What next?

Our health department just posted a new Public Service Announcement notifying county residents that the small local hospital has twice now had to divert patients. The ER has been full along with all the beds. I think it was interesting that our tiny local paper didn't pick up that story. I don't want to be an alarmist, but there it is in plain language.

We had a 2 hour drive to the Mad-City VA yesterday and even though I usually hate the drive, it was a nice break from hanging around the farm and staring at the same walls each day.

We even had a picnic in the car on the way back home after we ordered food from Culvers. The good news is that ENT has released him from any more follow ups for his throat cancer. The doctor said he was marked as a survivor.

The ENT doctor also insisted that he get to see his Primary Doctor since she hasn't seen him for nearly two years. Last year, her check up was by phone and even though he was doing better last year, his health has declined since then and he needs a reassessment. 

Other changes are occurring too. I'm going in a different direction than working out at the gym or doing Virtual Workouts at home. I tried that routine and was fairly successful at it but when the outdoor temps dropped way below zero, I lost interest in trying to work out in the shed.

This morning I did a 20 minute Beginners Yoga session with a YouTube video instructor. I am a real skeptic and always thought Yoga was not a real workout or thing. 
After the 20 minutes, my back, hips, and shoulders felt great as well as my mental attitude and how was that even possible?

I followed that up with a morning walk to the ridge and back just to see how it felt and I think I had more clarity and focus to start my day.

Yoga? Pilates? My son said try Pilates if you want pain! 

My next goals? More of the same. Strength, balance, endurance, and a new addition. Mindfulness and inner calm.

If this mornings events are any indication ... it will be a win win for me through the fall and winter.

It is very refreshing to go away and take a break,

to clear your head,

and just get into something else.

~Francois Nars

Stormy with a cold wind comin'

Here is one of my cold weather 'get ups'. No skin showing, no skin to get frostbitten. Or so I hope.

Here is the 'lame' skidsteer and the 'Ru parked up by the house. I normally park it by the horse trailer but neighbor Justin and I worked out that if I parked here, he could do the turn around for me.
It worked perfectly.

Charlie was not entirely sure about leaving the porch as the snow was over his head.
Later on he did some snow tunneling while I shoveled off the porch and made a path to the shed.

With all critters fed and extra hay laid out for mid day chores walked up the driveway to go check the mail.

I have to admit, Justin and Lauren are incredible neighbors. Hands down, country folk are the best. I stopped in with an invite for coffee from Lauren and she helped me brush up on my Excel Spreadsheet skills while we visited.
By the time I left, the temperatures were warm enough to use the outside hydrant.

With temps dropping to -32 on Wednesday morning, I didn't want to take a chance on filling the heated tank in that cold. I was afraid that the self drain would freeze and I'd have no outside water.
Mica and Dixie got tepid water as did Lil' Richard. I got that in the house and my new cold weather routine is to hand water them about 5 times a day. I wish I had heated buckets for their paddocks.

I had to stomp a trail down the hill so I could drain the hose after watering from the hydrant. 
With that done, I picked up the shovel and started making a wide path from the driveway to the porch.

I had help from the dogs....

If you could call it that...
I think Charlie had the upper hand even though he is much smaller. I let them play for as long as I could let them. No outings for the dogs for the next 3 days.

I'll finish up with Charlie and his snow snuffling.

It is pretty cute.

All in all, I got a lot accomplished and even laid out piles of feed for the cold spell. That way I can just grab it and toss it in the sled and go.
I'm hoping to be able to feed everyone at least 3 times a day.

I thought about a middle of the night feeding. But I have to admit it.
Dark?
Winds?
Dangerous Cold?
No, I'll have to do it at dawn and dusk and give them enough to last most of the night.

The thought of this cold really frightens me.
I wonder if some of these younger folk understand what this bitter and dangerous cold will do to them?

Anyway...the sun is coming up, time to wrap up and head out.
We are at our warmest for today at -7 according to the local website.

Dang. I forgot that thermometer once again!

Most schools will be closed in the surrounding area. Many local businesses have shortened their hours from 9am to 3pm. The Governor has declared a State of Emergency for all counties. I think he was wise.

Time to get out some items to practice Still Life Photography and perhaps work on my spreadsheets along with a few other indoor projects.

Stay warm.

I loved the chill

Yesterday morning started out cold. It wasn't a killing frost, but anything that wasn't under a tree or the porch got nipped.

I used the remote for the Subaru for the second time since we bought it as I warmed up a cup of coffee and gathered a few items just before sunrise. September sunrises can be extremely colorful with all the moisture in the air. I had missed some spectacular colors this past week, but decided to go out and brave the first Frosty Morning.
The Subie was nice and warm when I hopped in and the windshield was defrosted.

I drove up to my morning spot and sat while the sky did it's thing.

Before the sun arrived, I headed back towards home but stopped to take a shot that is similar to the one I did with the IR filter a few days ago. At least there was a lot of color and you can see the frost on the fields.
Now if only they would stop putting up cell towers!

By chore time the winds had picked up and the clouds moved in. I wanted to go move the trail camera and gather up the temporary electric fence in the woods.
So after breakfast I headed out.

And...one thing led to another. For many years we had use of the neighbor's meadow that adjoins us. We used it all summer to graze our equine and hubby kept it clipped with his tractor and brush hog. After his stroke, we reduced the herd and I couldn't keep the Meadow up. Multi flora rose, burdock, and other weeds grew over the lines. I gave up and last fall started to take down the posts and fencing. I only got part of the way done by the time winter set in.

Yesterday was chilly enough for me to work in my old coveralls and a stocking cap. So I pulled out the 4 wheeler and buckled down to work.

Thick gloves and coveralls were a good thing. Pulling fence wire and posts in the above mess is not exactly fun. I brought nipper and clippers and in some places had to actually cut my way around a t-post in order to pull it.

I'd brought the 'fence puller' that hubby had made, but put it in the cart as the ground is still supple from all of the rain.

I filled the cart as full as it could get and headed back to the house with my load. I was thirsty, warm, and wanted something to eat.

I considered not going back out, but there was one last section to do. The dividing line we used to rotate pastures. The wire in this section was new so I'd save it.

I had something to eat. Rich said he wasn't hungry. He watched Netflix most of the day. I asked him to come help and he said he couldn't. Or well, maybe after he'd watched another episode of whatever he was watching.

When I sat on the bench to put my work boots back on. A Junco appeared and landed on the chair just across from me. It stared at me and tipped its head.
"Well hello!" I said.

My grandmother used to say that snow would arrive within 30 days or less after a Junco appeared.

I went out and pulled the rest of the posts and as I was coming back through the gate there he was! He'd come out to see what I was doing. He then did his 'walking' exercise. He only did the driveway twice but I considered that better than nothing.
He then volunteered to feed Dixie and the donkeys while I did the mules.

I consider that a win.

The cold air felt great on my face. I do like the cooler weather.
I know, I am odd.

But I do like the chill.
Winter is coming.