February 2017




Our February started with chilly breezes and blue skies.
Sheets hung outside were dry in a few hours and the real outdoor fresh air fragrance lasted well into the week.  I'm still curious to know why it would last so much longer than it does during the summer months.



And then....
we had a skiff of snow and it blew onto the porch and the daffodils that I planted the weekend before complete with buds were soon looking at a losing battle. 




Temperatures plummeted and we had below freezing temperatures day and night for ...
it seemed like forever.

Every morning the first task was to dig a path to the hummingbird feeder.


The hummingbirds came for an ice cold drink.


The snow continued and soon he was plowing the shoulder so that plows didn't leave our driveway blocked. 




The snow continued to drift.


I kept my section of the yard clean.


I went into the barn and looked outside towards the back of the barns through the window and realized that that door wouldn't be opening anytime soon. 




Kobe was completely unfazed by the weather and probably thought she was back at her birthplace in the Yukon.


Every few hours everything had to be opened up again. 


I did a fantastic job of my section... 
just sayin'.


The snow drifted half way up our bedroom window but we never did completely close that window at night and I was fine because I sleep on the left side.  



I kept the dog path open to the dog food and water.  


The piles of snow continued to grow. 



The next night he woke up in the middle of the night and suddenly realized that the intake for the generator was under these stairs....


so we got to work and got to shoveling it open. 



I liked the way he looked here.  (insert swoon)


And then ...
we got the door open again and we made sure we kept the intake open after that!



Meanwhile...
the daffodils were looking rather defeated.


The hummingbirds were looking grim. 


All manner of cleaning equipment were employed. 



The dog path became narrower and narrower. 



The bedroom window was still open... a pinch. 



And then...
came the man from Edmonton for a Cost of Production Study on our farm.
I had received notice that we were "selected" to participate and though I tried to unselect us... it was decided that on February 6 we would meet and have our findings added to the other farms across Canada. 

In Canada, we have a supply management system where farmers are paid a set price for eggs.  We pay every week for the right to sell our eggs and in return, we are paid a fair price.

What most people don't know is that the price of eggs is established through very careful and precise accounting of what costs are involved in raising baby chicks that will start to lay eggs at 19 weeks. 

In addition to the price of raising pullets, costs for feed, heat, electricity, wages and supplies are all considered for the year of production.  

I spent hours preparing and in the end, it was a satisfying experience.

I sent the man from Edmonton back to his hotel (with a kitchenette) with soup, buns and dessert to eat later.  

He left happy when he left and I was happy when he left. 


But in the meantime...
It continued to snow.


The hummingbird feeder was put out every morning and taken out after dark at night. 


The children stayed home from school for a whole week.
When I asked what they were up to...
the kids at this house were working on posters for their upcoming fundraiser for their family missions trip.


I got tired of putting on boots every few hours to clear my porch so I started to just walk out the door in my slippers.

Having snow that dry is pretty much unheard of here on the wet coast.


But then...
the temperatures began to moderate and the snow turned to rain and the freezing rain changed our farm into an ice castle. 


Trees were hanging heavy and I kept waiting for the big crack. 



The hummingbirds enjoyed their ice water.




 The truck finally made it to pick up eggs.



He continued to move snow off the driveway. 



It was pretty but I said this very softly since the whole weather drama was getting mighty old.  



It looked at last like things were melting quickly. 


We went to go support the kids at their fundraiser.
Note how the one on the right has a glove.  He handed out the donuts.
The one on the left handled the money. 


This little donut girl had her Daddy handle the cash box for her.  


Finally... half way through February the snow melted and we celebrated Valentines Day. 


And Grandparents Day.


We carefully divided our time and ourselves and the kids knew when they would have our designated 15 minutes.


It was fun to share this time with her other Grandma (Omi).



It was fun also to be introduced properly to the teacher by the oldest ones. 


One afternoon after school we had an afternoon of games.


They didn't think I could twist like this and so I twisted in ways I haven't twisted in a long time to prove them wrong. 


So... the good news is that the little daffodils not only survived...
they thrived. 


The other good news is that the birds were shipped and the barns have been cleaned out and life is back to normal here on the farm. 



To celebrate... we've practiced life skills.


