one- I'm ancy for this month to be over
two- I'm home from work due to the Polar Vortex- part deux! (refer back to "one")
three-I'm crazy busy this weekend so you are getting your Sunday blog entry a little early!
On New Years Day, we came up with our own, make-shift, fondue pot and had cheesy fondue for lunch! This set-up actually worked quite well-- but maybe I'll get our family a real fondue pot for Xmas next year!
Here is Pick Pick enjoying some bread and cheese! I could live on bread and cheese!
The cheese was part gruyere, part swiss and some Morel infused cheese my mom gave us for Xmas!
Cheers! A toast to 2014! J and I had some left-over red wine from the stew J made the night before. The boys had "spicy water" in kool-aid glasses ("spicy water" is La Croix sparkling water).
Here is James the barn cat- mid-"meow". We typically see him once a day (by our back patio door). We are now buying him kitty food and feeding him well (and keeping him hydrated) during this cold weather. We have thought about trying to bring James into the house, during this arctic weather spell, but I think James would prefer to freeze to death than spent time in our warm home. And... I have no idea how we would catch him...
One of my favorite Xmas presents! Every farmhouse needs a Shop Vac!
Pickle would beg me to let him do more vacuuming! He thought the Shop Vac was a pretty nice present as well! Thanks Mom and Dad!
Here are the ewes and Padraig! Aoife is in the front of the picture. I can't believe how much weight Beatrix is putting on, even over the winter months. They both seem very healthy!
Another shot...but with Ciaran in this picture! Notice all the brown poop pellets on the ground. When these poop pellets are frozen, they actually act like frozen salt- giving the farmer some extra traction under his/her boot, reducing the risk of falling on the slippery, frozen snow!
The opening to the bottom part of the barn! This is where the goats and sheep sleep (and stay when it is so cold). The inside of the barn is kept relatively "warm" from all the straw bedding and large animal body heat. Additionally, as the bottom part of the barn is build into the earth/hill- it makes their 'home' extra safe and warm'ish. Despite the cold, cold weather, the animals prefer to come out into the fresh air than stay inside!
J is pretty certain that both sheep are pregnant! If so, we could have some lambs by March. I should read some James Harriet to prepare for our upcoming "lambing" season! Farmer J told me that because my hands/arms are thinner and smaller than his, I would be the one to "assist" the ewe, if there was a trouble with the birth process. I'm already praying for uneventful births, with no need for human intervention!
Burrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Stay warm!
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