A Chilly Winter Morning at Gullringstorp
It has been a very cold night here at Gullringstorp. The sun came up to a chilly -17C this morning.
We have a heater on one end if our stable to keep the pipes from freezing. We used to carry buckets of hot water to the stable during winter months. This tiny heater keeps everything from freezing so we have water on hand for the goats and the chickens.
With the body heat of our 25 strong herd, the temperature today is just above 0C. We are careful not to open any doors unnecessarily that would let the cold in. Everyone has, by now a nice warm bed of straw and hay built up over the recent months. This makes a nice warm bed for them.This also means that in addition to their warm thick winter coats, they are cozy, not crazy warm, but very comfortable.
Outside my dinning room window I can see our covered pond is buried under fluffy snow. I know our koi are in their hibernation state and we will see them in the spring.
I can also see our garden birds enjoying their meal here at Gullringstorp. There’s seed in the many containers as well as seed spilled to the ground. Soon it will be time to refill the seeds and lard balls that sustain them during the bleak cold winter months.
Just a tiny look into winter here at Gullringstorp.
Good Frosty Morning From Gullringstorp !
The boys needed to be out on this crisp cool morning because their box is being emptied today. I figured it was also a day for our ladies to be out and get some fresh air. They don’t have a full day, they will be in by 3 pm just before it gets dark.
Good decision, the ladies are so happy to be out. They are running, playing? Snatching mouthfuls of hay on the run and greeting old pals. They soon discovered the snow. It was fun to stand on, slide on and lick.
Feed the Birds
We have had warmer temperatures causing all our beautiful snow to melt. This makes the ground all over Gullringstorp, wet and soggy. This includes the enclosures. There is no dry place for the goats to lay down and take a rest. For this reason, they were not allowed out today.
Hopefully because of a the winds, we will have drier enclosures tomorrow and they can all be outside.
There is always something to do on the property. One very important thing to do is to place our seeds and nuts for the wild birds.
The birds remember who puts out yummies for them and will return every winter.
A New Collar for Peanut
Every now and again, my ladies , especially, outgrow their collars. This happens for several reasons; either they are still growing or their winter fur becomes too thick under their collar making them a bit too snug.
No matter the reason, when it’s time, it’s just time.
Here is pumpkin in her new collar:
City Girl Turned Country Gal Brings Culture Into the Stable at Gullringstorp Part 6
This was a very cold , windy and snowy morning, here at Gullringstorp. We find ourselves in the midst of yet another winter.
Unfortunately, this was not a day for our goats to be out in their snowed in enclosure
Gullringstorp deep in snow once again. But, oh so beautiful.
One of our cats, Pip enjoys looking at the snow from his warm window seat
Today my goats enjoyed beautiful music from Sicily, Italy. We listened to Roberto Alagna’s CD ” Sicilian” with lovely romantic and lively Italian pieces, as fresh hay , water and grain was given. I really enjoy Roberto Alagna and have bee able to enjoy him in opera several times. I am really happy to be able to enjoy his singing no matter where I happen to be, here at Gullringstorp.
Roberto Alagna is a French tenor who has performed the works of many of the world’s greatest composers, in some of the worlds most famous opera houses; Verdi, Bizet, Puccini, Donizetti, Massenet, just to name a few.
Here are just some of his roles in the world of opera: Pinkerton in Madame Butterfly, Alfredo in La Traviatta, Roméo in Roméo et Juliette, Don Jose in Don Jose, Hoffman in Les Contes d’Hoffman.
I hope you enjoy Roberto Alagna’s Sicilian:
Winter Has Arrived at Gullringstorp
We are now in the beginning of a real winter. We have had nothing but rain all Autumn long with mild temperatures. December has been rung in with not only low temperatures -14c but SNOW!
I love Gullringstorp in Spring and Summer but Gullringstorp really shines during the Winter!
This snow has caught us all a bit off guard. Like everyone in the countryside, we are now scrambling to get everything done that needs to be done before being buried in snow.
We have stocked up on hay and straw supplies in the stable, Leif has weather lined the stable doors that needed it and covered our pond the has many koi. Of course all the shovels have been activated and the chains have been placed on the tractor which is needed for moving large quantities of snow around Gullringstorp.
Max has worn last year’s winter suit and I realized that little Max, like all of us has put on a few pounds, so I have been in the market for a new winter suit for him. My husband laughs when Max gets “dressed” to go out but, he is not a big dog and he does get cold. Not now, because he has a new warm winter suit!
Gullringstorp in the winter
My chubby little Max, stuffed into last year’s winter suit
A view of the back area from the bedroom window
Snow covered trees in the front of the house
Snow looks like whipped cream
In the back of the house where the tractor is kept
Snow
Pretty snow
It is important to get all the supplies need for the goats, they need fresh hay and straw especially during winter. Any hay or straw that fall to the box floor, is added cushion and warmth during the cold winter months. Our goats, like all goats love to ear hay and straw and some of it will and always does hit the floor. We don’t mind.
We have this huge beautiful bale of straw inside and 42 smaller bales in a storage outside
Just look at that beautiful hay…
More snow
Time to cover the pond
This is the tarp which covers the layer of styrofoam
Leif is busy placing the styrofoam in its proper place
Preparing the pond
Max in his new winter suit
Cute little warm Max
And off he goes… in his warm suit
Soon Gullringstorp will be beautiful in the snow and Christmas lights
I hope your winter is beautiful on your eyes and heart…
GullringstorpGoatGal
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