Frustratedearthmother's Journaling Journey

[baymule]

No snow, just ice on water buckets. Granddaughters had fun busting ice. Had lots of rain, but frozen mud ain’t too bad…… now it’s warming up, maybe sunny days will dry up the mud.

 

[The Porch]

No snow, just ice on water buckets. Granddaughters had fun busting ice. Had lots of rain, but frozen mud ain’t too bad…… now it’s warming up, maybe sunny days will dry up the mud.

Oh I pray so!!! I know we need the frozen to kill bugs, but I still dont like it.
I have not gotten cold enough to kill anything, we are going to have a bad bug year. Tics are out already,

 

[The Porch]

Ugh!

Snow happens so rarely here that I still like it. I like it when it's falling. I like it when it's unblemished and pretty. I do NOT like it when it melts and turns into mud. I'm not a fan of mud!

Me too,,NO to MUD

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I'm so stinkin' proud of myself I could just spit...(except I don't spit). Yuck! But, anyway - a few days ago my tractor wouldn't start. I dunno if I left the key turned on or - the stupid blinkers like to turn themselves on occasionally and I've never figured out the right combination to turn them off. Sounds silly, I know. But, after I moved a round bale last week I left the tractor sitting inside the goat pen overnight and when I went to move it the next day it wouldn't start. ARGH!!! Nothing worse than needing a tractor to start and it doesn't. So, I decided to get one of those fancy-dancy portable battery jump starters. My son has one and I'd seen him use it on the tractor last year so I figured I should have one on hand. Got it ordered, got it in, charged it up and went out today to try to make magic. I fumbled, I faltered, I might've even said a wordy dird or three. Turns out when the battery is really, truly dead you have to use a special button on the jump starter to do a "forced start." I pushed that stupid button over and over. I held it the requisite 3 seconds again and again waiting for the promised green light and the extra burst of power. I couldn't make it do that for nothing. Until it did! Tractor started right up like the trusty work mate that it is. We took a tour around the perimeter fence to be sure to charge it up and I very smugly pronounced it cured.

Also went and fueled up the extra cans of gasoline and diesel for the "justincase" arctic cold front that might or might not be headed our way next week. Ugh...we had our little spit of winter last week and I'm over it. No more please!

Got the 4 silkies moved into their own private area of the yard. They're next to the raised beds with a fence in between. I can open the gate and give them access to do some bug patrol if I have a mind to. No idea the sexes of these cute little fuzzy butts. I haven't heard a crow, nor seen an egg. It's a little early for either I guess.

Still have at least a couple weeks before kidding starts. I'll be working on kidding pens between now and then. Need to pick up some fresh shavings.

Time to figure out something for dinner....probably pork chops.

 

[flowerbug]

it is really tough on batteries when it gets cold, if they get discharged and then frozen they might even be damaged. if the battery is old enough it might be worth it to have it replaced and save yourself further aggravation.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

if the battery is old

Thanks for the suggestion but - nope, this battery is less than a year old. After starting it, I did notice that the stupid lights were still blinking. Pretty sure the switch is bad. I'm going to have DS disconnect them the next time he's here - or I guess I could just cut the wires myself.

Getting ready for the next big freeze. Supposed to be in the low 20's by the weekend with wind chills in the single digits. ARGH! Not excited about that at all!

I'm gathering up my 5 gallon buckets that I can fill with hot water, put them in the garden cart, and haul out to the goats. They better appreciate me, lol. I'm going to bump up the preps on the kidding pens because I'd rather do it in semi-temperate weather than need to do it in sub-freezing temps.

Glad I got the fuel cans topped off yesterday - one less thing to worry about. However, they are still in the back of the truck and need to be unloaded. I wasn't planning on picking up feed until Friday, but I'll head to town in a bit to get feed and shavings. That'll be one more thing out of the way. Laundry will be caught up and some meals pre-cooked. I'll start the generator today also just to make sure it's all good.

So much to do. I'm probably over-reacting, but I darn sure don't want to go through a repeat of what we had in '21. Frozen water pipes and no electricity for days. Bad memories for sure.

Need to get busy!

 

[Mini Horses]

We have similar weather predicted for late week...rain all weekend, of some description.
Cold is all that concerns me about it

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Ugh, didn't get anything of significance done outside today. However, I did get some things taken care of. Had to get my truck inspected. Done. Needed to pick up grain. Done. Needed shavings. Done. Needed a few things from the grocery store. Done. We have to get out again on Friday for what is probably the last follow-up with the neurosurgeon. He's still doing well after his last adjustment, so I don't predict anything else with this surgeon unless DH decides to go through with the spinal decompression. Sigh...