A Week of Snow

January has proven to be a frigid and snowy month here in Maine.  Of course it should be during this time of year, but all in a weeks time is a bit much to handle, both physically and mentally.  The bank account also takes a beating since appointments get cancelled due to poor driving conditions, and don't forget that the plow guy needs to be paid to remove all the snow!

On a positive note, we didn't lose power during the blizzard!  Always a silver lining.  Anyway, all of the animals did just fine, including the chickens, who are getting quite used to life in the Northeast.

To see more photos, check out my Etsy Shop.

The Final Days of Autumn

The days are nearly as short as they are going to get and all I can say is thank goodness!  How about you?  Do you  prefer the long, dark days of winter or the long days filled with sunlight and activities?  

Truth be told, I like a mixture of both, usually somewhere in the middle.  Must be the Libra in me!  I welcome winter's arrival after a busy summer and fall.  It gives me time to take a breath, to hang out in my jammies half the day if I want!  It's also the time of year when I get fresh ideas for the coming season of endless work.  I suppose the quiet interlude of winter is the most fertile time for my mind.  Lots of ideas are born when I am not so busy going here and there.

I hope you are able to balance your life during the Holiday season, but especially to find balance during all of the seasons of the year.

Are you still looking for a gift to give that special someone?  The photos in this post are not in my Etsy Store yet, but if you'd like a print of any of these I'd be happy to add it to my shop for you.  Just ask!  Or you might find something else you'd like.  I have more than just chicken pictures!  Feel free to browse by clicking on this link.

Once Upon a Time I had Ducks

I always wanted ducks so a couple of years ago I decided that even though I didn't have a pond it would still be okay to get a few and just provide them with a swimming pool.  Little did I know how much work that would entail, especially in the winter when I could no longer fill their pool using an outdoor hose.  

With each animal that I own I do everything I can to make their life wonderful.  I always ask myself this one thing:  If I were a duck or a chicken or a horse or cat or dog, would I feel lucky living here?  If I can't answer a resounding YES! then I'm not doing it right.

So, back to the ducks.  Winters in Maine are harsh, and sometimes even that is an understatement.  But ducks love to swim so when the temperatures reached 20 degrees I lugged many buckets of water out for them, warm water, mind you, so they could have a nice, warm bath!  Crazy, I know, but like I said, if I were those ducks I would want my caretaker to lug water for me so I could take a warm winter bath.  And so I did this, day after day after day.  

I'm no spring chicken myself and after awhile my arms ached terribly.  I need my arms for the work that I do, so I decided it would be best to find my ducks a home with a pond.  And so the story ends with "Once upon a time, I had ducks."  Oh, but they were happy, very well pampered ducks and I know whenever they quacked they were saying "YES, we love living here!"

 You can find some of these at my Etsy Store.

Winter is Coming!

Providing some entertainment is key to happy hens during the colder months.  Suet is a big hit with the girls, keeping them occupied as well as giving them extra slow burning calories to stay warm during the long, cold nights.

In northern New England, winter has a way of sneaking in before December has even made an appearance. We had a huge snow storm on November 2 and then another one the day before Thanksgiving. The hens are clearly not impressed, especially my two Welsummers. They tolerate cold temperatures but when compared to my Wyandottes and Easter Eggers, my two Wellie girls are ready to pack up and head south!  

In the fall I filled up a small kiddie pool with dirt and put it in the coop so during the winter they would have a place to take their dust baths.  They are very pleased with their high end accommodations!  They also have access to the horse stall and during the late morning and early afternoon when the sun shines in, they have a sun bath.

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