Blah, why can't we have nice balmy summertime, all year around, smiling that big smile..I actually really do like summertime the best, bring on the heat, I am a sungirl and I love hotness!! Cold, nope not a coldgirl at all.
This is our second winter up here in the north Okanagan, after moving from wet and wild Maple Ridge on the southwest coast of B.C. Ya'll that live in the PNW (Pacific Northwest) know what the coastal weather is like. It is wet, usually pretty mild, winter temps averaging below between 3-8 celsius, well, that is kind of the average. January can have the deep freezing for a couple of weeks, but pretty temperate, lived there for over 57 years, so pretty much understand that southwest coast weather.
Now this weather up here has me befuddled. Befuddled, yep, perplexed one could also define it as. The weather appears to change rapidly, from summer to winter, from winter to summer, it is almost like a switch is turned on and off. That is my take on it.
We have had three nights of zero degrees. Absolutely if the frost kill is a good word, we have had that. The canna lilies are the ones that really tell the tale. Standing one day up to 7 or 8 feet tall, the next day, looking rather darkish brown and about to keel over. Yep. Winter is here and it will come fast and furious.
We have been doing lots of work around here readying for winter. My Daughter warned me last year that if I wanted to find things, after snow falls, that I had best get them in a place where they won't be under 3 or 4 feet of snow. Didn't believe her, but I did the clean up anyways. There was 4 feet of snow, so yes, she actually did know what she was talking about,
. So, this year I listen even more, we pick things up, hang things up, clean up the clean up and yes, water lines that are used in the summer are drained and the water to that shut down. Hoses, yep, my chicken hose is now inside the chicken barn, drained, so I can use it when I need to without worrying about frozen water inside it. We have frost free taps here, you know the ones, the ones that are like a metal pole coming vertically out of the grown with a lever to turn the water off and on. I imagine most places have those types of water lines. Love it. Never seen that before we moved to this area, but surely a great thing.
I have the apparatus that heats the chickens' water containers ready for each coop. It was nice last year as there was no frozen chicken waterers. All I have to do is plug in to electricity and they are good to go, good investments, of varying types and a homemade one that my Husband built too.
The gardens (food) are all picked and being stored properly. Lots of parsnips, zucchini, spaghetti and butternut squash, carrots, potatoes and Swiss chard. Many of which will be processed in the next few days for the freezer. Some stayed for fresh storage eating.
Hmmm.....right, gotta go over as soon as my car is fixed and pick tons of apples at Heather's home. She still has lots of apples on the trees and I need to help her use them up. That is gonna be a biggy. Lots of juice and cut up frozen apples. I hope the apples don't freeze on her tree before I get there. I wonder if they can stand a little frost.
Last night I thought it was going to rain, the sky was overcast. The temperature at 5:00 A.M. was 7 celsius, almost a balmy warm summer day, smiling. Nice how the clouds keep the heat from the earth from escaping.
That is my take on winter, I wonder if I rambled and this became a rather long post, hmmmm...I think so, but oh well, such is the nature of this beast, a ramblin' gal.
Someone was mentioning that there is a product that horsey people put in the sand in their riding arenas to keep the sand from freezing, perhaps some type of salt? I can't imagine that, but I think that my Daughter was talking about applying some so she can still ride in the arena. But what about the snow? I know it got pretty deep in there too. They could push all the snow off the arena, but then it would look like the snow piles on the side of the Coquihalla highway, which are like 10 feet tall (feels like you are going through a snow tunnel). Probably not worth the effort, just trailer the horses to someone else's covered arena to ride, that is what I would do.
Yes....that ol' man winter is surely just around the corner. Well, when it gets to -17 celsius, I will be hold up, warm and snug as a bug in a rug in our little trailer. Eating and getting that winter layer of fat. Sitting on my computer studying, hangin' out with my friends on the forum, and drinking nice hot drinks. Hot rum toddies come to mind, ummmmm, winter, white, wonderful and cold!! Have a beautiful and wonderful day, CynthiaM.
The only one who doesn't seem to mind is Eddie(ostrich) and she got herself a new insulated home. Lou
It can't be a colder winter! That's a lie!!! All the scientists keep saying that our planet is going to die from global warming, that is in complete contradiction of having colder and longer winters! How dare you spew such non sense?!?! Shame on you!!! 
I need to get my butt moving today and clean out the roo coop, move my cockerels in and the guineas to the barn, set up the heated water dishes for everyone, and basically get my birds situated in their winter accommodations. Then I'll be ready for winter chore duty at least... 
