Weather Chickens Say a Warming Trend is Coming

I have not seen my hens in at least a week. I reach in their house every few days and feel around until I find a bunch of feathers just to make sure they haven't frozen to death, but other than that, I don't bother them, and they stay inside where it is as warm as it can get in a Rubbermaid storage box.

I was amazed to see them out in the sunshine this morning. It is still only 10 degrees F today but evidently they feel better times are coming, as they were out scratching around and enjoying the sunshine. They are nice and plump with thick fluffy feathers and they are looking very healthy, which is pretty amazing.

Anyway, if we can trust the chickens, better days are ahead.

Frozen Water Pipes

Our cold snap is gradually lessening (it is presently 8 degrees Fahrenheit here), but with this deep cold for this many days and nights, it is inevitable that some pipes would freeze. Thankfully so far ours have not. But the parsonage at church had frozen pipes; next came The Way Station, where a water line upstairs broke and dumped water all over the youth center and front half of the thrift store while the place was closed, causing extensive damage. And now it's the elementary school. I just got a call stating that the children had been moved to the new wing to avoid "water and fume issues" in the old wing.

I am really, really looking forward to a thaw.

LOL

Did I ever tell you about the duck in our chimney?

Nope, I'm pretty sure that's something I have never shared. And you're going to wish after reading this that I had let it remain a deep, dark secret a few more years.

Last fall, Barry decided to clean out the chimney before the new heating season began. Our brick chimney runs through the middle of the house. At the bottom, in the basement, there's a little door you can open to sweep out the ashes that have fallen to the bottom of it. It appeared that nobody had cleaned out our chimney in years, maybe decades, because he shoveled out garbage pail after garbage pail of ashes and soot.

And a duck.

Or at least a big bird of some sort. Maybe a seagull.

Anyway, there was this dead bird entombed in the chimney, partially burnt away but still enough there to hold together and be very clear that it was a big bird. We figure the poor thing fell down the chimney last spring sometime and of course could not get out. We just hope he died quickly.

Ew.

Barry the Fireman

Here is Barry in his turnout gear.

And here are three goofy kids trying on Dad's turnout gear.

Gratuitous Snow Picture

Barry Joins the Fire Department

Ever since we moved to New Albin, Barry has wished he could be on the volunteer fire department, but he always thought that since he works out of town, they would not really want him. But our neighbor Wayne recruited him, and he was happy to say yes. Tonight is his orientation meeting.

I am really proud of him! I love volunteer fire departments. (Yet another thing I love about small towns.) He will receive good training, he will serve the town and he will make some new friends.

And maybe he'll wear his gear for me every now and then. Heh.

Feel bad about your fur?

I don't, not really - I love fur - but if you have compunctions about wearing a fur you inherited and don't know what to do with, consider donating it to the Humane Society of America for use by wildlife rehabilitators. They use animal furs as cuddlies for young orphaned animals, reducing stress and helping comfort.

It makes me want to go buy a fur just to donate!