It is the beginning of February and we are officially snowed in. In the past few weeks we have received many feet of snow. We have shoveled and shoveled and shoveled. The snow banks are so high it is hard to see the front of the house. The snow is so deep the dogs can barely walk through it. The kids have a hard time sledding and the birds have said forget it. We have a path shoveled around the house, to the generator, the little barn and the driveway. Besides the plowed driveway that is the extent of our area. The thrill and excitement of storms and snow days is long gone. My claustrophobia has kicked in full throttle. My Seasonal Affective Disorder has bobbed it's head and I'm scrambling to fight and keep my head above the water this year.
The chickens and ducks have spent way too much time in their house with all the snow and cold weather. Inside they are cozy with warm hay, heat lamps, food and water. On weekends and other days I am home I lug 20 gallons of warm water out to the small kiddie pool for them to take a full bath. On these days I leave their coop door open so they can roam the small area I have shoveled. If I make sure the dogs are inside I can leave the paddock door open and the ducks will march down the path towards the front door. They don't seem to like the cold snow on their feet as they often pull their feet up inside their feathers for a moment to warm them.
While I'm sure the bunnies prefer summer, where they can lounge in the sun and graze on green grass and clover, the winter doesn't seem to bother them too much. They all have their own areas they live in. Noel lives under the shed. Maisy lives in a small house between the shed and little barn. Maxine and Ashley live under the little barn. They come and go as they like. They always have fresh hay and water in a heated water bowl in the back of the barn. They tunnel themselves out from the snowstorms in the early morning before I even get out there. They great me morning and night, coming to see what goodies I have brought for them. In the winter I supply fresh veggies/fruit daily. Sometimes I bring treats like crackers or cereal, which they love. Mrs. Hughes comes inside for the winter. Last winter she did not adapt and her ears received some frostbite. We immediately brought her inside. She lives in a cage when we are not home but is let out in a fenced in area when we are here. Because of our dogs, we have to make sure we are there to supervise when she is running free. She loves being inside and often nudges our feet for a pat. She comes running when she hears the cupboard door opening and the crinkling of cereal bags.
My outside animals help keep me going in the winter. They depend on me and I need this. I enjoy bundling up in snow pants and other winter garb to sit with them. I play them music, watch them, make sure everyone is doing ok. On weekends I will bring my hot coffee out with me in the morning and talk with everyone. I guess you could call it my therapy. Hey, whatever gets me through this!
