My sister named her farm 'Windswept Farm,' which has proved more than fitting over the years. Her farm (house and out buildings) has seen more than it's share of damage due to storms and high winds.
With this being the windiest time of year and storm season, during our visit to Windswept Farm over the extended weekend, we witnessed more than just a little wind. Trying to get work done outside left the three of us feeling a tad windswept (hands, face, eyes, and hair). We definitely looked and felt pretty scruffy. Farm work in any kind of weather will do that to you anyway. But I think it is a good feeling.
Friday 3/26 - We'd had thunderstorms overnight so I didn’t sleep great and Joe actually got up before I did. After a quick shower and omelette at the hotel, we headed over to Carol’s, getting there before sun up. We got to work as soon as there was enough light outside to see what we were doing. Joe had places to go and things to do, so he wanted to get going right away.
It was cold, a tad windy, and very overcast.
Joe started back in on the gutters. The project was to hang gutters up along this side of the pole barn where way too much water collects during even a gentle rain. The old gutters were from Carol's house (she'd gotten a new roof and gutters after severe wind damage from a storm several years ago).
First Joe put up short 2x4's to space the gutter out from the overhang of the roof.
Joe had gotten most of the spacer 2x4s up the day before but had a few more to add.
Then he spliced together two of the gutter sections. The old gutter was bent and rather unruly, making this task difficult.
Once the gutter was ready to hang, we got the ladders lined up and simultaneously we each went up a ladder, holding a section of gutter. It was difficult to manage, not that it was heavy, it was just awkward.
Joe continued securing the gutter, putting the bracket hangers on, but the giant aluminum nails kept bending, while being driven into the old hard oak boards.
Getting the spliced gutter parts nailed up was definitely a three person job. Other nails were bending and Joe struggled to get them in. We did the best we could before Joe had to leave for Illinois.
After Joe left, Carol and I decided to tie up the gutter with some bailing twine to help secure it because another thunderstorm with intense rain was coming. Then we gave that project a rest.
We came in for a while because it was rainy and cold and windy. We had lunch, warmed up, and then when the skies cleared a little bit we went back outside to work a little more, first with the sheep.
I had been worried about this little (2½ month old) wether lamb who had been weaned from his mom the day before. He had been crying for her much of the day, to the point he was getting hoarse. It had also probably been a tough night for him with the thunderstorms. So I was relieved to see him settled in with his two new buddies (the ram and a two year old wether).
We put some hay out for the three boys and took a whole bale to the large ewe and lamb group. Then we sat and observed the large group. It is fun to watch the herd dynamics and the cute little lambs. And as you can see, lots of photos were taken. Carol took almost all of these.
The little ones really like playing 'king' of the hay flake.
They also liked chewing buds from the stick pile and exploring in the branches.
My favorite little girl was one of the more curious ones and was interested in checking out who I was.
Most
of the lambs were, for the most part, all white and impossible to tell
apart. I like the ones with markings, to give them more individuality
or character, and to at least help us tell them apart.
We
could identify the all white lambs by whose mom they were with, but
there had been some rejection of lambs by one mom, stealing by another
mom, and some lambs tried stealing other mom's milk.
Some of the lambs discovered they could get up on the trunk of the tree that had fallen over. Carol took several (videos). In this last one, you can see one little guy fall and hit his head. He was dazed for a few minutes, but seemed okay.
Carol moved sheep fencing in preparation for pasture changes the following day and I filled in the two big holes out by the sidewalk and picked up more sticks.
Carol had made corn beef, cabbage, potatoes, carrots, and onions for dinner and we really chowed down. It was a great meal on a cool night and the beer we drank with it was also quite tasty.
Saturday 3/27 - I had slept at Carol's (with Joe gone to Illinois and Iowa). It had been a quiet night with calm skies and we were both up at about the same time, before sunup. While sitting side by side at our computers, we continued with our chatter, and sometimes deep discussions, even disagreements, as we caught up with each other on life in general and more specifically political issues and Covid concerns.
Carol took these photos of the moon setting in the west and the sun rising in the east. The wind had finally died down and it was going to be a pretty day.
Once we were outside, the joy of sunshine, slower wind, and warmer temperatures was obvious, not just in us, but in all the barnyard animals (sheep, chickens, turkey, cats, and dogs).
