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Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Not everything you'd imagine and a giveaway.

I've put on my armor (thermal long underwear, wool sweater, lined jeans, two pair of wool socks, Carharts, down jacket, wool scarf, dorp hat with ear flaps, glove liners and felted mittens) and trudged through the winter war and made it out the other end.  I remember when I liked winter a lot more.  Now?  Not so much.  All my plans for nesting and resting were for naught, especially when there were beings in my care that are out in the thick of it.
This says it all - but it wasn't the lowest point.
And I have a serious issue with weather forecasters.  For the week prior to this latest onslaught, all we've been hearing is "Snowmegeddon" and "Winter Storm Harvey" (don't get me started on this naming every storm thing) and dire warnings of wind chills to -41 degrees due to high winds.  There was to be blowing snow, power outages, life-threatening cold.  The reality?  We got about 8 inches of snow, topped with an inch of sleet (lovely combination) and, while our temps did plummet to -12 degrees, there were no high winds.  But, by Saturday evening, I had decided that there was no way on Earth that I could protect my quail from high winds and -41 degrees.  So I quickly re-worked the laundry room to set up two large bins where they could ride out the worst of it in relative warmth.  I very carefully waited until dark to move them, one-by-one, directly from their hutch on the deck into their bins and, even after taking all those precautions, I awoke Sunday morning to find that three had died in the night.  I am assuming it was due to stress, as quail are fearful little things.  Had we actually had the dire weather predicted, I wouldn't have felt as bad - but I could have left them in their hutch and just wrapped them to ward off the cold.  Now I have to reverse the procedure and I am terrified that I will cause the rest to die.  Keep us in  your thoughts Wednesday night.


I am glad that the snow came before the Arctic freeze, as it made the shoveling bearable.  I got all the pathways cleared and the out buildings cleaned off, then made chicken vegetable soup with everything I could get my hands on in the fridge.  My neighbor kindly plowed the driveway, so I was able to make a quick trip to the farm to feed the barn cats - knowing full well that I would not be venturing out on Monday.  Monday was brutal.  The chickens are inside the coop with a light on and are holding their own.  Today, the weather is supposed to ease up - just in time for heavy rain on Thursday.  WTH?  Beam me up, Scotty!


Peanut managed to levitate himself outside to do his business - looking reproachfully at me at every opportunity because, you know, I am directly responsible for the weather.  I tried to keep him in sweaters all weekend, but he managed to wiggle out of every one.  The last one was a little snug on his sausage body, so I felt there was a better chance of keeping him clothed.  A half hour later, I heard a 'bump, bump, bump' in the living room and discovered he had pulled both front legs inside the sweater, got stuck, and was flopping around the living room like a stranded seal pup.  Sigh.  At least Lovey keeps hers on.


Enough of the mitching and boaning.  Amazon, quickly becoming my least favorite retail source, bollixed up my order of "Making Winter" - something I was looking forward to reading over the long weekend.  They told me it had been delivered, but the problem was, it wasn't delivered to me.  A very nice customer service rep from some distant country sent me another copy and, wouldn't you know, the original showed up yesterday.  So, their loss is our gain.  I am giving away my extra copy:
It had great recommendations and contains recipes and projects and fiber work.  Unfortunately, all the fiber work is crocheting and, while it's on my list of things to learn, I haven't reached it yet.  That said, there is a cowl in there that I am dying to make, so that might be the motivation.  In any event, it is a lovely book.


To enter, just leave a comment below by midnight, Friday, January 25.  I will announce the winner the following Monday.  (Entries are limited to the Continental US, my apologies to my readers in other countries - the postage is prohibitive.)   Bon chance!









30 comments:

Charlotte Boord said...

I would love to have seen a video of Peanut pretending to be a seal pup - it must have been hilarious! I do some crocheting, my mom taught us three girls how to crochet, so please put my name in the hat, or cowl!

thecrazysheeplady said...

