Baby, we were born to run

The scurs and their Weather Eye foresaw a change in our temps and not for the better. Is Old Man Winter tightening his icy grip or does he relax a spell? Starting Thursday, partly sunny with highs around 10 above with lows around -20. Partly sunny Friday with a slight chance of overnight snow. Highs around -10 with lows near -20. Partly sunny on Saturday with highs around -10 and lows near -15. Sunday, mostly cloudy with highs near 10 above and lows near zero. Mostly cloudy Monday with highs around 10 above and lows near zero. Tuesday, mostly cloudy with highs in the low teens and lows around 0. Mostly sunny on Wednesday with highs around 10 above and lows around 0. On the 22nd we see our daylight hours increasing to 9 hours and 30 minutes, having gained roughly 36 minutes since the winter solstice. The normal high for January 21st is 21 and the normal low is 4. The scurs are seeing the bottom of those seemingly bottomless Christmas goodie plates.

 

This past week turned into winter again. Not that we didn't expect it, but we were hoping. Some snow on top of the ice didn't hurt too many feelings as there was a dearth of anything to get a grip on. Grit was applied only to have it melt into the surface of the ice once it thawed again. Rinse and repeat. It appears we're in for the coldest stretch of the winter. The cold is still annoying just the same. November and December had their moments, but overall weren't too terrible. The past couple winters we had smooth sailing for lengthy spells with a few cold days tossed in to see if we were paying attention. When we look back on the temperature data, last January was about normal and February wound up several degrees below normal. Our snowfall is lagging so far this January, but that can catch up quickly with just one storm. It could become one of those winters where, once it warms up, snow may follow. Stay tuned.

While cooped up inside much of the day, at least watching the birds passes the time. Keeping the feeders filled during the depths of the cold weather gets to be a workout. There are a dozen feeding stations, not counting the ear corn feeder for the pheasants. The total includes four thistle feeders, four suet feeders and four sunflower feeders. It makes it a little easier to stagger the refills, especially when it gets extremely cold. After chores the urgency to get in the house where it's warm and stay there becomes the guiding factor. The cooler weather had brought a lot more goldfinches to the yard. The cardinals are back as well, although they're most frequently seen once the sun is down.

 

Most times they're under the lantern feeder, cleaning up before the bunnies take the night shift.

 

The New Year's alien has been a formidable opponent so far. I can honestly say I never remember coughing as much as I have this time around. Early last week was tough, although managed with some analgesics. The fever was controllable at least until the dosage started to wear off. Then it was game on again. We both still have lingering coughing fits as we try to dislodge the gunk deposited in our lungs. The worst thing is probably the lack of energy. It doesn't help matters that it's so cold outside. It's tough to get excited about going out into it again when you're already there. Crawling under a blanket to warm up is about as much ambition as one can muster once back inside after chores.

 

And speaking of chores, they're always there twice a day, like it or not. We're coming up on primetime for lambing within the next several weeks, although they've held off during the coldest stretch so far. It's not bad when the brood ewes can be fed round bales and grain outside. Some have asked if they consume more feed during the coldest weather and they definitely do, particularly hay. That's fine as we have plenty and in fact we still have one bale left from two years ago before we start on this last summer's crop. Even the two-year old hay has kept relatively well, judging by how completely the ewes finish the bales off. If the feeders are kept operating as they should, there is very little left before it's time to put another one in the lot.

 

Poppy has been cooped up inside for much of the recent cold snap. Those small Corgi feet get cold pretty fast, so it's potty time, sniff around to see where her little buddies have been, then back in the house. There is opportunity to get outside for exercise, however, if one can get the sliding glass door thawed out. That becomes a "must do" if you're home alone with her, or she'll just about drive you crazy. A small space heater is strategically positioned, so that it gently warms the bottom corner of the door where it tends to freeze up. It takes an hour or so, but once the door is functional again, the squirrels figure out pretty quickly that they'd better eat quick and run. That's OK. That's what they're born to do.

 

See you next week...real good then.