Winter on the homestead

Now that Christmas and New Years have sadly passed perhaps things can begin to slow down a bit?  To me winter is a time of rest (perhaps not relaxation), the garden is layng dormant, hidden below layers of snow, the hens nearly cease to lay eggs, the horses and dogs grow fat and lazy.

Merry and Joe - taking advantage of the last
 bit of daylight

While daily chores don't cease, in fact supplying fresh water becomes a bit more of a challenge due to freezing temperatures, the work load is lessened.  The meat chickens are in the freezer, turkeys have long been processed and consumed!  No more baby chicks to attend to, weeds to be pulled, or seeds started.  Yard work is non existent, the pasture clearing and improvement project is on hold, no fencing is being installed.  There is the occasional snowstorm to contend with, clearing the driveway, pathways, and a clearing to the critters, but it is never too difficult.  But with the sort days where darkness comes far too quickly and the ever plunging temperatures outdoors the planning can begin!!
       

I've already been thumbing through garden supply catalogs, picking out seeds, planning the garden, researching goat breeders, we (perhaps that should be I'm?) planning on adding a Nubian doe or two! Determining where the piglets will go, their housing and fencing situation, greenhouse location.......

....this spring will be busy!  We better rest up while we have the chance!

It doesn't look like much, but this is the future greenhouse site.