Coffee anyone ?

[frustratedearthmother]

We're getting some of this - but nothing like what ya'll are facing. Hope everyone makes it through with a minimum of problems. Stay warm ya'll!

 

[Blue Sky]

Busy day today. Top off trip to Walmart needed. Bottle lamb doing well. I alternate between the chick light and the lasko heater for lamb warmth. Water in the barn for sheep with a refresh tub. Blind Hazel’s friend Ghost is about to join her. She is bedded down comfortably but has that look. Ghost ( named for a funny white marking) is 12 if she’s a day. Good health, many lambs. Hubbs fixed up a fine wind block on the barn door. Maremmas in their pen. Caddo took a brief walkabout and hobbled to the gate. He and Leo and Sophie blew their coats during the freakishly warm Nov-Dec so they will be in. Vala too during the single digits. Moses has a solid winter coat and a dog house full of straw. An inch of ice followed by a few inches of snow expected. Three days of lows in the singles and highs in the 20’s. Difficult when houses and barns aren’t insulated for it.

 

[drstratton]

Busy day today. Top off trip to Walmart needed. Bottle lamb doing well. I alternate between the chick light and the lasko heater for lamb warmth. Water in the barn for sheep with a refresh tub. Blind Hazel’s friend Ghost is about to join her. She is bedded down comfortably but has that look. Ghost ( named for a funny white marking) is 12 if she’s a day. Good health, many lambs. Hubbs fixed up a fine wind block on the barn door. Maremmas in their pen. Caddo took a brief walkabout and hobbled to the gate. He and Leo and Sophie blew their coats during the freakishly warm Nov-Dec so they will be in. Vala too during the single digits. Moses has a solid winter coat and a dog house full of straw. An inch of ice followed by a few inches of snow expected. Three days of lows in the singles and highs in the 20’s. Difficult when houses and barns aren’t insulated for it.

I hope you can stay warm and comfortable. It's been a weird winter, but when it decides to hit, it hits with a vengeance.

 

[fuzzi]

I'm mainly concerned about my flocks, in open hoop coops. I bought extra straw, will toss some in the coops. They do have wind breaks, and a dry draft free roost.

I also will replenish the straw in the cat shelters. And I'll need to keep enough water unfrozen so the critters can be watered.

If we lose power I'll probably lose my tropical fish, which would make me very sad. I have had some of the fish for over nine years.

Might get to try out my investment from about three years ago.

It's a battery generator, can run coffee maker, small space heater, other stuff with it. I checked, it's at 100%.

I'm hoping to not need it.

 

[Mini Horses]

If you lose power, can you wrap the tanks? Have any of those alum foil type emerg "blankets". They supposedly contain your body heat for a while. So, contain tank warmth ?? For a while. Might be enough.

This cold we're getting is beyond anything normal. Hope weather liars are still exaggerating.

 

[drstratton]

I'm mainly concerned about my flocks, in open hoop coops. I bought extra straw, will toss some in the coops. They do have wind breaks, and a dry draft free roost.

I also will replenish the straw in the cat shelters. And I'll need to keep enough water unfrozen so the critters can be watered.

If we lose power I'll probably lose my tropical fish, which would make me very sad. I have had some of the fish for over nine years.

Might get to try out my investment from about three years ago.
View attachment 125099
It's a battery generator, can run coffee maker, small space heater, other stuff with it. I checked, it's at 100%.

I'm hoping to not need it.

Would you plug your tank heater into this? When I had my saltwater tank, I had battery operated pumps on hand.

 

[fuzzi]

Would you plug your tank heater into this? When I had my saltwater tank, I had battery operated pumps on hand.

I might. I have three aquariums. The 29 and 15 gallon tanks are on an air pump that switches to battery if power goes out. The 5.5 does not.

@Mini Horses yes, I can drape a blanket ovet each aquarium, might help some.

 

[Mini Horses]

5:30 here and I'm enjoying coffee. Had to open a fresh bag this morn, so went with Sumatra. I like that & figured I'd need something to enjoy over next few days! Feeding in this weather won't be enjoyable Didn't sleep as long as I'd like but enough. Check lists kept appearing in my head Like get boots, shovels, salt, tarps -- you name it! -- set up for easy access. yeah, they're here. Are feeders & water tubs, hoses, etc, all well placed? What if? What did I forget?

This is as much work to prepare as living thru it.
Many of us are busy with the same things. Disgusting.

By the way, I hate cold weather.

 

[Baymule]

I filled my 300 gallon galvanized stock tank 3/4 full for dipping water. I have buckets in the bathtub for flushing toilets, I'm gonna turn my water off because I don't have a lot of faith in mobile home plumbing. I have tac lights. I'll have containers of water and a pan for washing hands. If needed, I can boil water out of the stock tank to pour in the sheep water buckets. All of their feed troughs are outside. Makes for soup or frozen slushies. I stocked up on pine shavings weeks ago. I'll spread them today. Outside bottle lambs are eating feed and hay along with their bottles. Mabelline and Tinkerbelle will remain in the house. Anatolians will bed down with the sheep. I have a propane heater for extra heat or if power goes off.

I spent hours yesterday cutting firewood for Charles and Holly with my battery chainsaw because they are all electric but have a fireplace. He will come load it up today. I might cut some more, maybe not. My back is sore. And no, I will not let Charles use the chainsaw. I know nothing of his expertise and don't want to risk tearing up my chainsaw. I'm ok with him cutting off a finger, sucks to be you, but not my chainsaw.

All dirty clothes are washed, dried and on the sofa. I'll fold later. I'm getting down the Carhart overalls that were my son's when he was in high school. Legs are a mile too long, so I roll them up I've done or will do today all I can think of.

I fed Tinkerbelle and Mabelline a little after 4 this morning. The dog crate was a pigsty. They paw the potty pads into a heap, pee and poop all over the tray and that's what I get to do every morning. Really looking forward to putting them outside! But not in below freezing weather, it comes back next weekend.

In the meantime, I'll drink my coffee.

 

[Mini Horses]

SEE -- we're all analyzing everything.

Guess what?!? Today is Friday. I was thinking it was Saturday. I just gained a day!!! thanks phone