Monday, January 28, 2019

digging out

It snowed all night.


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This morning, we have a gift -- a window of kindness. A modest cold spell (as opposed to a furiously frigid spell which comes to us tomorrow). Time to dig out. But first -- the animals.

Here's Stop Sign, by her food and by her lair. 


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And here's a lucky moment: I pull out my camera before these two disappeared. They're very excellent at disappearing.


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Ed reminds me -- they could be hanging out here for ten, fifteen years.  Snowdrop provides the names for the two kittens -- Dance and Bridge. Appropriate. Little girls, or little boys or maybe one of each.

Maybe you've missed seeing the cheepers? They're still under lock and that's not a bad thing: in huddling, they stay reasonably warm. Here's a photo of them, awkwardly taken inside the added coop space. The three big girls -- Peach, Java, Henny.


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And brave Pepper...


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And sweetly shy, yet quite resourceful little Tomato...


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Food, water, coop clean up. As I fix up their space, I worry, too. Record cold, coming up: do we even know how cheepers fare in record cold? We'll get down to -30F (that's -35C). Ed and I kick around ideas on how to protect them. We have to do something!

Breakfast. How lucky we are to have these foods in the thick of a cold January!


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Schools are closed in Madison. I'm sure in all Wisconsin. They'll be closed tomorrow and the next day too. We are at the cusp of a significant weather event.

Snowdrop comes to the farmhouse so that her parents can swap around baby Sparrow care and work tasks.

The little girl, of course, is delighted with a relaxed day of play.


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And of dress up. (Gaga insists that she keep some extra layers on: I mean, the farmhouse is warm, but we're all walking around in sweaters, so that tells you something.)


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An afternoon of story telling. Of writing too. Snowdrop loves to write.


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I look outside. The snow has tapered off. I see wisps of sunshine. For once, that's not a good sign. Clear skies mean even colder temperatures come night time.


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For once we bundle up for the drive home.


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(The snow is up to her chest.)


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We have three very cold days and nights before us. Let's hope they pass without major hiccups or calamities. For anybody.