"It is well to remember that the entire population of the universe, with one trifling exception, is composed of others." A.Holmes

Friday, January 6, 2017

Time To Watch The Animals In The Snow

We've had snow here at Laughing Dove Farm since the last week of November. It is beautiful outside , especially as I view the winter-scape from indoors while sipping hot coffee. The birds in the picture above are sitting in branches just outside one of our living room windows. The cats seem to think this is just for them and occupy the window sill during daylight hours to watch the birds flitting from the branches to the bird feeders, bird bath and back again.
Luna, our 9 month old Lab puppy loves watching birds too, all birds. She is watching a Pileated Woodpecker  in our woods and would have followed the large and very loud bird if we'd not had her on a leash.
Whimsy, my German Shepherd has appointed herself Luna's best protector and playmate. Luna and Whimsy love the snow. Our below freezing temps and deep snow don't seem to affect them. Luna loves to roll around in the snow too.
My Sebastopol Geese appear to have such bright white feathers until the snow shows up the geese in bright whiteness. The geese too, do not seem to be bothered by the snow except for the lack of a continual supply of water for their bathing and drinking.

Every day I have to haul huge buckets of hot water out to the goose troughs. As soon as I pour hot water over the troughs full of ice the geese hop into their ice bath to drink ,bathe and play until they exhaust the small amount of water I am able to supply for the day.
Goth ( center of picture), my 12 year old Jacob Sheep ram and the rest of my flock of sheep are wearing their wool coats. The snow and cold don't bother them either.
Goth is having the best time of his entire life now. He has never had so much room to roam and on Laughing Dove Farm he has acres ! Since Goth has been a very good ram ( mostly ) I am happy to keep him in his old age. I am hoping he lives many more years and dies peacefully chewing a mouth full of sweet fresh grass. ( Goth is shown here with some of my flock, most of them are his children or grandchildren.)
My sheep heading back to the barn. The snow is much deeper now, the grass is a foot under the snow.
 Our old goat Thorin and Goth side by side.
We love our new home and the knee-deep snow too. The temperature has been below zero most nights and today it warmed up to 7 degrees above zero . The hardest part of so much snow has been doing my farm chores. I have a hard time walking in the deep snow while carrying buckets of grain and water and armloads of hay. Today we bought snowshoes for me so tomorrow's chore time should be a little bit easier. This is going to help even more if we get the predicted snow ( 1 to 4 inches) this weekend.

Our new home is snug and warm, the scenery all around us is so beautiful I sometimes can scarce take in that this is our home ! We've begun a few of the things we need to do to make this place work for us but because we're retired now we're taking our time. Time to gaze out the windows while sipping coffee or tea. Time to laugh at the silly things our animals do.Time to watch the animals play in the snow. Time to walk in the woods, play with our grandchildren. Time to go fishing and camping as soon as the weather permits EVEN IF there is a huge 'to-do' list attached to the fridge. That nagging 'to-do' list has been around as long as we've been married, I expect it to be here as long as we're alive. Time to be... simply be.


21 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good Morning! I am so happy for you and Jim. It's nice to see your animals enjoying their new home, too. I especially love the photo of the sheep headed to the barn. I woke early this morn to snow at our "new to us" home. It is peaceful and beautiful with everything covered in snow. I hope to share photos later in the day. God bless your weekend. So happy to be following along now.

Sally said...

What a lovely post with great photos. So glad you are settling well in to your new home.

Bee Lady said...

I'm always amazed when people move away from what they are used to. I have lived in the same town for 53 years. Since I was five. Your place looks absolutely beautiful. And those geese.....adorable! I always thought I would get animals when I moved out where we are living now. 37 acres. Woods, ponds, and some acres that could probably grow something. But I'm so spent from building this house, and at 58, well I feel like it will never happen now. So glad you are enjoying retirement!

Cindy Bee

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

I am so glad you are posting again after your move. I love hearing about your life, and life at your new place looks and sounds lovely. I think it is amazing that animals don't seem to mind the cold, God gave them amazing insulation. I hope we will get to see some photos of your new home. I am so happy for you both and that the move was successful and that you are enjoying retirement and taking the time to 'just be'.

I have the desire to learn how to weave. You weave, and I have two online friends who have taken up the craft lately and the bug just bit me in the last few days. I need to find the best, in my budget, not too large of a loom and try my hand at it.