So sorry about your quail :-(.

ellen abbott said...

and this is why I live in the South. btw, don't enter me for the giveaway sine as the previous sentence indicated, I don't do winter.

Susan said...

Charlotte, he is a constant source of entertainment and frustration.

I know, Sara. It just broke my heart to think I caused them so much stress. You're damned if you do and damned if you don't sometimes.

I think if I changed my lifestyle, I might like the winter better. But, then again, I love my lifestyle. So it's a conundrum.

Helen said...

When I read your description of the 'layers' you are putting on I am glad I live in an area that can get cold, but it usually doesn't last. Although the ice storms here can wreak havoc that is not pretty and take out the power for a huge number of people.

Theresa Y said...

OMG! I just picked this up a my local library. Can't wait to crack it open.

Mama Pea said...

Ah yes, nesting and resting in the winter time. Phooey, I say, phooey! Heck, the time I spend donning layers of clothing before going outside takes up more time than weeding 50' of a garden row!!

So sorry about the loss of some of the quail population. No matter that you believed you were doing the right thing at the time, hindsight can sure bite you in the tush. Darn.

Lovely, lovely giveaway, but no name in the hat for me, dear friend. I can almost kinda sorta follow a crochet pattern and have made a few crocheted baby blankets but I do prefer knitting. I truly believe crocheting goes faster than knitting though so for those of you that want to complete a project in a decent amount of time, go for it! I've looked at that book before and it's really nice.

Nancy In Boise said...

Sorry about your quail, hang in there!

Susan said...

Hi, Helen! Yes, by the time all the layers go on (see Mama Pea's comment), I am exhausted and I haven't even started! I should carry a flare gun when I go out because, if I keel over, I'm done for until Spring.

Mama Pea - the only good thing about the layers is that I am not tempted to come in early - I just power on and get everything done at one go. Because I am NOT going to go through the lasagna dressing process more than once (well, twice) a day.

Nancy, I'm hoping they will be so relieved to get out of the furnace room and into their little lairs that they won't be as stressed. Fingers crossed.

Buttons alias Grace said...

Oh I can relate to the layers and layers and looking after our more vulnerable friends. I am so sorry about your quail. We do our best but sometimes it is for naught. But to not try would be unforgivable in my own mind. I get it. Hope all our weathers settle down I look forward to warmth. Hugs B don’t enter me I am in Canada.

tpals said...

So sorry about your birds. That would have me in tears. Doing chores this morning, I was singing 'These are my friends' (by lovelytheband) to the chickens. They don't judge. :)

Had to laugh at your seal dog description. And I've had that happen with Amazon before.

Debra She Who Seeks said...

I didn't realize that quail were such delicate creatures. I'm not entering the book giveaway since I don't crochet either. Good luck to those who do!

coffeeontheporchwithme said...

Oh, that's too bad about your quail. I hope the next relocation goes better. My chicken coop isn't too far away from the house, so it's just some of the layers you were describing. We're about to get another blast of weather with some freezing rain mixed in there as well. Oh well, it's never boring. -Jenn

Michelle said...

Maybe quail are especially afraid of beached seals; just sayin'. (Hey, if we can't find SOMEthing to laugh at, we'd surely perish!)

Leigh said...

I always worry about a package getting sent to the wrong house. I've received them but sent them on. Sounds like an interesting book! At least they were quick to correct the problem. So sorry about the quail though. I know nothing about them and hope you have good success.

Theresa said...

Oh poor quail! I'm so sorry and fingers crossed the additional ,one back won't stress them out any further. I have problems keeping sweaters on Mandy too. Those flippers never want to stay in the holes dang it! Please, I would LOVE a chance to win that awesome Make!

Donna OShaughnessy said...

Winter is so hard on the critters, so sorry about your sweet quail. As I write it is snowing raining sleeting here in central Illinois. What a mess! Fortunately only fell on my arse once while doing livestock chores.

