It is March, mid March to be exact. March in northeastern Alberta is very unpredictable. The first year I was here, there was a massive snow storm on March 24th. The next few March months were mild ,but definitely not spring. Last year, it was mild and by the end of March, the snow was completely gone. Spring did arrive early and it was a very dry season. Rain did not come until fall, which caused lost hay and grain crops.
The snow started last night, very lightly. The forecast was for an inch of snow. By this morning there was at least 4 inches on the ground. It snowed all day and is still snowing at almost midnight. There was over a foot of snow by 5 pm and I had to get the skid steer and clear the driveway and paths, plus deliver bales to the rams, ewes and cows. The small amount that was left in the net in the sheep pen was completely covered by the snow. The goats have a netted bale, but the snow has pulled the net down and it is so far away from the bale that they cannot get enough to eat, so they also have a bale open.
The geese want to continue going out in the yard as they have been the last week, playing in the puddles and finding grass to eat. But there is too much snow. The yard bunnies, those that escaped last summer, were trying to stay warm out of the snow too. One was in the duck and goose shelter, one in the chicken coop, one under the tarp in the straw bales and one in the shelter with Clara and the piglets. Two stay in the barn. I suspect they are females and are getting ready to kindle or have and are remaining close to their babies.
Hopefully the snow will continue for a while until we get a good cover again. I need it to stop before Friday though. I think sheep shearing will have to be postponed because the wool is going to be wet. It will take 2 or 3 days to dry out in this weather but the sheep will continue to get snowed on as long as it is snowing, so the shearer will not be able to shear wet fleece.
At least I can use the toboggan to deliver the water. 200 pounds of water on fresh snow is hard to move. This morning taking water to the cows left me breathless by the time I got the toboggan to the cows. Whew! Now even if the snow melts, It has given me another few weeks to continue watering before it is warm enough to use the hose.
Winter again in mid March. It was not predicted or expected, but I really do not mind. What do you think?
The snow started last night, very lightly. The forecast was for an inch of snow. By this morning there was at least 4 inches on the ground. It snowed all day and is still snowing at almost midnight. There was over a foot of snow by 5 pm and I had to get the skid steer and clear the driveway and paths, plus deliver bales to the rams, ewes and cows. The small amount that was left in the net in the sheep pen was completely covered by the snow. The goats have a netted bale, but the snow has pulled the net down and it is so far away from the bale that they cannot get enough to eat, so they also have a bale open.
The geese want to continue going out in the yard as they have been the last week, playing in the puddles and finding grass to eat. But there is too much snow. The yard bunnies, those that escaped last summer, were trying to stay warm out of the snow too. One was in the duck and goose shelter, one in the chicken coop, one under the tarp in the straw bales and one in the shelter with Clara and the piglets. Two stay in the barn. I suspect they are females and are getting ready to kindle or have and are remaining close to their babies.
Hopefully the snow will continue for a while until we get a good cover again. I need it to stop before Friday though. I think sheep shearing will have to be postponed because the wool is going to be wet. It will take 2 or 3 days to dry out in this weather but the sheep will continue to get snowed on as long as it is snowing, so the shearer will not be able to shear wet fleece.
At least I can use the toboggan to deliver the water. 200 pounds of water on fresh snow is hard to move. This morning taking water to the cows left me breathless by the time I got the toboggan to the cows. Whew! Now even if the snow melts, It has given me another few weeks to continue watering before it is warm enough to use the hose.
Winter again in mid March. It was not predicted or expected, but I really do not mind. What do you think?
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