Meteorologists are threatening, several days in advance so I am not sure how much is actual predictions or more hype/hope, our first winter storm. Preparations for a cold, snowy winter continue as we put away chicken tractors, stack pallets collected free from the road sides, pull the last of the weeds from beds long unattended, collect radish seed pods, and check on the sugar beets that will be over wintered for Spring piglets.
These next couple days will include the last push to ensure that the important tasks are attended to before the possibility of our first real snow - the lawn tractor will go in the barn, perhaps some of the floor boards can be moved around so a couple of the tractor attachments can go in there as well; if not, I will be scavenging old tarps to cover them where they lay. Items stored in the barn are lost to us for the winter season as snow from most of the front of the old dairy barn falls in front of the door; what doesn't fall there naturally is deposited there to allow regular access the area of the barn that my uncle and cousin use as their workshop.
Discussions of where to store currently empty rabbit cages included the feasibility of getting the cages up the inside stairs or risk having to chop ice from the exterior entrance to the basement should we need more room for growing bunnies. The last of the plastic will be removed from the hoop-style greenhouse to allow for quick excavation of snow later this winter and easy application of new plastic for early garden starts. We had hoped to have the plastic on before the snow arrived, but heating fuel and electricity take precedence when you have an 11-month old.
Avenues where snow is typically piled will be weed whacked, dried hydrangea stems and overgrown grass removed along with any other possible hang-ups for the plow. A lonely perennial shrub will be carefully protected from falling ice off the roof and brushes with the plow by an A-frame of plywood. I do not own a plow rig and my small Kubota, while it could clear the entire 1/3 mile driveway, would not do well with repeated abuse of that type all winter long. My cousin and my uncle, who are also my closest neighbors, do most of the plowing with my husband and I to clean up immediately around the house. When there is some extra cash on hand, a plow rig is on the wish list and perhaps I can repay some of that favor; until then I am extremely thankful for all that they do here.
One more immediate task is to eradicate the family of mice/rats who have decided that snuggling in with the rabbits for the winter is a good idea. They have started collecting hay and hair from around the cages and are making a nest somewhere underneath the shelves at the back of the garage. We can hear them scratching and packing when we open the door to the garage. Traps will be set and if those don't work then I may resort to chemical warfare. Feed costs are high enough right now, I don't need to be feeding those destructive little critters.
In between there will be the regular chores of cleaning out the rabbit cages, scooping the litter box, burning the few remaining piles of brush (now that there is a light coating of snow on the ground), cleaning out the chicken coop, vacuuming, dishes, etc. Perhaps there will even be time to add some more products to the website.
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