A Cold Front......

Alfie wearing his booties

It does make us giggle when we watch the BBC news to see the UK grind to a halt because of the snow. We chat to all family and friends back home and it seems the world has ended because of the weather.  The last heavy snow storm the UK had was about 2 years ago and we sent booties home for my sisters dog Alfie, as they are unable to get them there.  I am not sure if Alfie is ever very impressed about wearing them but he has become a bit of a trend setter in the neighbourhood for his booties.

The biggest joke is always the railways.  The UK does have a great train service, you can get anywhere but the joke always was and is the trains are delayed again because of leaves on the tracks, or it's raining or it's snowing or ooh! it's too hot today! Schools have shut down and the shops sell out of the essentials! 

So for all our family and friends back in "Blighty" this post is really for you.  Last night we hit -33 (that includes the wind chill) Other places in Canada where down to -40 and -50 so -33 could still be seen as bikini weather compared to some.

One of our Berks enjoying some hot water!

These are the days we worry about our animals, I should really change that to I worry and would like to bring them all in by the fire! I am always so delighted when you head out first thing in the morning to do chores and you see heads popping out of housing and all animals are accounted for.  

Last night we put blankets on the horses, Lily loves her blankie, but May just groans every time you put it on but it's an extra barrier for them which will keep a bit more heat in on the colder nights.  Once it is back to about -20 they will come off.  Extra bedding gets added to the pigs housing so they can burrow nice and deep and stay nice and warm.

Days like today means lots of hot water and hot food is lugged around the farm to all the animals. We like making sure they all have something warm in their bellies. I think what amazes me still is the chickens still lay in these temperatures. The trick is to be checking on the eggs regularly so they do not freeze.  

Extra bedding for the pigs.

Tonight is only meant to be -30! and all being well by the weekend we should be at the more "normal" temperatures of -10.  We hope for the sun to shine as it always makes colder days just feel that little bit warmer and I can head back into the greenhouse to harvest some spinach and kale that we still have growing.