Steve from Agway arrives with a truckload of straw, $6 a bale, more than hay (which is about $4 a bale). The donkeys can lie on it and it doesn’t absorb urine and feces the way hay does.

When you live on a farm with animals, weather takes on a particular hue and responsibility sometimes. Storm Center is in overdrive this morning, predicting a “life threatening” massive, historic and unprecedented storm system (all their words) hitting today, tonight and all through Thursday. Bitter cold, high winds, sleet, ice and blizzard conditions leaving up to 30 more inches on top of what we already have.

I have to pay serious attention to that. I called Steve at the Salem Afgway at 7 a.m. and he was there of course (Steve is  the person you want to call when there’s trouble, he’s a volunteer fireman and first responder and has saved and helped lots of people around here). He also works at Agway. I said I needed a heated bucket to put in the barn, enough straw for the donkeys to lie in, and some extra grain, as it may be a long time before they eat any grass or can even get to the feeders. A half hour later, he pulled into the driveway and we started loading the straw into the barn. Maria and I will spread it out later. And put hay out. The donkeys will be in there until Thursday or Friday, and I wasn’t quite as prepared as I should have been or usually am. I’m ready now.

There is already cold and freezing rain and looks like 48 hours of heavy snow, on and off, plus a lot of ice.  The donkeys need to go into the barn and stay there. Will have to figure out where the dogs can go..they can’t even get into their fenced-in area and the doghouse is now buried in snow.

I love storms, I have to say, and the strategizing, planning and animal care that comes along. The farm comes first, and the animals on it. It is a big responsibility, and it never becomes more clear than during a storm like this. We’ll see, but it does sound unprecedented. I’ll be taking photos, posting them (as long as the satellite holds up) and we’ll be shoveling and scurrying. Got a good bunch of food yesterday and hope the power holds up. Great meditation day. I met with my spiritual counselor, Mary Muncil yesterday and we talked about meditation, how to take it seriously. She is a minister and she married Maria and me and is a wonderful element in my life. She reminded me of the Bible quote she read at our wedding. “I give you life and death. Choose life.”