After several weeks of chilly days and nights, yesterday was a little too unseasonably warm. This was followed by a few strong thunderstorms during the night. This morning we woke to a very pleasant and beautiful morning with temperatures that reminded you of an early spring day. The air was fresh and clean, the sky a deep blue and the few clouds that remained were scattered eloquently in wispy white puffs. With the half inch of rain last night, the grass was turning green in a few places again!
Today being Saturday, December 1st, it was the day I had planned to remove all remnants of Fall decorations while trying to bring out a hint of Christmas season into our home. A good many people already have Christmas lights and trees put up and we’re still over here dealing with rotting pumpkins on the front porch and scattered around the gardens.
They are a nice tasty treat for the chickens and dairy goats, though, and the pumpkin seeds are a good dewormer, too.
Because of the weather, I found myself going back and forth all day, between taking down fall decorations and slipping outside to enjoy the sunshine, fresh air and our furry farm friends. As I cleaned out planters filled with fall mums, a part of me wanted to plant spring flowers. I had to keep reminding myself that winter is only just beginning and will be around awhile.
After Fall was officially put away, it seemed rather strange in this
spring-like weather to be putting out a few Christmas decorations.
Among other seasonal things, tomorrow begins Advent,
and the Advent wreath is a tradition for us.
It was the perfect day to gather some farm pictures
since all the animals seemed to be enjoying the beautiful day, too.
Here is Olive. You remember her?
She’s the difficult hen that refuses to sleep in the henhouse
with the other chickens. She still sleeps in the Sugar Maple tree
every night and she lays her eggs in a basket on the carport.
We decided to put out a special water jug just for her.
She is officially spoiled now.
Our pregnant dairy does, Daisy, Marley and Cupcake
are enjoying an afternoon in the meadow pasture.
They are all three due the first week of April, 2019.
Everyone has a bad hair day now and then.
Imagine what it would be like to go through a
molting season for 3 to 6 weeks of ugly?
Chickens have to do this once a year, usually in late summer or early fall.
Here is a picture of Cornflakes a month ago -
long after all the others had started and finished their molt.
I couldn’t help but feel sorry for her on cold nights and blustery days,
but she never let it get the best of her.
The new feathers came in suddenly, beginning last week.
This is a picture of her today, showing off her new style!
Laura and Dori enjoying this spring-like weather day!
We've alrady had one snowfall, way-below-freezing temperatures,
12 inches of rain in the last two months
and autumn colors have come and gone.
Thanksgiving has been celebrated and Christmas is just around the corner.
This is December and today looks and feels like spring.
We are always grateful for a break in the winter weather.
The welcomed sunshine warms our old bones, heals winter blues
and reminds us of all the miracles that surround us,
if we can pause along our way to see them.
~ Gwen of IRISH ACRES
