Chilly December Days

We've had some very chilly days this month, including a few mornings where the thermometer settled into the teens and twenties. The good part of cold weather is that we always know that it won't last; today, for example, the temperature was in the low sixties. The less desirable aspects of cold weather include that we cannot help but notice when the heat goes out in the house. Also, the hoses freeze and I'm back to lugging buckets of water up to each pasture and stall.

Today the repair technician came to address the heat pump issue and the indoors is toasty warm again this evening. Also the two dogs we had spayed last week concluded their prescribed period of indoor recuperation today, and they're back out in the split kennel for the night. When Molly and Kathleen first came back from the veterinarian, they were distressed at being asked to enter the house; however, over the course of the weekend they got quite comfortable staying in the laundry room and only going out for "chores" with me in tow. Today they spent much of the day outside confined to the orchard by the house. Although Kathleen slipped through the fence once to romp with Biscuit in the front yeard, Miss Molly was--as always--the good dog who stayed within the confines of the fencing.

One of these days I'm going to remember to pick up a chain collar when I'm in town. I've been meaning to do a little obedience training with the dogs almost since they arrived last January. Luther will generally come when called, but when Molly is feeling well she interprets "come" as her cue to elude my outstretched hands. Today it was clear that she feels recovered from her surgery because the one time I needed her to come in, she chose to play "chase me through the mud for a few minutes" before agreeing to follow me inside.

For the most part all of the animals on the farm work well with me: they always show up on time for dinner, regardless of the weather and regardless of what fun activities they may have been engaged in previously.