Unexpected............

February is close to being on it's way out. We've had a few bright sunny days but mostly cold and snow and this morning it is snowing again! I have had colder times in my life, down to 40 below zero when I was young and we lived below Mount Washington, in New Hampshire. I have seen much larger snowstorms than we were dealt this winter, up to three feet with gigantic drifts. but never has it happened that we have had months of very cold with no break. This has lead to a multitude of unexpected problems resulting from the buildup of large amounts of snow on roofs.
My heart goes out to those who lost many great cows as barns collapsed on them. To the people who were injured trying to unload their roofs of snow, as well as the financial and physical hardships of rebuilding and doing without what is needed.
Many abandoned buildings that dot our countryside of course, caved in. But so many new ones were also included. I've picked a few pictures of how the snow left the roofs successfully saving the buildings at Hoyt Top Dairy where I help to feed calves. Both the free stall barn for the dairy cows and the giant coverall for baby calves were completely cleared of snow, very tricky work, especially Jay on the coverall; see also Eric on the free stall barn. More snow is also coming off at Dancing Ewe Farm. (Tim from the, tractor bucket). As I look out the window, snow has clouded the nearby fields and will soon close us in to heavier snow..............

Morning at Dancing Ewe Farm

As I walk toward Joanne's old farmhouse at Dancing Ewe Farm a small flock of gentle grey- brown morning doves flies away from their bird seed treat that Joanne sets out daily. The whole farm has been buried under the plentiful snow we've had and the temperature has remained steadily cold, keeping every fallen flake.
The lambs, which are now as large as their Moms, need feeding and watering and the large herd of dry ewes, over one hundred, awaits their new feeding of haylage ( silage made from grasses and legumes). The beautiful Marema dogs which guard the sheep have been playing happily in the early sun of the day. These are specially bred dogs from Italy which are bred to guard sheep and keep predators away.
The sheep have lots of warmth now with their heavy wool coats and will be shorn when they lamb and begin milking again in March. We all look forward to the spring pasture of late April and May. It seems like a long time away.............
See pictures of Vanilla, the ewe, Faith the female guard dog and Sartucci the male. Also view of the farm covered with snow.

Gift from Mother Nature

Last night I felt the cold winter rain as I came back home. It was still very cold and it was surprising to have the wet drops falling into the snow. Thunder and lightning rumbled and flashed to our west letting my husband and I know something unusual was happening.

This morning I awoke to a winter wonderland! Looking out the studio window to the northwest was a breathtaking sight. I was drawn outdoors by this beauty and the fact that it was twenty degrees, instead of zero or below, and strapping on snowshoes proceeded to plow through the snow which had a wet crust over the abundance of snow beneath. Very slowly I plodded out short distances from our home with my tiny camera.

Every where was so beautiful, I took a lot of pictures and managed to stay on my feet through most of it.

Looking up brilliant, looking west a bit dark and foreboding. The little birdhouse on the old tree by the house had icicles hanging from it. I walked on and the great pine tree in the field to our south was covered and bent but taking it well. The snow and needles made a great textural pattern. A little farther on was an old apple tree that had some small shriveled apples still on it. This tree had been feeding deer since November.

I plowed slowly on through the deep snow enjoying all I saw and taking more and more photos, when once again, tripped by the crust, down I went, snowshoes stuck underneath. Finally I freed myself from the drift and headed home looking like a snow woman of old.