Another Cold and Dreary Day

As I prepare to go to the barn to feed my furry four-legged friends, I am chilled with the thought of yet another dreary day. It is gray, bleak and absolutely freezing outside with a chance of freezing rain and then snow, and I am not looking forward to leaving the warmth of my den which is complete with a warm fire. Living sort of between the cold north and the warm south I often wonder how people that really live in cold climates tolerate it. I don't want to go out or work or anything when it gets this cold. I guess it is because I am not used to it. We normally have very mild winters but there are years like this one where we have extreme temperatures for long periods. I know, it really isn't a long time at all. I am talking days, not weeks or months. I guess we are just soft here. We are not used to long periods of freezing temperatures, or snow or ice for that matter. Everything seems to just about stop when we get this frigid weather. My friend Julie said it correctly "everytime the newscasters call for snow, everyone runs to the grocery store and buys everything in site leaving nothing but empty shelves." She is right. We all go into "hibernation" when the weather attacks us. I don't mind cold weather, just not this cold. But, having horses and other outside animals I have no choice but to go out and feed, clean the barn and thaw frozen water troughs not once but several times during the day. Horse Blankets go on in the evening and off in the mornng as well. My barn is fairly closed but the cold arctic air can blow through if it comes from the northeast. I know this is the coldest wind we get so you ask why it can blow through? Well, we don't get a cold NEer more than once or twice a year, but we get cold west winds daily during the winter. But have no fear, the blankets protect the horses just fine from this frigid air and they are much appreciative for the extra warmth. Some of the horses don't ever get cold blanketed or not, but they get their blanket at night just like everyone else. The dogs and cats often seek the warmth of the garage with its little heater run just for their comfort. It stays about in there so not too warm but warm enough. Well, share your cold tales with me ... I would love to hear how some of you Northerners are laughing at me with my wimpy little cold self. You would probably be here in shirt sleeves and nothing else. I hope you enjoy yourselves in the wonderful winter weather. I promise, as soon as I get the hang of all this blogging I will start blogging about something important.