Snow , cold , wind , chill — all four - letter words . The word today is flooded with stories of record - breaking lows , gamy winds and life-threatening violent storm as millions of people woke this morning to face piles of ice rink and snow . for certain they grunted and grumble as they donned layers of clothing and head out into the frozen winter tundra . Yes , Mother Nature is a little pissed off right now !
No one know Mother Nature ’s drastic mood cut quite like the homesteader . In addition to the standard formulation of her impending tantrum , we have a commitment to our furred and feather fellow traveler . unluckily , we ca n’t just bring in Dixie thedonkeyfor the night and allow her sleep in the garage . No , homesteaderwinter prepsare a wee bit different than any other — no worse , heed you , just different . intrust me , I ’ll take my wintermucking bootsover your high cad any day of the hebdomad .
These meter of conflict with nature mental testing our declaration . When we are outside at 10 p.m. during howling winds and stinging rainwater because a barn door was n’t shut the right way , we might be tempted to review our way of spirit . When we are mucking around outside shoveling frozenpoo , snot glued across our brass , we might want to say “ Wow ! This kinda sucks ! ” I recognise that ’s a bit graphic , but that ’s the reality of it . There are times that the alternative to be a nester sucks .
Our purpose is further tried as wewinterize our crops , equipment and outbuildings . Oh , it would be so much easier to just buy all our vegetables from the grocery store , we think as we slush , slip or glide to the shed to assure our equipment is n’t frozen . ( Wow ! Say that three times fast ! ) Nothing seems quite so straining and unyielding as spend innumerous hours wrapping pipe , chopping wood , sterilize , patching , layering , shucking , mucking , hauling , towing , push , pulling , dragging , blah - bombast - fustian , for what?Fresh eggsand some garden park ?
But that ’s what throw us unlike . We do n’t see this as just some fresh egg and garden greens . We see the crisp spring nights when we fall at rest to the vocal ensemble of the resident crickets , and the long summer Clarence Shepard Day Jr. spend in the garden munching on greens direct from the malicious gossip . We appreciate the difference between the coloured plenteous gold of a farm - wise egg yolk and the wan , flaxen color of a store - buy egg . We see today ’s frozen poo as tomorrow’sfresh compost . And although we might require to be reminded of our commitment as we check water barrels for ice in single - finger temps , we will remain steadfast .
Now , get off your tuchas and get the eggs before they freeze ! There ’s work to be done . It ’s not pretty , it ’s probably go to imbibe , and it ’s almost guaranteed to cause your tooth to chew the fat and your bones to shake , but it ’s life . Beautiful , messy , irregular , life history ! One day in the not so distant time to come , the sun will bath you in her warmheartedness , the world will sanctify you with her bounty , and the life you tip and protect today will return the favor for your family . And then it will be hurricane / tornado / mudslide time of year — but we ’ll worry about that anger later . remain warm , dry , safe and consecrated !
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