One of the first tasks at hand was to wean the twin (three month old baby girl lamb) from her mom. She and her brother had been born in January. Carol was now going to move her and the three boys all the way out front, away from the mama who would want them, and because mama ewe would soon be 'wanted' by the ram again. The mama cat Mariah (named after the song - They call the wind Mariah') was following Carol around as she got water and fencing set up at the road.
Carol pulled the girl lamb from the herd, seen in this photo, separating them. Then she tried to herd them (the girl, her brother, the 2019 wether, and the ram) to the end of her lane (video). The babies were not cooperative, so they ended up together in a big dog crate, in Carol’s car, and I drove it, following, while she had her dogs herd the two older boys down the lane. Below photos, moving the four to the backyard to re-group and catch the two lambs to put in the crate.
They were all put in the same pasture area together. The siblings seemed glad to see each other and all four seemed to get along right away. They were more interested in the long grass than in each other.
Zephyrus (like his mother Mariah) had been leery of me, but let me take his photo because he was too comfy to get up from this bed. Look at those big white feet.
I added more fill to the holes out front at some point, and Carol later took this photo to show the new, improved sidewalk entry, without the chain arch.
It actually was quite windy still, but I worked on picking up sticks with the hopes of having a bonfire in the evening. I also picked up glass and metal as I went.
Carol's three hens were enjoying the day. They are always out, scratching around, looking for goodies (grubs, bugs, and worms) beneath the ground's surface.
Late morning we moved the ewes and their lambs from behind Carol’s barn to behind her pole barn. These three (videos) show her dogs in action as the sheep were herded to the right location.
I took a few still photos from the video to better see the action.
Notice the pile of branches and sticks I was collecting. I had started a second pile to feed into the first, once I had the fire going.
It was almost too hot by mid-afternoon so we ended up in T-shirts after lunch. We enjoyed sitting some of the time, to rest, and again enjoyed watching lambs and taking lots of photos.
Notice the sticks (which I was working at raking up) on the ground along the fence to the backyard. The ewe group was on the other side of this fence.
This photo shows more of the pasture and the wonderful sunshine we were all enjoying.
This is mama ewe who's babies were now out front with the ram and two year old wether. As she got increasingly uncomfortable with her udder filling, she started calling out for her weaned lambs more and more.
Again, just about all of these photos are Carol's.
The pasture the ewe group was in had access to this covered area of the pole barn. More storms were predicted, which is why Carol chose to move them here and not out front. After coming in to get water, they were all headed back out again.
I helped remove some fencing from one little paddock area and with Carol's help tried to fence off an oak tree so the sheep wouldn’t kill it in the pasture we had just put them.
I also continued picking up sticks and hauling them to the fire, which I had started once the wind died down and changed directions.
We had snacks and a beer sitting by the fire during 'cocktail hour.' It was good to rest for a bit.
The lambs got the zoomie/hoppies, but I didn't get my camera started soon enough though. Here is what I did catch (video).
I also took this series of photos as Hercules came in to the pole barn to roost for the night, followed by the three hens.
Carol got a good photo of Zeph.
We had after dinner drinks by the fire as we watched the moon rise and the sun set. The wind had picked up, it was cooling off, and you could see and feel the storm coming.
If you enlarge the photo and look closely, you can see the train going by.
It lasted forever and had to have been over a mile long.
Carol, with the help of the dogs, checked on the sheep one last time while I raked the remaining, partially burnt sticks into the fire.
With our PJs on, we sat on the front porch and watched the storm move in from the southwest.
Once it started raining and we were getting wet we went in, to bed. The wind did not just sweep, it raged and brought hail (some marble size) with it. I got back out of bed and looked outside using a flashlight. The brunt of the storm did not last long and as it died down to heavy and then lighter rain, I fell asleep.
Sunday 3/28 - With the overnight storms including hail, thunder and lightning, the weather was still very rough with high winds and cold temperatures.
Patty reported that all was well, although Maggie hid in her closet during the bad part of the storm. Also, Gillie and Ellie took over Maggie's bed.
But they shared their bed with Maggie. LOL
Carol and I dropped all plans to do much of anything outside because it was just too bitter, especially with the windchill.
Carol did move the ewes and lambs to a pasture in front where there was more grass.
I took this (video) and got a few still photos from it. Notice in this first one, Zephyrus is to the right of the car. He was walking to catch up with Carol who can be seen moving the sheep past the car.
Patty sent this photo of Babe when checking in on and feeding the little, domestic cat colony I have.
Joe had busted out of the poker tournament Saturday night, so planned to arrive Sunday rather than Monday. He took his time making the trip back to Carol’s because the weather was so bad in terms of getting any work done outside and he was enjoying hanging out with Tracy and Teresa’s clan.
