A Cold Sun

 Puddles - leftovers from the earlier part of the week's rain - lie frozen on the ground now.  Winds blew fiercely, early yesterday morning, and brought with them a cold front.  

Now, as I work around the farm, the wind touches my lips with an icy finger, and cause my eyes and nose to drip.  I'm toasty warm inside the layers that I wear as protection.  Years of experience have taught me how to endure cold winters comfortably.  Some days, I am dressed almost too warmly - a condition I try to avoid.  Despite the fact that most of the world would rather be warm than cold, I have learned that my body tolerates the latter the best.  Heat wilts me.  Cold... well, cold actually stimulates me.  I feel more alive when cold winds blow.

I have learned that if my hands, feet, and core are warm-ish, I can embrace the cold weather.  It is pointless to disagree with something so immovable as the weather.  It can change on a dime, so it's best to be adaptable.

Besides, it's perfect weather for a fire!

and to work on the winter's current knitting projects...

a sweater...

and a wrap...

Yes, this seems to be the winter for cables!  I will show you the projects that I accomplished during the autumn... after next week's family Christmas party.

As the sun rose, turning clouds to wisps of pink cotton candy, 

I slowly walked Red (he is 15 - to answer a question from yesterday) to the upper pastures for a few hours of grazing time.  

Our journey was slow and tenuous.  But, once we reached the pasture, he heartily grazed.  I had opted for the upper pasture because this area has the best, lushest, grazing grass.  

The lower pasture is more suited to the foraging habits of donkeys at this time of year.  And because Red's appetite has not been the best, I want to give him the must nutrition possible.  He only picks at hay and ignores his chow completely.  It is quite disconcerting.

After a few hours of grazing, I walked Red back to the barn and called Moonie to follow.

However, Mr. Moonie was not happy about the end of grazing time, so he ignored my calls.  After getting Red back to the dry lot, I rang our big dinner bell and called for Moonie once again.

That did the trick!  

Ole One-eyed Moonie trotted happily back to the barn for his breakfast chow.

Into the barn...

down the aisle...and into his stall...

all on his own... because He had decided that, yes, in fact, it was time to quit grazing.  Thank you very much!

Meanwhile, the donkeys were braying their head off... already back from the front pasture and dying of starvation because they had to wait a minute or two for their chow!  Poor girls!

Lastly, I came upon this heartwarming scene yesterday...

Do you remember how Chester ignored Forrest when he came to live at the farm?  He ignored him for the most part much of the first year.  How things have changed.  These two boys are now best buds!  And that warms my heart so very much.