Saturday, November 19, 2016

Took A While . . .

Yep, it took much longer than usual, but winter finally arrived yesterday.

We had a full day of rain/sleet/hail/snow/yucky stuff before the temp eventually dropped low enough for big, fat, white, heavy flakes to fall.  Total accumulation wasn't more than a couple of inches but we had lots of wind with this first storm of the season.  This morning we are hearing of a couple of roads closed because of trees down and one town resident was distressed (who wouldn't be?) to find a large pine tree across the roof of her car.


When we let the poultry out of their night time lock-down quarters each morning, the ducks and geese typically make a beeline for the pond . . . which had a decide different look to it this morning.


The bank down to the pond was more than a bit slippery for all those webbed feet.  In the center of the picture you can see the path in the snow where one of the Cayuga ducks literally slid all the way down on his belly.


"Hey, guys, somethin's not quite right here."


Two of the geese did an about face and marched back up the hill.


It didn't take too long for a couple of the fowl to break through the thin ice and be relieved to find their beloved water was still there.

However, according to the weather report, open water will soon be a thing of the past because, all of a sudden and about time, we are into cold winter time in a big way.  (Time to get my blog header photo changed, wouldn't you say?)

22 comments:

Sue said...

Hahahaa--I just adore those photos. Nothing funnier than animals in snow!
We had 69 degrees yesterday. Today it's snowing like mad. I'm so happy--the stereo is cranked, the oven and stew pot are going. I'm in heaven, and it's about time!
Have a happy weekend

Mama Pea said...

Sue - Wait a minute! SIXTY-NINE degrees by you yesterday?!? Good grief, all of your perennials must be suffering weather related whiplash! But your snow today is good, good news. It's about time, isn't it? More proof we're on the same wave length . . . I have Mexican Beer Chili on the stove simmering for lunch, just put an apple pie in the oven and Bing Crosby is singing away on the CD player in the kitchen. Good weekend wishes to you, too, friend!

Anonymous said...

Hello Mama Pea :0) winter is so wonderful in your neck of the woods :D the ducks and geese look quite happy... enjoy your weekend dear lady :D mari

coffeeontheporchwithme said...

I would have liked to see that duck tobogganing down the hill! We had 21 degree weather yesterday (Celsius)(that's like a mild summer day) and there are warnings of snow for tonight! Bizarre! -Jenn

DDD said...

I do enjoy the pictures so very much. And the words go with the pics

Anonymous said...

Who needs TV when you have homestead hilarity to watch! Love your pix! We had a few larger trees downed in the storm; one barely missed a vehicle and is blocking the driveway, holding up our plowing routine. Oh well, we can't complain over that minor inconvenience. 'Could have been much worse.-M

Laurie said...

Lol! I bet watching the ducks and geese was so fun. Makes you wonder what they were thinking, when they got to the pond and their water was gone.

We are supposed to get our first frost and freeze tonight.

Linda said...

Your storm is headed our way (upstate NY). It's been a beautiful day today which allowed for the finishing touches to be put on the strawberries. The wind is howling now and the temperature falling. Rain changing to lake effect snow for tomorrow thru Monday with accumulation of 4" to 6". A pot of soup and homemade bread on the menu for tomorrow after church, if I get there. Nesting time has finally arrived.

Kev Alviti said...

Apparently there is some snow in the uk but Just lots of rain here. My girls will go mad for the snow but it just makes everything harder for me!
That said I'm having the fire going all day today and taking it a little easier!

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

Ha, ha! Love the one who went down on his belly. Our winter has arrived here too.

Mama Pea said...

mari - Yesterday was spent doing a lot of clearing of ice encrusted snow and the usual scurrying around putting away things we didn't want to have buried for winter (!) but now today (Sunday) we're going to take it a bit easier and just enjoy looking out at the scenery!

Mama Pea said...

Jenn - Yep, it's the time of year when the temperature and weather can change on a dime. Keeps us on our toes, huh? :o)

Mama Pea said...

DDD - Thanks so much for your encouraging words. Have a wonderful Sunday!

Mama Pea said...

M - Can't believe Papa Pea and I slept right through all that wind! Yes, we're hearing about more and more trees down in the area . . . we, too, were lucky-duckies and had no damage.

Animals of any kind do really add a lot to any homestead. When taken care of, they do seem to know how to enjoy life!

Mama Pea said...

Laurie - We could tell the fowl were definitely a little out of sorts yesterday. I think the high winds the night before might has spooked some of them, too. Welcome to winter, little feathered friends!

Mama Pea said...

Linda - Oh, yes, sounds like you are getting our weather a day or so after us! Shoveling the snow here yesterday was no fun as so much of it was crystalized and frozen . . . it did not want to MOVE! Besides that, we were using muscles that hadn't been used in a while. Funny how you notice that! :o]

Mama Pea said...

Kev - We're planning on having a bit of a slow day here, too, today. Up here in Minnesota the snow is much needed insulation for the ground and plants of all kinds but it definitely does make more work for us . . . everything from getting dressed to go outside (we had 14°F here this morn) to having to keep paths, etc., shoveled and cleared. Hope your kiddies get to see a little snow this winter season!

Mama Pea said...

Kristina - I'm sure the duck who slid down the hill on his belly just lost his footing and didn't know how to stop! It was so funny to see. Stay warm now that your temps have dropped!

odiie said...

Did they slip slide going back up, too? Maybe you could make an ice slice down the bank.
We got about a foot of snow here. The roads are still bad after two days because of all the ice under the snowfall. Sunny and bright today. Enjoy.

tpals said...

I had two young hens panic and had to be rescued and carried back to the coop. The deep snow that they've never experienced before just messed with their precious little minds.

Mama Pea said...

odiie - Yes, the ducks and geese both had a hard time with little webbed feet slipping and sliding! I had to go down the bank last night to shoo 6-7 ducks back up toward their house and I had visions of my feet going out from under me and sliding all the way out onto the ice which would NOT have held my weight!

A foot of snow for your first snowfall of the season? Now that's impressive. Be careful out there!

Mama Pea said...

tpals - I know what you mean about your chickens. Our chickens are always the first into their house at night without any coaxing at all, but last night we found about 10 of them hunkered down in a brush pile in the woods that's within their pasture. They were settled in for the night but we convinced them they had to go into their shelter. Good thing, too, as we had a low of 14° over night!