So I am singing this song to myself (to the tune of Winter Wonderland) this morning while I walk around in a snowstorm trying to save our structures from collapse. It is snowing HARD here, and it has only just begun.
You can see how much this thick heavy snow is sticking to the tree branches.
Above is our poor Christmas tree that we have not gotten around to planting yet. Then it is accumlating on our roofs. Here is the overhanging snow from our garage’s roof.
Fortunately for us, I guess, the windstorm took out our tarp shelter that normally we have to brush the heavy snow off of to keep it from collapsing. We also replaced the center portion of our barn roof with a higher pitched roof so hopefully the snow will slide off. Plus there are much better supports to keep it from collapsing. So far we have not been brushing off the barn roof like we usually get to do during a snow storm.
But then there is still the netting over the pheasant pen. This thick snow clings to the netting and weighs it down.
We have to whack the snow off, brush it to get more snow off and push the larger snow balls off the edge. It is a lot of very cold work. Tom did it all last night, and I am doing it this morning while he is off getting supplies for us. Here’s an example of the netting after my treatment.
You will notice that the netting has ripped off the support pole because of the weight of the snow. This is despite Tom’s overnight efforts to get the weight off of it. And below is a photo of the weighted down netting ripping the fascia off the barn and taking the gutters with it.
The only nice thing I saw was the sheep again demonstrating the amazing insulating quality of wool.
Send good thoughts our way as we battle to keep our farm intact as the forecast calls for a lot more of this nasty heavy snow.
Beautiful, Donna! I have to go out and begin whacking snow off enclosures, too. And the hemlock trees growing out of the nurse logs are touching the ground. Need to whack them so the goats don’t eat too many needles and miscarriage, that would be devastating! Hang in there, as best you can. I hope you can still get water moving out there.
Thanks Krista! You know exactly what I am talking about with whacking the snow off of stuff. Exhausting work. So far we have water and electricity but can’t really count on them for long. Hope you guys weather the storm well.
I’m sorry you’re getting that kind of snow; sure makes for a LOT of work and worry for you. We got a little, and then it started slowly melting even as we got more snow flurries. Now it’s raining here; SLOPPY!
Thanks Michelle. Last week I wa whining to myself how miserable it was having a thin layer of ice over mud and wishing it were colder. Careful what you wish for!
That netting is the worst in this weather! I went out late on Sunday afternoon for a last check on all the critters and found the netting across my chicken run had ripped foff its supports under the weight of the snow and ice–and trapped a hen underneath it. Thankfully she was alive and okay once I freed her, but it looked like she’d been there for a while, and certainly would have died overnight if I hadn’t gone out for that check. It was the lightweight netting (which I like much better than the heavy stuff) but a good lesson – I’d rather lose one to a lose one to a hawk than risk this(though I realize with the pheasants it’s to keep them IN as much as keeping predators out).
Meanwhile the sheep are out lying in the snow, chewing cud contentedly. !!
Stay safe, and good luck with the rest of the storm in the next 24 hrs.
Thanks Maureen! The netting is awful. We have tough used fisherman’s netting and it does not rip easily. It just collects the snow and pulls everything else down with it. I am surprised it finally ripped off the pole after so many years of storms but it must have been weakened and a lot of snow weight. We had ~10 inches as of yesterday and it is just now starting to snow again. At least we got to sleep last night without netting checks. Today wioll be interesting. I am glad your hen is OK and hope you do well down there too.
OMG you are getting a Minnesota-sized snowstorm! So sorry for all the work it entails…
Thanks Gail! Plus we do not have the snow resources that you do. The snow is starting to pick up again this morning so more work again today! At least it is good exercise 😉
And happy birthday!
yeah, this snow is now fun. especially now that it is blowing around everywhere. ick.
feels like the arctic.
We aren’t blowing here so guess a little lucky anyway. Hope you keep your power. Stay warm!
( No fun. not Now fun. )
Changes the meaning of the sentence, doesn’t it?