Well, well, January was a tough year but we made it🤣
Early January we got a new kitten, Cali, to train up, as Mags is getting on in years, and Boots, who was a great hunter, got hit by a car.
Although he recovered, he is not the same and he seems to identify as a house cat now. We need five working cats to help keep the farm rodent free. So Cali will be ready for spring.
I spent a lot of January reading by the fire, planning for spring animal births, helping my daughter (who is attending nursing school) get the grandsons to and from school, and working my part time hours at the library.
All of which were a great balm to the soul because winter chores can be disheartening.I have broke two buckets pounding out ice. The lay chickens are doing really well and only had a couple days of protesting the cold by not laying well.
We have been having a cold snap, so much wind and snow this month. I do love it when January acts like January, though. A proper winter.
I’ve also been baking ALOT of bread. Part of that is because I have been trying to perfect baking with freshly milled flours, the other reason is because I’ve done a few sourdough bread basics classes so I’ve been taking loaves made with different flours. I love bread. It’s almost religious for me. I feel closer to God when I make it.
I have started my sweet potato slips already and then bought lots of soil and fertilizer the other day so I can start my seedlings. I’m feeling the itch to begin. The days are getting longer because I see new growth in the greenhouses and high tunnel. I love seeing the small changes when the earth wakes up after her rest.
Speaking of rest, We have been training the new puppy, Evie, so we are a bit sleep deprived right now. Experience tells me this doesn’t last long, but man, those 2am, -15 trips out to pee get old really fast.
Thankfully, we have lots of wool blankets, bread and hot tea to keep us warm. Kitten and puppy cuddles help too.
Love Jenn xx