We said that this was Eight Hand Cinnamon Buns. 


Dental floss was twisted around the dough to cut the slices.



In the meantime, the Easy Bake Up was fired up and I was treated to a delicious strawberry pudding cake! 


We joined in the fun of working together once again at the Pastors Appreciation Dinner at Sweet Dreams. 



The flower arrangments at the dinner were again so gorgeous!!


Every February we celebrate my birthday...
because that is when it is.  ;)



Thank you, Lord, for the good health and for all the blessings of the last year and thank you for giving me 58 years to live and love!


On Sunday I listened to the weather forecast and shook my head in dismay!
After he checked the chickens in the morning I looked him and suggested that maybe his beard is keeping spring at bay!



Being the loving man he is,
he shaved within the hour.

This morning I watched him as he went outside.

It is safe to say...
that shaving off his beard didn't make a speck of difference. 



The daffodils amazingly persevered and I'm pretty sure that when I come back to report at the end of March, there will more daffodils and maybe even Rhubarb growing.

With that hope...
I'll let you go!

Thank you for bearing with me in this very long essay of our West Coast February! 

all for now..
with love,

Comments

  1. Where to start? It may be a short month, but you have a lot of February pictures! I think we should come back to view our February posts around the end of July...when this snow is all a distant memory! Amazing...what we dealt with this winter. I love your snow slippers! And the 'grandparents day' photos are priceless. Smiling at Terry's before and after pic's. He looks all ready for spring. Aren't we all?

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  2. Well I loved the essay both times I read it. I get the sense that Mr. What Matters Most was the snow warrior! He certainly looked the part right up to the end there. And you out in your slippers...goodness! One for the record books and to remind us all that weather is cyclical or is it that weather is capricious?! A wonderful March to you and yours!

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  3. Well, I started reading this snowy essay last night and when I got to Valentines, I realized I'd have to finish in the morning. =) It is fun to read about what kind of month it's been ... especially for you on the farm. I look at those pictures and I have to say that beard probably helped keep him warm, although I would not know. What happens when it starts thawing out? You have been a great cheer leader and helper in the whole weather and accounting department! I think we've both had more opportunities to make memories with the kids ... I love those twister photos and how your family celebrated your birthday! Marching on to Spring now, we hope.

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  4. Thanks for all of the photos! I feel like I've been to the Colorado foothills, visiting my Dad, in the winter again (we lived there for 26 years and raised our 4 adopted keiki (kids) there before moving, in 2010, to the Big Island of Hawaii.) and I had been missing the snow a bit with all the darkish rainy days here lately on the rainy (Rain Forest) side of our island. We live just about 2 miles North of Hilo, HI, the rainiest town in the entire USA! Anyway, I am glad I found your blog. You have raised my Spirit today and ministered to my soul--Praise the Lord! P.S., my husband and I also just celebrated our 36th wedding anniversary. What an amazing gift God gives us in marriage and in motherhood, eh? Aloha from HI! --Maryruthinhilo (@gmail.com)

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  5. An out of the ordinary February for sure. Love the family mission trip idea, planning and the raising of money ideas. That will really open up the world for your grands. Love the birthday cake photo of you and all those wide eyed grands.

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  6. Enjoyed all the pictures!!! I can't believe all the snow you've had!! We've had the strangest winter and such mild and warm temperatures and hardly any snow at all. I kind of feel like I missed my chance to hibernate. This is so very strange but I almost deny that spring is approaching each year because I am hoping that I will "catch up on rest". ha ha ha! I suppose we should be thankful we didn't have to deal with a lot of snow. I love the birthday pic with all the grands.

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  7. A month to go down in the records for sure!! You have made the very best of it - amazing! The resilience of those daffodils gives hope and faith that Spring will come.

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  8. Wow, that's a lot of snow! Meanwhile in VA, we were enjoying record warm temps and mild weather in February. Now that it's March, it's gotten cold again. :-( I love to see the pics of you having fun with your grandchildren...such wonderful memories you are making with them.

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  9. I'm so behind in reading blogs. The snow is gone...as is the beard. Signs of spring are here. Your times with the kids at school are such a wonderful memory....how they love support and showing off their classroom and introducing teachers. Enjoyed all the photos.

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