Warmer days

After so many days where temperatures were bouncing between the single digits and negative numbers, we feel grateful for clear, calm days, and lots of sun to warm the world.  The weather man has assured us that Spring is right around the corner.
Everyone has been enjoying the warmer days.  The snow is gradually going away but the cold nights freeze the melting mounds to make wonderful places for the goats to climb on.

Aside from Queen of the Mountain, the other favorite game appears to be a form of tag where the inside of the barn is 'home base'.  After racing around the dry yard, all the little goats bolt into the barn, bouncing off the gate, the hay feeder, and whatever else they meet along the way.  When the game is over, they all plunk down in the sun near the door to enjoy the warm and chew some yummy hay.

life is good.

Fort Chicken

with all the snow we've been getting lately, it wasn't any time at all before the chicken yard was buried beneath a couple of feet of snow.  It was so sad to see the little chicken girls peeking over the drift  that had pushed against their door.

 Breaking up the drifts into small, shovel sized blocks it took around an hour to clear a play area approximately 8x6.

 Bit-by-bit, the blocks were carefully placed to make a four foot wall surrounding the play yard.  While constructing, I was thinking about the snow forts we made when we were kids.  To make clearing the driveways and sidewalks more like a game, we would carefully cut snow blocks with our shovels and stack them one-after-another on either side forming a great hallways.  When the work was done, we'd take the blocks and build turrets and fortifications.

Fort Ameraucana is ready.  Release the chickens!

In Like a Lion or perhaps a Polar Bear

It's official.  The National weather service has announced that February was the coldest on record for our area.  I'm just happy that it's finally above freezing and has stopped snowing for the moment. 

Apparently, I'm not the only one who's happy.  The girls have been racing in and out of the barn all morning, delighted that they can finally go outside to play without the bitter cold.