Let it Snow!

As I went to bed last night, the weather report looked grim. 12-24 inches of snow was called for in the immediate Washington, DC surroundings.  Although I was feeling a little under the weather myself, work had to be done.  Wood carried in for the impending blizzard, animals needed tending, and basic snow preparation were all tasks that cannot be avoided.

At around 9 pm, the snow began to fall here at Piscataway Acres.  I went to bed.

By the morning we had received 5 inches of snow.  Any amount is enough to make Chesapeake and Finnemore shudder, but 5 inches was overdoing it.  Creativity was needed to get the pigs to go out and take care of “business”.  I sloshed through the snow to the barn and removed a bit of hay. Sprinkling the hay outside the backdoor gave the pigs a non-icy place to walk and relieve themselves, which they did. The snow was coming down heavy and, although the pigs used the restroom, they had no problems complaining about the inclement weather with high pitch squeals and whines.

Kit Catches Snowflakes on Her Tongue

As the snow continues to fall, the animals are checked on frequently. The alpacas are quietly laying in their stalls munching on hay.  The sheep occasionally enjoying going out into the snow and running around.  Then they run back into the barn, shake the snow off, and relax in a pile of clean hay. The goats are cold and have found that the best spot is underneath the milk stand in the main section of the barn.  They seem to like this spot and will lay there whenever it is too windy or wet.  Juniper is not happy about the snow and has hunkered down in her pen.   She has a pile of blankets and hay on top of her so you can only see her snout and two eyes peeping out.  The chickens are also not too happy with the weather and only reluctantly leave the coop to find something to eat or lay an egg.  Most of the chickens are perched in the coop as if ready for bed.

I will have to take Chesapeake and Finnemore out to the barn to get some outside time. Although they seem much more content laying in their blankets by the fire, they do get restless if they don’t have any time to play outside.
The snow is beautiful and since I have no place to go, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!