February Farm Diary: Day 1

More often than I'd like, I'm on the inside looking out.  I am thankful for warmth and shelter though! 

I came across a couple of old issues of Farm and Ranch Living magazine the other day as I continued my annual "poke around in the house" during the cold winter season.  I typically do this in January if it's too yucky to be outdoors for very long at a time.  

When the weather fairs up, I plan to be outta here again, Lord willin'! 

Anyway, the magazine included "ag diaries," where farm men and women kept logs of their daily activities and shared them with their readership.  

So, I thought I'd try that here...just as a creative outlet, and perhaps to spread some hope and cheer. 

February 1, 2026: According to our digital thermometer, the temperature was almost 8 the first time I checked this morning.  I suspect it was colder just before daylight, as it typically is, but I wasn't up that early, lol. 

Church was canceled, because the parking lot is essentially a skating rink, but we have Bibles, and we can read them and pray and sing anytime we want to, at this point in American history. For that, I am thankful. 

Our nation seethes with turmoil and trouble right now, and I find myself alternately sad and angry.  In the Scriptures I see hope that, ultimately, truth and justice will prevail.  I pray it happen "on earth as it is in heaven" too, and that evil be exposed and punished!

Let's get back to life on the farm.  

We made a run to stock up on chicken feed and a few groceries this afternoon.  Although the temperature didn't rise much above 20, it was warm in the truck, and the landscape was beautiful with the sun igniting diamond-like sparkles on the snow.  

Back roads are icy all over Madison and Estill counties; I doubt the kids will be in school for at least another week.  Sounds like our grandkids have been living their best life though, with sledding and sleepovers and such. There's "snow" fun like snow days! 

After gathering up groceries for us and the animals, we headed back home for--you guessed it--feed time! 

This is the time of year farmers worked so hard for last summer in the hot sun, harvesting grass, making hay, stockpiling food for the livestock to eat during the icy winter.  

The herd, thank the good Lord, looks healthy right now, considering they wade icy waters with big chunks of ice clattering against their legs to come and eat supper.  After their daily grain, they stand outside in sleet and snow, weak sunshine, whatever, to munch on hay, and they seem quite content to do it. 

Ah, to have the fortitude of an old cow.  They look complacent as they chew and look around, most of the time appearing placid as can be.  They eyeball their world, keep ruminating, and mostly don't get too excited.  They're patient.  

Lord, help me be more like these ol' heifers in the field, not raucous and squawking all the time like our geese, which are the real reason we have to buy chicken feed so often. ;)  

Maybe the cattle innately know spring is coming.  Maybe they don't, and they just take life as it comes.  

There isn't a lot we can do on the farm right now except feed and make sure the animals can get water (i.e., break ice).  

So I've been giving some thought to creating more flower gardens, and I'm thinking it's time to get those tomato seeds ordered.  

I need to clean out the high tunnel soon, and with February here, my thoughts are turning to planting peas! Last year the chickens repeatedly scratched our pea seeds out of the rows until I finally gave up, but this year I'm determined to outfox them. 

Will we be able to plant peas on Valentine's Day, as is the way of an old Appalachian tradition?  Possibly!  

We'll just have to wait and see!  ;)