The Bovine Bugle

Work and play on a school holiday

It was a frosty, snowy day here at the farm. We had 6 inches of snow overnight which made the boys happy since they are off from school all week. They kept warm outside in the snow and cold temperatures by skiing and cutting some firewood for the house.

Before lunch, Karen went out for a ski with our niece, Jamie, while the boys and I cut a load of firewood. Ben and I took turns running the chainsaw, while Justin tried unsuccessfully to use the splitting ax. In a couple of years he'll be able to split those pieces of maple, oak, and birch.

After lunch, Karen, Jamie, Justin, and Noah went skiing behind the house while Ben and I cut another load of wood. The heifers and steers watched the skiers with interest, standing around the bale ring munching on some hay. On cold days like this the animals eat a little more hay than usual, using the extra fuel to keep warm. I guess you could say we stoke the woodstove in the farmhouse with wood to keep us warm, and we stoke the animals with round bales to keep them warm.

--Jonathan, Howmars Farm
Franklin, Vermont

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Posted by Blogger Chris at December 28, 2004 07:32 PM