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

We literally went from getting a ton of snow plowed to pouring down rain. Ugh. I have hot water, but some drains are still froze. Just lovely. I would love to put my name in the hat for that book.

ElaineChicago said...

Sorry your winter is being such a beast and that the little quail died. The Make book sounds great and I'd like to win it too!!

Ed said...

We spent two days living through a snow storm with narry a name too it. Only when it got to the east coast did they name it Harry. I'm guessing someone has too much time on their hands.

I love Amazon for the very reason you mentioned. If they mess up an order, they have always been quick to fix it with no cost to me. Several times over many years I've been sent the wrong thing and they usually tell me to keep it and find a good home for it or sometimes they will pick it up at their expense if it is worth more.

Funny thing, my neighbor who has been gone for the last month, came home two days ago and found a package addressed to me on her porch. It was a Christmas present from my sister-in-law so I had no notification that it had been delivered. But it did show up nearly 30 days after Christmas!

Rain said...

Hi Susan, I'm so sorry about your quails :( That's very sad. Our deep freeze seems to be over too, but it's still way below zero. The dogs are pooping again thankfully, they were holding it in every time we let them out...of course, we too are directly responsible for the weather!! :)

What a nice giveaway, that looks like a great book. I understand why it's US only for you...I remember the thought of sending a book to the US from here and the postage is outrageous. Good luck to the winner!

Elaine said...

I do love a good winter, even here in upstate New York. I was curious about the magazine and would love a copy.

Bettina Groh said...

With winter storm warnings abounding on the television we headed off to the library to stock up on reading materials!! Your giveaway sounds like it could be a great addition... please add me!! Still not great at crocheting... it's the instructions that get me!!

Retired Knitter said...

Oh I am so sorry about the Quail. I guess that is why I am a city dweller. I would wind up transferring all the farm animals into my house for the whole winter season. :-). I am too much of a softy for animals.

I would love to be the winner of the Winter book - since winter is my favorite season and I am a beginning crocheter - mostly knitting, but expanded my sights about 2 years ago into crochet. Sounds like the perfect book for me! So count me in on the contest!!

Sam I Am...... said...

I came over to visit as Mama Pea recommended you and sure enough...you got a big guffaw out of me several times...especially loved the seal comment! I will be back as homesteading is in my blood but I had to give up my farm and I'm 70 now but I'm working on getting one again...just a few acres but not in town. Stay warm!
Oh, I would love that book! I am a crocheter and a knitter an dI'm always talking about Hygee...I'm all about the cozy!

Theresa Y said...

Just went through my copy of the book from the library. Would love a copy of my own. Then I won't have to keep checking it out.

Theresa Y said...

Egad! Forgot my comment on your birds. So sorry you lost some in the transferring. I didn't realize quails were so sensitive. Good luck with moving them back outside. Although its suppose to get cold again so you might want to leave them in the house.

Fiona said...

Quail......I have to admit I think they are the sweetest birds but I haven’t the heart to even attempt to raise them. [i currently have two house pets I saved from death.....Wendy a Wyandotte, and Buffy a Buff Brahma.] I still miss LLFP far more than I should.
Your adventures with weather and layers always make me feel like a true whimp with our weather. Yo keep safe and you will learn to crochet, I have the greatest faith in you. Take care and good luck with your quail.

Barbara said...

I'm so sorry about you loos of your quail babies! They are such fragile creatures. I wish you well with your remaining flock. I'm a beginner crocheter and would love to be entered into your contest.

Sandy Livesay said...

Susan,

I'm so sorry about your losing the quail. Those darn weather people can really screw with your mind. They keep telling everyone to be prepared for a major storm, and it never happens. Heck we have people scared to death here because of the winds and cold. I'm wondering if leaving the quail where their at for a while would maybe be better instead of moving them back to their hutch.

Stay warm my friend, I hope the weather calms down for you.
Give those furies' of yours a scratch for me. Hopefully, your furies' will stay out of trouble :-)

Hugs and Love to you.
Sandy