Ah, Colorado in winter. This past Saturday Very Excellent Husband Don and I were trying out a new restaurant—sitting outside on the patio, rolling our sleeves up it was so warm and squinting in the bright January sun.
Then yesterday, we woke up to this.
Sixteen inches of the white stuff.
In the olden days (pre-barnyard) this would mean enjoying an extra cup of hot tea while gazing through the window at the beautiful flakes drifting down. When you’ve got animals to take care of, it means lots and lots of work.
While I headed to the barnyard, Don took care of the driveway using his new Christmas present.
Water, extra food and pathways are my morning mantra on days like this. I brought out warm oatmeal for the chickens, gave the four-leggers extra grain, lugged warm water from the kitchen and started shoveling.
Jessie was very appreciative and practically sucked the bucket dry.
Cindy Lou and Aretha skipped the oatmeal and didn’t get off the roost in the coop. It’s the chicken equivalent of staying in bed, I guess.
Sweet Jasmine wandered out, alone as usual, slowly making her way to a warm spot in the shed.
It’s days like this when I long for a big barn. But we make do with what we’ve got. It simply gets a little crowded.
Everyone eventually finds a spot and settles down.
I’m not coming out.
Me either.
If they’re got going out, we’re not going out.
The shed was really crowded. It was time to do some shoveling.
It was heavy snow, but finally a path was cleared.
Doink immediately took advantage of the situation.
Lady, those alpaca left a lot of good hay here last night. I’ll go ahead and clean it up.
Awww….
There you have it—just another day in the barnyard. Stay warm, friends 🙂
I’ll bet you slept well that night! Great pictures!
Thanks Tia! Yes, all that shoveling does make for a “job well done” feeling at the end of the day 🙂
Love the pictures and comments, especially “I’m not coming out” “Me, either” “If they aren’t, we aren’t!” So funny! And Doinkers with his hay! I didn’t know pigs eat hay.
I think Doink will eat just about anything 🙂
Great post and lots of snow for you!
Nancy @ Little Homestead in Boise recently posted…Early Spring Robins? Finished Faux Planter, Thrifting Scores!!! It’s A Small World After All
So glad you had that nice 60 degree day to enjoy before the snow came. You do such a wonderful job of taking care of your critters…and your pictures are wonderful too. Hope the new job is going well for you. Love your blog!
Thanks Diane! It is all almost too good to be true. The pace of the job makes the barnyard extra special. I am so lucky 🙂
This post just makes me smile. The photos are expressive and it is pretty amazing what you do when your feet hit the floor! What a satisfying day, Joan!
It’s always wonderful in the barnyard, Emily!
Wow! Here in the U.K. we can’t imagine that amount of snow. I love your photos and you do such a good job looking after all of your critters. Glad you are enjoying your other job too.
Carol Caldwell recently posted…Yesterday’s dramas
Thanks! I hope that drama in your coop is settling down. I hate it when the girls pick on each other!
It hasn’t happened again thank goodness so I am hoping that it was just a blip and the moment has passed. It is awful when any of the girls pick on each other. Today seems harmonious though so fingers crossed.
Carol Caldwell recently posted…Yesterday’s dramas