Brrrrrrrrrr

Another 8" of fluffy, white stuff today. Wind has picked up now that the snow has stopped, and frigid temperatures are heading this way...the coldest we've seen in Maine in several years from what the weathermen say (and more snow next week if you believe a forecast for five days out). Highs tomorrow only about 20 degrees and the next few nights well below zero. Like, more than a few degrees below.
Brrrrrrrr.

So, as soon as the sun peeked out this afternoon, I grabbed the shovel and started the clearing of paths - the one down to the barn needed widening; it was too tight with a splashing bucket of water and my irregular footing. The snow banks have gotten so high that I was holding the buckets up higher to clear them, creating way too much work. On top of already enough work.

Winter water is definitely one of the more laborious aspects of raising these sheep. Will bite the bullet and plug in the heated buckets tomorrow and use some old roving to plug in the gaps around windows in the barn. Plan on getting in a big load of hay in the morning and then some cooking in the afternoon.
Keeping everybody warm and fed here during the cold, winter months is an ongoing event - and yet it brings such a sense of accomplishment and pride that all of the energy and time feel well worth the effort.