He got us checked into the hotel, watched some basketball and then picked up pizza and beer to bring to Carol and I at her house for an early dinner. This is an internet photo, but you get the picture.
Carol and I ate while Joe tried getting more gutter work done, making some progress, with hopes the job could be finished Monday because we had to head back to Tennessee.
With Carol’s septic a bit touchy, I decided to just wait and take my nice long hot shower once back to the hotel. This occurred after 9 PM. I was able to download several videos much quicker using the hotel internet and then lights were out just after 10 PM.
Monday 3/29 - Joe and I were up early, had omelettes at the hotel, and we’re headed to Carol’s before the sun was up. It had gotten below freezing overnight and our windows were quite frosty to begin with. This photo driving down Carol’s drive shows the sun coming up to the east. The second one shows the owee I got on my face Saturday while I was putting up fencing around an oak tree to keep the sheep from girdling it. There was a low branch I ran into.
We were in a time crunch so Joe got started right away on finishing the gutter project. It was very windy and Carol and I were a bit too cold to commit to working outside just yet, and I needed another cup of tea. We also had to exchange photos from the day before so did that and I got a couple more videos to load onto Facebook. I guess not that many people are on the internet in her area on a Monday morning. Also less wind helped.
We could see both groups of sheep from our window. The four way out front looked well. Notice that the puddle (lower left) looks kind of frozen.
The large group of moms and babies also appeared okay, although some lambs seemed a little cold.
Once Joe was ready for us, we went out to help.
He had to replace a long rotten board with two 2x6's. He needed help holding them up to nail them in place. Then he nailed up more short 2x4 spacers. Next we were ready for the sections of gutters. Again they were difficult to work with.
In this photo, you can see the 20 gallon tub that had caught rain water before we had finished the gutter.
We ran out of house gutter and used leftover pole barn corner pieces from Carol's 2019 storm repair.
Seen in photo below, my view from up on the ladder while holding the gutter section so Joe could secure it.
Then I used pliers to hold the two gutter sections together while Joe drilled a hole through both and then drove the spacing nail through the holes and into the 2x4s.
With some grunting, groaning, may be a little swearing, and a couple of disagreements, we finish the gutter project. It really was a three person job.
Below is the before and then the after photo.
Joe joined us after getting his tools cleaned up and packed into our SUV. Then he and I wheeled the big roll of welded wire fencing back to Carol's pole barn.
After some yummy leftovers for lunch, Joe took a nap while Carol and I finished exchanging some photos.
Not wanting to wake Joe up, we went outside to watch the ewes and lambs and chat a little bit. We also took leftover pizza to Hercules. He loved it.
Alas, our fun weekend of visiting, and working, and some pretty deep discussions, had come to an end. Joe and I started the long trek home.
The trip was uneventful and we were entertained for a while listening to a John Grisham book on tape. But we did take a country route (not my favorite way to travel) to avoid rush-hour traffic in Nashville. The windy, hilly roads of TN make me nervous especially with a 'wannabe' Parnelli Jones driving. LOL
We arrived home after 7pm. Patty had done all the pet duties of feeding, walking, and cleaning litter boxes, which was a great help. We got things unloaded, but that was it.
Tuesday 3/30 - It was a pretty day, with it warming considerably quicker and warmer than predicted. The winds had slowed down and what breeze that blew, seemed to have some warmth to it. I had tons of pictures to download and edit for this blog post, and was busy with that all morning. I didn't bother with unpacking and laundry because Wednesday was supposed to be a rainy day, so this inside job could wait. Joe had gone to the ranch to build his raised bed garden, and later sent this photo.
I got to the gym after walking the dog and really struggled during my work out. It seemed like I had been away from the weights for too long.
I had a late lunch on the deck in the sun, took Maggie on another quick walk because Joe was still at the ranch, and then I was off to the barn.
Jan and Polly were at the barn, but neither of them rode, so I went off on my own on Amiga.
I enjoyed my ride, although the trails were very wet. The bean field had good footing so I could move out a little quicker, but just kept Amiga at a gait. I also did some arena work and got a good smooth gait from her doing large figure eights and circling the arena. It was wonderful. She was a joy to ride.
You can see her windswept mane in this photo, and I did start to get cold when the sun went down, leaving me in shadows.
As night descended when I got home, so did a storm system. We were going to get water and windswept once again.