Happy January ~ Love & hugs ~ FlowerLady

Karen said...

It amazes me how the animals and birds adapt to the snow and cold temperatures. I am glad you are loving your new home.

Deb said...

I'm happy to read that you love your new home, Kathy. That means so much. Enjoy those moments of gazing out your windows and feeling blessed. Hugs to all your critters. Stay warm. Deb

Thistle Cove Farm said...

I'm good at "simply being"...probably too good! Kathy, are you able to get a de-icer in a bucket of water? It would keep the animals drinking more often...better for their health...and cut down on your outside work. I've got a de-icer in the horse rough and an electric water bucket on the back porch. It sure helps both animals and me.

Texastracking said...

I call my list a Ta Dah list - each thing crossed off merits a Ta Dah!
Love those geese - really one of the unique and beautiful critters you have. Hope you can get electricity or solar power to have trough de-icers - I loved mine when we had goats on Buhlaland.
So glad you two are having time together to enjoy your new life

Judith @ Lavender Cottage said...

Ah yes, retirement at its best as one can sit inside and enjoy the snow - just as I do too Kathy. Although I keep a path cleared on the deck for our small old dog who doesn't like the cold or snow and a route to the feeders hanging from the eavestrough, it's not quite the feat you have to perform to water and feed your animals. Good to hear you're happy with your new home and it has lots of room for your critters to roam.
I've never given any thought to geese over winter, assumed they stayed inside for warmth. A wildlife group here was tracking a swan family heading south because the male had an injured wing and they were afraid he'd be left behind. They managed a capture to keep the family together and will likely be released in spring. There are a number of trumpeter swan reserves, public and private so lots of knowledgeable people to help.
I imagine Luna would keep going after an interesting bird until she got tired but would be who knows where by then?
I hope snowshoes make your trek easier, stay warm!

Anonymous said...

I always enjoy seeing your out of the ordinary animals. That is a good amount of snow. Glad you can enjoy it. Once the snow and the passes are more under control for our un-snow worthy car we will trek over to Colville so Dear can paint the nursery for our kids. We'll wave as we drive through Deer Park going the speed limit and not over! :)

Nib's End said...

Having lived the past 25 years in a region where incessant snow and frigid temperatures are the norm in winter, it is good to see it through eyes less jaded and frumpy than ours, but I do envy you the time afforded you with your retirement...time to haul water and gaze out your window with your beloved nearby.

Deanna said...

Happy for you that you have this place to call your HOME. Spring will be here soon and won't that be a treat to see what it is like in your new location?
Blessings.
d

Rian said...

So glad you are posting again, Kathy. Your place sounds wonderful... and I know that you and your hubby are going to enjoy retirement. As for the cold, it sounds like all of you are baring it rather well. Us Southerners are too soft... we would never survive all the cold. But it does look beautiful out there!

Anonymous said...

That sky is so beautiful! I loved seeing all of these photos. :)

Henny Penny said...

You have such a beautiful place there. I love it! I would love to have a pair of Sebastopol geese and I love the names you give the animals. One of these days I am going to take a few hours and enjoy reading all of your back posts.

Connie said...

I'm glad you are enjoying your new home and that you and your animals are all so happy there. It is indeed a beautiful place.

Sandra said...

Glad to hear you like your new place.
Happy Sheep photos are the best :)

Pattie @ Olla-Podrida said...

A new place is always so exciting. The animals look overjoyed. Happy for all of you. Have a great week!

Debbie - Mountain Mama said...

I'm so glad you are happy in your new home and I love reading about your country life and all your critters! You are truly blessed!!

mary m said...

Kathy, thank you for sharing such beautiful
pictures of your new home...I have followed
your blog for some months and so glad you
re-introduced us to your new place.

I love reading and seeing the pictures of all
your animals.
My question is, now that you live in a more
wildly natural setting, with all your acreage,
how do you protect your animals from predators?
Do you bring them into a barn or the birds into a
hutch?.
A friend from long ago, her family raised sheep in
the Willamette Valley of Oregon, they had a Great
Pyrenees dog that lived out among the sheep to
protect them from harm.
Thank you again for sharing and I wish you all
well in your new home.
mm,vancouver,wa.
0

L. D. said...

Your animals seem to have adapted well to the new location. I really like seeing the geese and goats.