Family update - The Arctic edition

It was cold today. Cold enough I broke out my snow pants and extra long wool scarf. But really, it didn't feel too much different appropriately bundled than the times we have been in the single digits this winter. 
  • The animals are doing fine. As predicted, the sheep appeared to be completely unbothered.
  • Our new hens, the ones who were chicks in June and and are now full grown, are buff brahmas. We chose them because they are supposed to be particularly cold hardy. I guess they are because while all the other chickens didn't mention so much as a beak out the door, the five new hens were out and about as if it were thirty degrees warmer. 
  • We still have running water in the barn. It feels almost miraculous. Both I. and I have a brief moment every time we use the hydrant where we wonder if this is the time the hydrant freezes. Trust me that we don't take running water for granted.
  • It was cold enough last night that L. opted not to stargaze with her telescope despite Jupiter, Saturn, and the moon being visible.
  • Do you want to know the thing I like least about super cold weather? How long it takes to put on all the outerwear and then take that outerwear off. It probably takes me a good ten minutes to get all the various extra layers on. Multiplied by however many times I need to head out to the barn in a day, that ends up being a significant chunk of time just putting on sweaters and coats. 
  • Today kind of felt like a holiday because everything we normally do on a Friday was cancelled due to weather. The down side was that the library was closed as well which was frustrating for certain family members.
  • And here is my probably extremely unpopular opinion. I would actually rather have sub-zero temperatures than 100+ degree temperatures. I've taken care of the barn and cared for horses in both. Once I'm bundled, I'm actually not uncomfortable. I even downgraded a layer by the time I was finished cleaning the barn. In extreme heat there is nothing you can do to make yourself more comfortable. I can remember a couple of days last summer with sweat pouring off me as I gritted my teeth and fought the flies. Even after I got inside it took quite a while to feel recovered. I think the horses would agree with me as well. As long as they are out of the wind and have plenty of food and water, they seem pretty chipper. In very high heat, they have a very difficult time staying comfortable and I have to hose them down often to keep their body temperature down. It is stressful. Cold is better. 
  • Tomorrow we're supposed to get all the way to 7°. Maybe I'll be able to leave off the snow pants by lunch. 

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