Visitor at the feeders

I happened to notice a new visitor at the feeders today

Nothin like a little wild turkey to warm things up. Mr.Cardinal however found the visit to be a hair-raising experience.

I can't help myself, I love his hair. And yes I know they are feathers.

Some welcome sun

to brighten our day.  It looked so inviting outside, despite the 0 degree temperature.

Below, MadeIt and Daisy 2 starting their day...

Just when I thought I was safe...

and over my desire to add more animals to the farm, I received an invitation from one of the women in my spinning (fiber, not bike) group to head out to her farm and see the new lambs.  Over the previous several weeks, her ewes had given birth to over 60 lambs – most of them twins or triplets.  I thought I was prepared for their cuteness.  I was not.

 The first batch was housed in the unheated portion of the barn and were all being cared for by their respective mothers, i.e., feeding well.  I was first greeted by the youngest of Sandy’s Great Pyrenees rolling onto her back for some belly rubs.  Then we walked outside into the 60-acre pasture to say hi to the other 2 guard dogs, as well as the proud father and 4-5 ewes that followed him around like a small harem. 

We returned to the barn and Sandy was pointing out the various type of sheep – she has a mix of Katahdin, Ile de France, and I think some Rambouillet.  She might have had a Friesian in there as well.  This group of sheep and lambs were a bit stand-offish.  Whenever we moved toward them, you had to make sure you were standing off to the side because they would rush past us as a flock to another safe corner of the barn.

The second batch of lambs was housed in the heated portion of the barn with only 10 or so ewes.  These were the bottle-fed lambs – those whose mothers wanted nothing to do with suckling babies.  I walked in through the door and was instantly rushed by 5 little bundles of wool.  That’s when I melted. 


Made worse when Sandy handed me a couple of bottles and told me to feed them.  I’m astounded that I was able to resist the urge to bundle them all into my car and bring them home.  So what if I don’t have a barn yet?  What’s a few more animals in the house?  I mean really, how do you resist that face?

Man, winter is taking forEVER!!

So more snow today. Cause the 14 inches we got from our friend Nemo was not enough. :) We are trying to make the best of it.  On Sunday we put on our snowshoes and went for a walk in the woods. Wow what a work out on the hips. Felt good to be out. We haven't seen much sun recently and we are getting a little cranky. And by we I really mean Lynn. She absolutely hates February. In her mind it is the longest month on the calendar. Winter should be ending yet more snow arrives. I discovered that many areas see 40% of their annual snowfall in Feb so clearly it is not the end of winter. Perhaps we should readjust our expectations.
It does seem like it is a particularly long winter this year. I attribute it to the fact that for the first time in my life I actually enjoyed the summer. While maintaining the garden was intense at times, it really felt good to be out. Cathartic. And of course grilling. I LOVE to grill food. In fact, we are having a cookout next week in an effort to bring some summer here. Vegetables, baked potatoes, and meat. I dont care if it snows or sleets, I am having a damn charcoal-grilled steak!! I bought a blue weber in honor of the occasion. I have a beast of a charcoal grill but it is too early to bring her out. She is not finished hibernating. :)

I snapped some pics over the last week. Mr. Cardinal was back so I couldn't help getting him.

And while I was snapping pics of him something caught the corner of my eye.

Seriously? How cute is this little guy? He had just finished one of his many snow tunnels. Nemo was here but not in full force. He looks as though he is wishing it away.

Later that night I was really impressed by our solar lights. Check out the buried light on the left still glowing. Now that's a lamp!!

And last but not least, a pic of our driveway the next morning.

you would think we lived in Antarctica. And believe me it feels like it some days. We were out in 15 degree temps removing the beautiful drifts. Of course I got to use my fabulous Kubota which is never a bad thing. I think Winter is nature's way of saying "slow down". Relax, rest up and eat. Spring will be here before you know it and you will be busy prepping and planting, digging and weeding.