It’s never too soon to get back in practice, because I’ve a feeling I’m going to have lots of chances to hate it in the next few months.
Took forever for the dish and modem to get connection this morning, and it’s slow as molasses. I’ve little electricity to play with, this is the third day of poor sun and now the panels are covered. Hopefully they’ll clear off on their own later – one thing I clearly forgot to do was arrange for a squeegee and long pole. Must do that. Tried it with a broom, but the angles all wrong and anyway they’re still covered with ice under the snow. Still, even in the cold solar panels do mostly manage to clear themselves at some point.
A storm blew in overnight, and now there’s snow on top of ice everywhere and it’s going to take some care not to break my neck on the stairs. Lots and lots of lovely frigid wind blowing – for the first time the chickens decided they wanted to stay upstairs in their nice stinky coop this morning. I’ve draped a blanket over it, to keep in what heat they make for themselves.
Shit-shoveling may have to wait for tomorrow, because I doubt the ground will clear anyway and this is a good day to cocoon indoors and burn firewood.
The girls will be fine, so long as there isn’t a draft in the coop. For a treat, you could mix some of their crumbles in warm (about 100 degrees) water or milk. Milk is preferable, but I don’t think you have access to it. I haven’t tried milk powder, but it may work as well as whole.
I gave them some warm rice. Don’t know if it’s as good, but they certainly seemed to enjoy it.
I’ll be picking your brain on foul-weather winter chicken-sitting here before too long…
You need toast, cocoa, and a cozy cabin, and a good book. Or the writing of one.
I hope things get better in all ways for you with the arrival of the new year.
oh, wait…. here:
The Surprisingly Manly History
Of that virile elixir, hot cocoa. Article by Brett and Kate McKay
http://lewrockwell.com/spl4/manly-history-of-hot-cocoa.html
🙂