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Victoria's avatar

Wow, it really does look cold there. We have happily escaped any ice. We got about a foot of snow from the two go-arounds last week but some of that melted yesterday. But more cold single digits, teens and twenties until maybe Thursday. I've only been out for short stretches today to pull the. garbage cans out to the street, to take the kitchen waste out to the compost pile, and a couple of short forays out to scatter bird seed on the patio. The wind is wicked out there. Looking forward to spring one of these days. I've got all my seeds ordered and delivered just need some warm days to get some winter sowing done.

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Cecilia At The Kitchens Garden's avatar

No spring yet Victoria!! 😂 but oh the sheer delight of seeds - John always sows his way too early - but it makes him

Happy.

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beth Kennedy's avatar

love the potato stacks and I would not be able to stop eating them! the cold sounds brutal and it's that way in michigan also, at least for the next few days. sounds like some change is coming and that's how l life goes. enjoy your warmth and family down under and it must be hard having your heart in two places at once

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Cecilia At The Kitchens Garden's avatar

I ate way more than I should have! And might make them again tonight!

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daleleelife101's avatar

Country folk staunchly maintain their stand huh... and we apply the particular on point humour that necessarily accompanies pragmatism. I must make those potatoes stacks.

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Cecilia At The Kitchens Garden's avatar

The potato stacks are a delight! So easy to- but they do take a while to cook - so give yourself plenty of time. I love them so much (and the fire stove oven is always on) I might live on them!

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Paul McCutchen's avatar

The farmers (including me) used to meet at the local equipment company every morning for coffee and decide on the weather and prices of soybeans, wheat, milo, Cotton, rice, peanuts and whatever else they were growing at the time. A friend of mine had bought some laying hens for his kids but they quit laying. One of the old farmers asked him what he was feeding them. He said he was feeding them some cleanings from the milo grain bin. The old farmer told him "You do realize milo is just a sorghum and has a lot of sugar. Well, the chickens had gotten fat. With a change in feed the chickens started laying again and everyone was happy.

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Cecilia At The Kitchens Garden's avatar

That is the very best story. I often talk hay making with the old fellows - they lament the new ways.

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Keila (KJ) Aartila's avatar

It was only ‐21F degrees when I went out to give the equine beastlìes their hot soaked beet pulp this morning

Ì was not laughing when my fingers froze!

Sposed to be colder tomorrow.

Yippee!🥶

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Cecilia At The Kitchens Garden's avatar

Truly horrible!! That is very very cold.

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rena's avatar

Some of my clients feel guilty about my cleaning their pet's poop. I reassure them by claiming an unofficial company slogan; Poop Is My Life :)

I do ok in cold until the wind decides to menace. Stay warm!

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Cecilia At The Kitchens Garden's avatar

Cold wind definitely makes cold colder. Our clouds have dropped down and now it is snowing. More like frozen air I think! What is your job? That includes poop?

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rena's avatar

Pet care. All manner of pets. In TX the roster was endless. Lot of chickens. Love those rascals. But here in the big city (Chicago), mostly cats and dogs.

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Cecilia At The Kitchens Garden's avatar

Huh. I am looking for bits of work to get me out of the study when o go to Melbourne- maybe I could do pet care. Or dog walking. Dog walking would be horrible in Chicago in winter..

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rena's avatar

Dog walking is part of pet care. Heat is trickier. Keeping sensitive paws off 100 degree concrete and asphalt. Doggie warmth is a thing in the city. The babies are dressed in warm coats and have boots. The use of pet friendly salt is popular in my neighborhood. My specialty is senior and medically fragile pets. I administer subq fluids and give insulin injections to angry diabetic kitties :)

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Cecilia At The Kitchens Garden's avatar

That sounds like a varied kind of job. With training I do not have. I imagine you enjoy it. I might just stick to the dog walking!

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rena's avatar

I love it. I gave up journalism to play with animals and walk in nature every single day of the year. No exceptions.

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Neela 🌶️'s avatar

I love the way you described farm life (especially the weather talk). It does seem like it’s the one thing that unites farmers, no matter what else is going on. And the whole “farming and poo” thing? Yeah, definitely not something you see in the movies. 😂

I hope the warm weather treats you well and the animals behave themselves while you’re away. Safe travels Cecilia.

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Patricia Solari's avatar

I love the walk-about and especially your climb to the top of the barn, along with that black cat. I love cats, had a black cat, actually. Her name was Martini. She could actually play ball--bat a small rubber ball back to me. Anyway, I loved that this cat accompanied you, kept your company so you wouldn't be lonely--or he wouldn't. I think I got to see everyone except FreeBee and Jude, and TonTon. My heart aches for Ton. I just can't stand to see him age, but I was gratified that he takes himself out for a walk about the farm, despite his blindness.

Your explanation of hay--I guess I missed it years ago before I joined up. I never knew first cut wasn't the best. Stay warm, Cecilia. We're having pretty much the same bitter cold up here in Chicago. (My hint to others to tell us where they live, It makes our read so much more enjoyable.))

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Jan 19
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Cecilia At The Kitchens Garden's avatar

Plus - and I don’t say this in a post but leaving the farm even only for a while is incredibly hard. I feel torn in two. And very anxious about it. But. Family first.

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Jan 19
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Cecilia At The Kitchens Garden's avatar

It is! You get it! Plus leaving our own homes - I am not sure what this place will be like when I come back. Imagine months and months with no housework or mopping or toilet cleaning. It will be bad. All that stuff. I have to leave it all behind. The animals will do ok. Which is good.

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