February

February: The month that feels the longest and coldest; yet it flies by before we accomplish the many tasks on our list.  As I look back at January, I realize we already have some catching up to do. 

 

The wood pile from fall sits seasoning in the winter snow.  We will split it early spring and dry it out through the summer.  This is next winter's fuel.  Free heat!  Just takes sweat and splinters to prepare it. We actually had a cord delivered to our house this week.  It is terrible wood.  I think the people found it laying by a creek somewhere.  It is soaked.  Lucky for us, we still had a cord split under a tarp.  The boys have been working hard to get it in and ready to burn.  We have gone through more wood this year then usual.

On our February list:  Pigs: They need to be moved to a larger area.  A few little fixes, and hopefully, they'll be in their new home this weekend.  Otherwise, they're going to bust through this door.  We had a chicken eaten by a pig last year.  I don't want any of our birds captured by these cute little ravenous girls.

 They are getting bigger each day.  It's neat to see them grow. 


Hog feeder - a wonderful farm invention

The melting snow and refreeze is causing trouble in the coop.  The door has been freezing shut and water keeps flowing into the coop.  This will be a mess once the expected snow and ice head our way this week.  Another chore to knock off the February list:  Coop drainage.  We need to clear the debris around the chicken coop so the water can flow past without flooding the doorway.



Thankful for lined bibs and snow boots: stinky bibs and boots

Our hay is looking good.  We have hay in our small barn and large barn. Our organization went haywire when the children decided to make forts out of hay bales.  Another task for February: organize and count bales.  I think we have enough to last till spring. 



Chickens are jealous because the pigs get the food scraps now.

The kids are great helpers when it comes to working and helping around the property.  They'll have plenty to do to keep busy this month. 

 

It will be so nice, though, when they can run outside, play and work throughout the day.  Although, we can get out a bit now, it's just not the same. We're getting cabin fever.  I'm finding myself dreading to go outside in the mornings.  It takes a long time to get dressed and head out in the cold.  But it's funny, once I step out the door, I'm instantly relaxed and look forward to seeing the animals.  I take time and enjoy the quiet.  It's actually hard to pull myself back into the house. It kind of reminds me of putting kids in the tub.  They don't want to go, but once they're there, they don't want to get out.  Having animals forces me to go out and enjoy the day, even when at first, I don't feel like going out.  It also gets the kids outside. 



We find tires in the woods.  It would be nice to find cool stuff. I guess tires are pretty cool to six year olds.



Other February plans include:

continue covering the garden beds

order seeds and supplies

clean brooder box

trim goat and sheep hooves

prune fruit trees

put gravel down on the driveway

clean pens for goat births

prepare kidding kits

order chicks (layers)

make rabbit watering system

bring goats in just before birth dates

make milk stanchion and get goats used to it.....ASAP.  This should be number one on the list.