Blizzard of 2014

This past Wednesday into Thursday we had a significant snow storm.

A snow storm is marginally better than an ice storm.

The hens were all snug in their coop

though certainly not happy about being cooped up again.

Luckily we have a snowblower and child labor.

Inside we resorted to playing Monopoly that should be called

The Game That Will Not End.

 Jake was passed out.

It was tough for a puppy to jump around 24" of snow.

Luckily we were prepared for potential power outages.

We had our fridge stocked with esstentials

(Like Helluva Good French Onion Dip and Potato Chips)

and we had water stored

and wood.

But never lost power.

Prepping Fail

Tuesday into Wednesday 

we had an ice storm.

It was gorgeous

except for the snapping tree branches that sounded like gunfire,

the exploding transformers

that rendered the area electricity free,

and the fact that the ice prevented the water from draining away from the barn

requiring us to dig a drainage ditch.

 In addition,

I did not prepare at all for the lack of electricity.

We had no water

and no heat.

I had not bothered to fill the tubs,

did not have a store of water

and all the wood was wet and outside.

Note to self: start stocking up on water and wood.

Chickens in a Row

It's so cold, all 5 hens finally roosted together

(trust me, there's 5 there I just couldn't get the ones on the end in the shot).

It's good to have your chickens in a row,

but unfortunately chickens and ducks are nothing alike.

State of the Resolutions Address

I think the Arctic temperatures have everything bound up.
Like icy constipation.
Frozen pipes.

I broke another chicken waterer this morning

and I'm tired of having to keep the chickens locked up.

They aren't too happy about that either.

The dark cold snowy night treks to the coop are getting old too.

This guy is staying (like there was ever a doubt he would).

Ended up naming him Jake.

So exactly what have I managed to do as far as resolutions?

I did get groceries for the office so I won't be needing to eat out this week during work.

And what I got is salad items and celery and hummus for snacking.

So I'm improving in those couple of things.

I have not exercised. 

I did pin a couple of exercise items to Pinterest

(I don't think that counts).

I downloaded a meditation app on my iPhone

that seems like a pretty good one actually.

I haven't used it yet.

I did get rid of 2 trash bags full of toys from my son's room.

And I donated some unneeded blankets

and some shirts.

So, it's obvious I need to kick it up a notch.

 But I'm guessing I'll be doing more procrastinating

by playing with this cutie and taking 50 million instagram photos of him.

It Was a Dark and Stormy Night...

Yesterday we had yet another snow storm.

I get that it's winter

and snow isn't so unusual for our area

but the past couple of years have been relatively snow and cold free.

Anyway, it snowed.

I have no idea how much 

because the wind was blowing and drifting.

Some areas had grass showing other's were nearly to my knee

as I walked out to check on the girls. 

They were locked up tight earlier in the evening

but I couldn't remember if I had counted to make sure

all 5 were up in the coop when I locked them in.

So to save myself from worry, I went to check.

They were all roosting and more than a little irritated with the intrusion.

I try to think about the fact that there's only 56 days and 22 hours until spring.

(It can't get here fast enough)

Updates: Resolutions, Warm Chickens and an Abandonded Puppy

As far as resolutions go,  

I haven't followed through with any of them yet.  

This makes me ticked off with myself and 

that hopefully means a renewed desire to get back to the plan.  

While many might think resolutions as a waste of time, 

the ones I made were items I wanted to work on to improve my life.  

So by not doing them,

I'm not improving anything 

and I'm staying in this stagnant pool and that is no longer acceptable.  

Stress, however, has a way of waylaying your best intentions.  

(of course the healthier eating and exercise will help with stress so I should just shut up and get to it)

In other news, 

the chickens lived through the Great Polar Vortex of 2014.

Not that I was overly concerned.

The biggest problem was breaking the waterer.

This Spring I'll be thinking up some other ideas for that

(someone I know uses a 5 gallon bucket, that would make things easier most of the year- 

less cleaning and fill ups)

The big news is that Big E and I found a puppy.

He's featured in the video above barking- halfheartedly- at the chickens

(if one of those hens came towards him he'd be hiding behind my legs).

(Finally had time to do a full cleaning of the coop between cold fronts and rain/snow showers)

We found him this past Sunday

along a rural dirt road.

He was nearly hit by another car.

We have, of course, sent word to the 2 area SPCA's 

and posted an ad in the local paper.

No one has called.

We also contacted the only 2 houses in the area and neither families know the dog.

That leads me to believe that he was dumped there on the country road 

in the winter.

Because if I lost a puppy I'd be frantic looking for him

since he can't protect himself from other animals 

and has not yet learned about the dangers of cars.

Both SPCA's agree that he's most likely a dump.

I can't believe this myself because he's such a good puppy.
Since Sunday we have had NO accidents in the house or crate.

He hasn't chewed up the pillow he sleeps on in the crate either

(my lab Bailey would have devoured it 30 seconds after being locked up).

So for now, while we search for potential owners who might be looking for him,

he's staying.

We're calling him Clyde.

PSA: If you have an unwanted animal, DO NOT dump them on the street, release them into the woods or dump them in a stream.  There are places that will take them in- like a humane society or SPCA.  Many have overnight holding cages. 

Chilly Chickens

 So far, this winter had dumped snow, ice and sub zero temperatures

on us.

The girls have been tucked in 

with plenty of bedding and a run

protected from the wind.

We made it through the last batch of cold temps,

tonight it's a low of -1.

Windchill of -10.

That's cold.

Hoping the girls get through this okay too.