slush with frozen rain on top, and a penetrating dampness that sent my camera to the counter for open battery surgery. I though we lost her when she was having hallucinations, but a bit of time and dry air did the trick.

Today I am trying to show you the dirt, cold, damp, and dreariness that is also part of the 365 day bargain.

The animals need to be fed, and the dog wants a long walk in any weather. As a matter of fact, Jock probably prefers this cold weather over the sunny, warm days that I prefer.

Today his walk provided the landscapes of fog, mist and slush.

And we have the mud from the spring development lines. They are settling and so we have been trying to level the areas, especially where there is the most foot travel - animal or human.Its going to be next spring before we can try and seed and get things stabilized. Until then we have to keep removing rocks as they rise up, and redistribute dirt as it sinks.

The goats definitely prefer the drier weather. This is where they will probably be most of today until the precipitation lets up. Not a happy bunch.

But anyone that prefers to stay here, can just enjoy the pictures, and stay cozy.