Last Friday's temperature is the coldest we've had thus far, since moving out to the farm ~ 31* is what my thermometer read when I got up that morning. Even with the heat on, the house had a chill to the air (should have been my first clue). Requiring a very warm housecoat, which I do not presently own. So I had to wear 2 layers instead as I sipped my morning coffee before heading out the door. Doing the AM chores was a test for trying to stay warm. I wonder if this is any indication of the calibre of lows we can expect this winter?
My morning became more difficult just as soon as I finished taking care of everyone. Returning to the house for warmth, I was met with a chilly reception. The heat in the house had gone OUT! Dropping the inside temperature to 61*, lower than what I had woke up to. Adjusting the gauge to a higher setting served only to blow out that much more COLD AIR. I needed a shower before going out to take care of some errands, but it had to be put it off till way after lunch. While I waited for the sun to warm up the outside of the house. The inside was still too cool for my comfort. Seems things always fall apart when Lon is working, and this day was no different. Spent my afternoon waiting for a repairman to come, hopefully to fix the dinosaurof a heating unit. Murphy's law hit us squarely on the nail, with no repair to be made, leaving me with no heat and headed into another sub-freezing nite. Brrrrrrrrr!
The need for hay sent Lon off for a large purchase this week from a man we have been buying it from. All of the goats and Sassie love his hay, it is great quality at a very good price of $4.oo. He returned with a load of 32 bales mounded over his truck, showing us exactly how much it could carry. I am wondering at this point, just how long will it last. A month, maybe two, all winter, I doubt that. Though it would be nice to have a barn stocked till Spring arrives. I had picked up feed on my way home from errands and shopping this week, which were still in the trunk of my car. After a late breakfast the unloading began. Turning the goats out to browse in the woods enabled us to leave the barn gate open for ease of passage. One by one the bales marched into the hay room, filling one wall almost to the ceiling. I busied myself with cleaning up, filling feeders and placing dropped hay into nesting boxes. Being as tired as we were and not wanting to hinder the progress I fixed a picnic lunch and took it down to the barn for our enjoyment. Sitting atop fresh bales of hay with our meal spread between us, we rested and was refreshed in the quietness of the barn.
Love seeing and smelling a room full of hay,
Deborah
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