According to a weird American custom, the groundhog saw his shadow this morning, predicting 6 more weeks of Winter. Yuk.
DH had to blow the driveway again this morning. I did the normal chores, I actually got up before him this morning !!
Then we watered the cows together, he tips the water into the troughs, I fill them up and drive it over.
The temperature has been dropping all day again, we are seemingly expecting another 3 Winter storms coming through. Scotch shook herself earlier today, and all the icicles on her tinkled ! The sheep have 4 ft banks of snow just inside their fencing on the South side. This probably stops the wind to some degree, although with their full woolly coats, sure they are as snug as bugs.
Found 8 eggs today, and besides the few chickens that chose to eat barley with the ducks and geese this morning, most of them stay inside the chicken house. I keep the outside door closed as I don't trust Anni and Rosco not to eat eggs. Had to shout at Rosco a few times as he has entered the chicken yard, which he knows I don't allow.
Have got 2 cats to drive with me on the buggy. First, Mischka, the Siamese, and today, Marmalade, the tortoiseshell. Mischka is better, will stay on my lap, or on the seat touching me. I have to hold Marmalade, but she rides with her paws around my neck, and tries to sneak licks to my face. I don't like that, and stop her when she does.
Made black bean soup for DH last night. He enjoyed it, but said it wasn't anything like the one he'd had previously. Probably as I didn't really follow a recipe, did my usual, read a few different recipes, and then went and did my own thing, and also, I've never eaten it before, so didn't really know what I was aiming for. Know he doesn't like liquid soups, prefers stew-like soups, so I made it spoon-stand-up-by-itself thick. Except, seemingly, for black bean soup. That one he likes soupy. Live and learn. I thought it was quite good.
He wants to know why I don't make more cookies, cakes, tarts. 'Coz I'm here on the farm fulltime, and if it's here, I eat it ! It's been a fat 2013 for me. Need to move more, and eat less. Told DH that in Africa, a fat wife is a sign of prosperity - she doesn't have to do heavy physical work if she had a rich husband, they can pay for help.
Just heard a bang in the garage, and Anni barking so went to check, and bbrrrr, it's back down to 6 degrees out there.
Used coconut oil for the first time tonight to make popcorn. I shouldn't eat it, being allergic to corn, but I've been needing something salty and there aren't any crisps in the house (see above 😜). I usually use olive oil. The coconut makes the popcorn sweeter, whiter and not as oily. Hmm. Maybe I'll use that in future. Need to go pop an anti-histamine.
I think I have the water kefir down pat. Had a glass this morning that was crisp, fizzy with a great after-taste. DH takes a sippy cup of it to work everyday. I'm happy because it's so good for him. It's given me a renewed determination to make more ferments for us. Fortunately cabbage grows well here on the farm, and I like picking the catepillars off them to feed to the chickens.
Bedtime for me, night.