Bomb cyclone...

The weather phenomenon known as "bombogenisis," is hitting our area with one heck of a Nor'easter.  It started out this morning with tiny snow flakes, and the snow picked up as the day went on. Soon when I looked out the windows all I could see was white.  Now, as the light begins to fade, the wind is picking up. The old windows rattle and shake, and the trees outside are dancing.  Inside the wood stove burns brightly, and we are cozy and warm. 

Yesterday we cleaned out the duck house, chicken coop, rabbit hutches and pony shed.  The animals can snuggle down in clean bedding as the storm rages. All their feeders are stuffed with food, and I've been out twice today to make sure they have fresh, thawed, water.  Spirit goat has her own apartment. She came to live here last spring, and is ranked low in the goat hierarchy. The other goats push her around, try to hog the food, and apparently don't let her snuggle in with them, which is one way goats stay warm. She began hanging out by herself in an empty calf hutch next to the goat and pony cozy.  I took a bale of straw out there for her and she seemed pleased, and stayed there even more.  Then, during the horrid cold snap last week we put a heat lamp in there for her.  I don't like using heat lamps, because they are a fire hazard, but I also don't like having a cold animal.  Spirit immediately saw the benefit of the lamp.  The other goats like it, too, and go in there with her sometimes. However, they are creatures of habit and mostly sleep in their regular cozy. I put our Christmas tree at the doorway of the hutch to serve as a wind block, (and easy to reach snack!) and I see Spirit in there basking in the glow of her lamp. She almost looks like she is smiling.

The wild birds have been very active at the feeder.  I have woodpeckers, doves, juncos, cardinals, jays, chickadees and more.  I have to refill their favorite feeder several times a day.

I like knowing they have an easy source of food when the weather is this way.

Chris worked from home today, setting up his computer in the front room near the wood stove.  All day I have heard him talking to people, solving their problems.  It's quite interesting. Sometimes it is like he is speaking a foreign language, because he talks in computer terms that I have never heard.
He took his "lunch" break a little before dusk and went out to snow blow the driveway. The snow blower throws the snow in a high arc in the air and with today's wind, the poor guy was soon frosted.

When he came in I had hot coffee and warm,dry clothes ready for him. And now he is back to work.

There is something rather lovely about being home, safe and warm, while the snow falls and the wind howls.  We do worry that the power will go out, never a good thing in cold weather, as pipes can freeze and wreak havoc.  We hope for the best and settle in, grateful to have these walls to shelter us from the storm.