We Are All Together in This

I see by the posts on some of your blogs, and by the news... we are not alone in this terrible weather.  In fact, we pray that those of you affected in worse ways... snow... ice... no power... will make it through the next few days. 

That said... it was a pain doing chores this morning. 

The ducks rather hysterically attacked the warm water.  I had to literally lift the two frozen fortexes and beat them against the ground in the four degree weather to break them up.  Tonight, after dark, I am emptying all of them and the ducks will just have to tough it out. 

I made four trips back into the house for warm water and for those of you shaking your heads... I don't usually go to that great length, because I pump water from the pumps by the henhouses, normally.

These guys were out in the cold, and were glad to get their warm water, too.  In fact, when I finish this post, I'll be out the door with more. 

You see what a mess I caused myself last night in the henspa.  I forgot to pour out the plastic waterer, which I am sure is ruined now.  It froze, and the water spilled over.  I filled the main waterer on the floor four times yesterday, and it was dry this morning, some chicken had tilted it just slightly.  These were all glad to get their waters, too.  I have to keep a waterer on top of the nest box for the three chickens still living in the rafters. 

It's going to be interesting to see when this one thaws. 

I took a picture of Abby this morning, who did not want to get out of bed.  You can't see through the window behind her because there is so much ice on the inside of it! 

But when I went into the living room, look upon whom the morning light was shining!

It picked me right up!

And so did this last photo....

For months, I have driven by a small store front in Tonganoxie on Saturday mornings, on my way home from the Good Shepherd.  I saw the small sign on it that said "The Jewelry Shoppe" but I rarely saw people in it. 

Today, I stopped in.  The man who owns/runs it is a farmer, who does this on Saturday mornings only.  

He "fixed" (replaced the battery) and reset my mother's Timex watch, that came to me when my sister died last year.  I have been carrying it in my purse for weeks, hoping to find someone to fix it. 

I cannot believe that it is working again, and on my wrist as I type this. 

My mom used to laugh, because my little sister would always say that she 

"Takes a licking and keeps on ticking"... remember the old Timex commercial? That was my mom to a "T" and to remember all this this morning brought a flood of emotion. 

I have some other watches that need batteries, but the shop will be closed for the next two weekends... I will be taking them after Christmas, though, and I am so pleased to have found someone local to do the work. 

Now, back outside in the now 15 degree weather to do water again!