This has been a brutal January. The very brief thaw last week melted a lot of snow, offering some relief, but was followed by a deep freeze into single digits. Snow replaced by deadly ice, combined with frigid conditions, has now made life quite difficult. In some ways, it’s an improvement over the deep snow. There are many cleared paths now, but lethal patches of ice abound and we have to be very careful.
The birds continue to delight us through the kitchen window, thanks to Fred’s wonderful feeding station. We have been besieged by starlings, but even they are glorious in their raucous greed.
The horses thrive in the cold, but ice makes moving around difficult. Snow is easier on them than this terrible ice, but since they go out every day, they are careful, and are definitely not romping. Their winter coats fluff up and keep them warm, even when the temperatures are bitter. As for we humans, this is “green suit weather”.
In the latter part of the 1980s, we visited The Cornwall Hunt in northwestern Illinois. There was endless countryside, with beautiful, rolling hills, fabulous hounds, and fun people. They fox hunted only until December, because the weather got so cold it shut them down. In bad weather, they abandoned formal hunting attire and wore coveralls, on days they called “green suit weather”. In the town of Galena, Harry and I bought “green suits” – coveralls – and they really are warm. I wish I had known about them in my twenties, when I spent many miserable days outside in improper clothing. We are still wearing our Galena coveralls, almost 40 years later, on very cold days…
Harlan came to empty the dumpster today, wearing his coveralls. The manure and shavings freeze to the sides of the dumpster, and Harlan had to climb in to scrape things loose. Afterwards, he came to the house for a little warmup.
I have been missing riding, so have been climbing onto the horses in the evenings, though the past two nights have been too cold for that silliness.
On Saturday, before it got bitterly cold, we had a lovely fire and Jane came over for a visit, bearing gifts for Eddy.
Eddy does not care about the cold. Every day is an adventure, and every night he dreams about all the fun to be had.
Weedy does not like the cold. He would just as soon sleep in until Spring!
I have been badly demoralized by current events. I do not usually comment on them here, because this blog is an exercise in sharing my life, and the beauty of the world around here. We are fortunate beyond measure, but my heart is breaking for the many whose lives are being upended.
Be safe, be well, be kind to the unfortunate. This, too, will pass. Better times will come. Slava Ukraini! Peace.
Happy to hear you have green suits. We could all use some extra insulation these days.
Hugs all around.
Slava Ukraini
God Save America
Peace
as depressing as this country feels right now… your pic of Eddy having demolished his new toy made me laugh out loud!!!
I covet your green overalls. they look very warm.
Slava Ukraine
Slava USA.. we need it
Me too, I’ve laughed out loud several times perusing these wonderful photos! Thanks for levity!!
Sorry to always say the same thing, but these are a joy to see. Oh my, I faithfully feed the birds and enjoy watching them. Our first dog, Jackson, would sit at the window that was his entertainment……then he’d see a squirrel. We have lots of Cardinals this year and lots of Squirrels too. The frigid days below 15 are brutal. Those coveralls sure warm a person up.
We could use green suits at the moment! The cats haven’t wanted to go out for weeks. Lily growls by the door but when it opens she always changes her mind. These past few days have got me down too but all we can do is keep going and believe it will pass. Your pictures are a bright spark to dispel the gloom.
Thanks Anne. You always brighten my day.
I’d have a green suit myself and I believe I would sleep in it
Art has the most gorgeous mane! I have noticed that before, but I have forgotten the comment on it. It should be on a saddlebred so it wouldn’t have to be all braided up! It could grow nice and long then. The political news is beyond depressing and horrifying. Who knows what will come next. Only four more years! Can we stand it? Your photos do help as others have mentioned stay warm. I love the green suits.
Oops! I was dictating and I was trying to say Bart has the most gorgeous mane!