Day: January 23, 2011

Not too cold for these guys, running down a path smoothed by snowmobiles. Frieda in the lead, coming to us.

When it gets cold, and your eyes are dry, and you cough, and your hands are dry and your breath gets a bit short, grab a camera and head out for the winter pasture, where you see the lines of an electric sheep fence against the snow, and you warm up and smile.

The cold descended Saturday afternoon, and it is a chilling, crisp and powerful call to nature. This cold changes the chemistry of thing, hardens the snow. The pipes nearly froze last night but an infrared heater staved things off. The worst of it will be today and tomorrow. Ben is her shoveling the tons of snow off of the roof, before another storm hits. Chris and Kevin plowed and sanded. We are keeping up. If the predictions are correct about a mid-week storm, that will be a challenge. The thing about a farm is the responsibility for the animals and the buildings. It always hangs in your mind and heart, no matter where are you or what you are doing.

THe cavalry: Christ Barrett and Kevin Baylor. Digging out.

So the Library Tour is getting exciting. Lots of decisions suddenly. Going to Granville today in bitter cold but sunny skies. And I’m sure I can make it to Cobleskill, N.Y. Monday and hopefully, to Salisbury, Conn. after that (Tuesday). It’s a little uncertain beyond that, as a major storm is predicted to come up the East Coast Wednesday and Thursday. We’ll see. If I can make it, I surely will. The farm is buried in snow and ice and animal care becomes a real challenge, as farmers know. But I’m taking it a day at a time. I am expecting to see few brave souls in Granville, but you never know. I am excited about the tour no matter what happens, and I will keep people posted.

Libraries are worth the trip. And Maria and I are excited about it. And the redoubtable Tracy says she can get here and watch the farm no matter what and take care of things no matter what. Whew.