It's So Cold!

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Maybe this one is worth a little less, since it does not show the blistering wind or the driving snow. I took this about two hours after sunrise, after a night when the low temp. was supposed to have been about -14 degrees. It is so cold!

There was a partially frozen towel on the kitchen floor this morning, and the snow is blowing around in the mudroom like sand in a sandstorm. We have blankets and mismatched curtains hanging over the windows to keep out the drafts. Last night, I grasped the handle of the barn door when my hand was wet. (Life lesson: don't grab metal things with wet hands when it is this cold out!)

It is not any colder than usual in the barn, though. In fact, the ventilation fans still have to run. They are controlled by thermostat, so we know it is getting over 50 degrees or so in there. At least the cows are warm! I am really, really glad the barn stays warm, as we do a lot of work that gets our hands wet in there. Maybe we should bring some cows into the house as heaters. The only thing is that they produce more than just heat, if you know what I mean.

Jason had to grind feed yesterday. The tractor would not start because it was so cold, so they had to pull it with the other tractor (the one that plugs in) up and down the highway until it started. Today, Jason is out loading hay for his cousins to haul down to their cows. The wind chill is supposed to be between -25 and -35 degrees. He looks a little funny because of all the clothes he is wearing to try to insulate himself, but that doesn't matter. I just hope he can stay warm.

I think when we go out for chores, we will try throwing water into the air to see if it will freeze before it lands.