Well, that was complicated and I have aged 37 years and probably sent a photo but no text.
Today has been a round of shovelling snow, melting snow, pouring melted water into animal troughs then repeat until the point of collapse.
We have every available pot, pan and bucket in the kitchen, all filled with snow. I would 'race' the pots to see - which one would melt first, which one would boil first etc. The excitement was almost too much.
The youngest bairn was thrilled to be bathed in front of the fire - we managed to heat enough up to give him a little bath - he has rosy cheeks from playing outside and will hopefully sleep well tonight.
We have also been up and down to the house loft about a million times, pouring melted snow into the tank. I think we will sleep well too after all the exertion!
There is still work to do and my husband is getting ready to go out again to give the cattle an evening feed and more water, check that all is well and batten down the hatches as the wind is starting to growl.
The bedroom windows have ice patterns on the inside; very beautiful and ornate. And very cold. I have been sewing heavy curtains lined with woolly blankets to block the cold from the windows. This farmhouse is so cold and draughty.
We will see what tomorrow brings...
I remember those frost patterns from my childhood. In fact, my daughter remembers them from her childhood in the "cold" bedroom here!!
ReplyDeleteI hope the thaw comes soon, it is more than a full time job keeping animals fed and watered in this weather.
Beautiful photo too.
Seeing that photograph has answered a question I've often asked myself - is it really worth all your hardship and fights to stay there. How beautiful. I hope that 2014 will see some changes for the benefit of you and others like you, and some drastic changes for the vapid lairds. Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteSusie, yes, we live in a beautiful area and you adapt to harsh conditions but it is more than the beauty; you become attuned to the rhythm of the seasons, you become familiar with the needs of the ground itself, the wildlife, the history of your surroundings and respect for those who worked the land without much machinery.
ReplyDeleteYou become part of the farm's history and you become aware of other farms, their history and fights.
Yes, it is worth staying and fighting for reform.
A Happy and Healthy New Year to you!