Snowstorm

Its been years since we had a real old fashioned snowstorm.

For several years now everytime snow has been predicted, the news media has cried "wolf". We have been warned with dire predictions of an impending blizzard. We are told to stay off of the roads, make all neccessary preparations, and get ready for the big one. And then we'd get some snow flurries, a little wind, and excuses. Well, thursday night into friday morning it happened! It started with rain, turned to sleet/ice, and then a full scale blizzard. Here where the old farmer lives we received a couple inches of ice/sleet, followed by about 8 inches of snow coupled with high winds. We were snowed in for the first time in years.
On a livestock farm you need to start to clear snow as soon as possible to make sure everything has feed, bedding, and thawed waters. So we spent the last 2 days trying to get tractors started, pushing snow, blowing snow, chipping ice, delivering feed,and hauling bedding to hogs. We work all day in the cold with not much more to show for it than the chores done and gates, doors, and driveways open. But, it's a good feeling to come into a warm house in the evening, windburnt and tired from the "man against nature struggle", knowing that all the livestock are fed and cared for. We were fortunate not to lose our power in this strorm. It blinked off, but came back on and stayed. We did lose tree branches due to ice.
With winter here, life will be different for the next few months, but we will adapt and life on the farm will adjust.

God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.
For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength. Job 37:5,6