Thursday, December 9, 2010

bitter cold, snow, and harsh winds


Thursday Dec 9th, it was 8 degrees this morning but the wind wasn't blowing thank goodness. It's been a tough few days, at least the weather will be milder now until Sunday then we have to brace for bitter cold, snow, and harsh winds again. Wouldn't be so bad, but we have to take care of us and livestock, and still go to work each day. Up here in the northwest Appalachians, Boone doesn't shut down - folks still need public service, medical care, make purchases, etc. The university doesn't close although the county schools do, those kids haven't been to school all week.
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The goats and poultry have been going stir crazy in the barn. Yesterday, SweetPea and Pixie stuck their noses out for a couple of minutes.


Our driveway has been plowed a few times by the tractor.

Haven't been to the gym in a week. I went to the doctor yesterday, and she prescribed some antibiotics [z-pack], she said I've got bronchitis. Yes, I'm in the doldrums, we had 84" of snow last winter, and the thoughts of enduring it all over again is overwhelming. Don't worry, I'll slap myself around and snap out of it. :-)

12 comments:

BlueRidge Boomer said...

I haven't been out since last Friday.....the guys are on the move, going to work and college, i just ask them to pick-up stuff for me.....the joys of not working the winter months.....!!Can't wait to go back in March...i miss the crew!!

Enjoy and stay safe.....

Alison said...

I've been wondering how you've been doing up there. I assumed you'd have had at least one day out of work! I can't believe how fuzzy Sweet Pea & Pixie have gotten. I'm sorry you're feeling icky; maybe with some slightly warmer weather you can get outside and soak in a little sunshine this weekend.

GLORIA'S STORY said...

I'm so sorry you have bronchitis. You take carry and do what your doctor say. I have read all of your back blogs and have enjoyed visiting your farm for a long time now. I think your pictures and videos are just GREAT. I have never seen a Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goats, but they are like any baby; be it dog or cat....human. The word precious, written in the dictionary has the meaning: very valuable or important : too valuable or important to be wasted or used carelessly. An that is what all your animals are. JUST PRECIOUS.

Mom L said...

And I'm still waiting for a "real" snow - last winter we'd had at least 2 blizzards by this time! Bronchitis is icky - I feel for you. Don't forget the Vicks for your poor chest!!! Stay warm if you can....

Nancy in Iowa

Carol said...

I remember the good old days in VT,NY,NH,MA when I was racing horses...no matter how cold or how hard frozen the ice buckets were..the horses had to be fed, watered, cleaned out and jogged 5 miles, bathed, . Wind chill -40* at Green Mountain Raceway in Pownall, VT...brrrrr

Now I think 28* and a frost on the ground, (FL) is cold.

Dont slap yourself too hard..go sit by the fire.

Mahala said...

Joanna...I agree that this current cold spell is doubly miserable because of what we experienced last year. In addition, the weather soothsayer in Jefferson predicts that this Winter will be worse (See Ashe Mountain Times for his article). So..I guess all we can do is keep a kettle of soup on the stove, a warm blanket to snuggle in, and ice skates to get outside with the animals!
Take care of yourself, and Mike.
Mahala

Laughing Orca Ranch said...

I'm here!!! Yay! I can't believe I didn't get bounced out this time! I've been trying to visit your blog for a couple months now, at least a couple times a week I click your blog link...and everything starts to load...and then DING! I get a rude message window popping up that says the website can't open and the action is aborted. Wah!

I've missed visiting here more than you know!

Good to see you're all ok. I read about the crazy winter weather in your area recently and thought of you.

We've been having unseasonably warm weather so far this year. In fact our temps were in the upper 60's today! Ack! Too warm!
I'd love a little of your snow, especially for Christmas.
Last year we couldn't get a break from the weekly snow, but this year we aren't getting any at all!

~Lisa

Foothills Poultry said...

I was at Appstate from 97-2002 and there was only 1 day out for snow and that was in Jan of 98. Thank Goodness for the AppalCART and POP 105 Route. There were several days they were the only way I made it to classes and work when I lived out of the 105 bypass.

I wish I had a big barn for the birds to play in when it snows. Looks like you and Mike put ALOT of work into it to make it good for the critters.

~~Matt~~

The Agrarian said...

Oh my goodness! What frightful weather you have! I don't know how you do it - I start to feel pity for myself when our temps dip into the 40s.

Do you have to heat your barn? Just curious. Do plumbing lines ever freeze?

Take care and stay warm!

Farmer

John Going Gently said...

I think the UK has sent you all in the united states our snow!!!!!!!!

John Going Gently said...

ps
put some goose grease on your chest!

Mom L said...

I just looked at your pictures again! We're getting the snow today - it was 12 deg and very windy. I've enjoyed watching the snow blow around - from inside my living room! No outside animals to feed, break ice for water, etc.

Enjoy your break...

Nancy in Iowa