Wow! That's cold!

The storm hit us yesterday and it's really really cold out there. Moo looked out from her pole barn and came running for the grain bucket but went right back in and refused to come out. She didn't even come over an admire my work with a sledge hammer in the biting below freezing temperatures with 200 mph (well it felt like it anyway) winds and take a drink. I'm sure her water's frozen over again so I reminded Ed that I'd bought the tank heater last week and he'll put it out for her this evening.

The goat's refused to go out as well and looked at me like I was crazy when I opened their pen. They ran back inside and batted cute little eyes at me asking for hay and grain. They even resorted to shoving Fifteen up front so I could see a very pregnant goat and feel sorry for them. Yes it worked. I'm a sucker.

The little kittens haven't seen their mama in about three days and we're hoping Precious is still alive. She runs off sometimes and usually comes back pregnant so hopefully we'll see her soon. The little ones are doing fine though and have figured out how to scale the fencing next to the 5 gallon water buckets in the goat stalls to get water. When we noticed the other cats doing this we just never filled the cat water bucket again and I never even thought about the little ones so I was glad to see they are able to get water. They're very warm and toasty in their home which is under the hay pallets. They've got several little burros in there and the hay totally blocks any drafts.

The chickens are fine and still insist on having their time outside. They run out and scratch for a few minutes then run back in. We're getting one lousy egg every other day and I'm just very disappointed in these girls. Come spring, we'll be having serious discussions or a lot of chicken soup.

Jack. Well Jack's decided that he needs to be in the house. Right. Next. To. The. Woodstove. As you walk by he lays as flat as he can so you won't notice him and put him back out.

We're burning hedge and hickory exclusively and I'm stoking every hour at least. Last night we were at 74' at one point in the dining room and probably 20' cooler upstairs. Did I mention it's REALLY cold? And guess what we forgot this fall? Our uptown in-style hillbilly insulation. Yup, we've got snow coming in the original from door which is right at the stairwell. Ed finished the truck and we'll be picking up 20 bales of straw this evening or tomorrow for house baling. Doesn't look purty but we had NO drafts from the north side last year so I'm anxious to get it up.

I'm so happy to say that I caught a glimpse of Ed's back as he was working on the truck and his rash is down to some pinkish-ness, not even as red as a sunburn. His hands and arms are totally 100% cleared and even his knuckles are smooth. In 12 years I've never seen his hands smooth! He tells me his legs still itch and are still raised but they are definitely healing. He sees the doctor tomorrow for a two month visit and I'm anxious to hear her opinion.

But the biggest bestest news is that Vincent turned 5 yesterday! Oh my sweet baby is getting so big! He even pointed out to me that he's *this* close to reaching into the cabinets now. LOL

Me? Well I've been hard at work picking up extra hours for Christmas and working on a couple projects. It's wonderful to be home for the holidays.