It's been a while, and a busy, successful time at the farm, but now I feel winter approaching. The 40-degree days and light snow this week didn't help quell that seasonal anxiety any, though I know it's too early, really, to think winter is here. But preparations are under way.
The glass panes have all been re-installed in the stall windows in the dairy and tobacco barns. The mow is full of what we now believe to be all the hay we'll need to get us through until the grass is lush again in May. The heated water buckets are clean and ready to install when it gets that cold. The horses are on day turnout, and in all night again. This uses more bedding, of course, so we're drawing up plans to have enough sawdust on hand.
The cycle continues.
The list of major projects has been whittled down-- most have gotten done, with a few to finish before the bad weather drives us inside and circumscribes our planning. Today will be a number of putter projects-- small things that get left out when something major has to be done, but now add up to a full day's work. Dragging the ring, cleaning manure from the stallion pastures, installing an EZ-loader tarp roll to the pickup, and measuring & planning for next weekend's big project-- replacing the main door to the dairy barn. Before winter sets in, I'd like it to work smoothly and well, so that'll be the next gig.
And the sun seems to be shining this morning, which is a pleasant change from the past several days...
