A Fleeting Flurry and Farmyard Friendships: Chores and Companionship on a Chilly Morning
A crispness hung in the air, carrying with it the promise of more winter's touch. "Yeah, I do," the speaker affirmed, a prelude to the discovery of a fresh dusting of snow. "Hey, hey, hey, hey! Whoa, how about that?" The exclamation captured the pleasant surprise of the morning's subtle transformation. A playful debate with the unseen Pablo ensued, the speaker estimating a delicate two to three inches of new snowfall.
Determined to provide a definitive answer, the speaker invited viewers to join a closer inspection. "Come with me, my friends." Upon closer scrutiny, the verdict was delivered: "just a little bit over two inches but not quite two and a half inches." This gentle accumulation added to the existing snow cover, which the speaker noted with satisfaction had reached approximately nine inches. While not quite the legendary depths of winters past, it was a welcome improvement over the previous year.
The arrival of fresh snow, however modest, signaled the need for heavier machinery. "I am going to have to fire up the tractor this morning to snow blow the driveway and feed the cattle some hay." The familiar routine of winter farm life was about to unfold.
A cheerful greeting was extended to the farm's steadfast guardians. "Good morning, large white Farm dogs! How are you guys doing, huh?" Abby and Toby, their white coats blending seamlessly with the snowy backdrop, received individual salutations. A gentle reprimand was directed towards an adventurous Abby, who had scaled an unauthorized height. "Abby, what are you doing up there? You know you're not allowed up there. Stay down, please."
While most paths around the farm remained unburdened by the shovel, the areas immediately surrounding the gates received careful attention. "Hi guys, hi! All right, you guys ready to go hide your birds? Come on, come on." The call signaled the morning release of the farm's feathered inhabitants.
"Morning Birds! How's everybody doing? Good to see you all. What we got going on this this morning, huh?" The speaker's cheerful inquiries were met with the usual avian bustle. The promise of chicken treats, however, had captured the undivided attention of the ever-present dogs, a reward to be bestowed later. "Release the quacken! Come on everybody, let's go outside!"
Despite the fresh layer of snow, the day held a surprising warmth, with the temperature hovering around a comfortable 24 degrees Fahrenheit. The snow was cleared from the birds' food dishes, a gesture of consideration even if the birds themselves were hesitant to brave the white expanse, deterred by both the unfamiliar texture and the watchful presence of Abby and Toby stationed near the door. "Abby, come here! Toby, come here! Let everybody come out! Let everybody come out! Come on guys!" The dogs' peculiar habit of guarding the doorway in the mornings often created a temporary avian impasse.
With the water running smoothly, the speaker turned their attention to their canine companions. A fond greeting was offered to Toby. "Let's check in with our buddy Mr. Toby dog this morning. How are you doing, pal? Good to see you, buddy!" Reassurance followed for Abby. "Oh, and don't worry, Abby, I'm not forgetting about you either."
The bond between the speaker and their dogs was palpable. "I will admit it's kind of nice having these guys as best friends. Come here, Abs! Come here, Abs! I love you! I love you too, buddy!" Moments of quiet companionship were cherished, challenging the misconception that working livestock guardian dogs were solely business. "I genuinely think that's one of the myths, misconceptions folks have when it comes to having working livestock guardian dogs and like outdoor dogs in general is this idea that like you can't be friends with them and you have to make their job very serious. I think you just have to make a point of taking some time and hanging out with them and spending some time with them. That's just like, you know, good quality chill time, isn't that right, guys?"
A gentle command for Abby to lie down allowed Toby his share of affection. The distinct personalities of the two dogs were on full display: Toby, the stoic and lovable soul; Abby, the mischievous prankster with a heart of gold, currently sporting a piece of burdock in her fur. "Abby, you really are the silliest of the dogs, you know that right?"
The task of spreading fresh straw followed. Abby, initially diligent, paused her work, her attention diverted by the speaker's interaction with Toby, a testament to her jealous nature. Reassurance and encouragement prompted her to resume her task, while Toby, with typical canine pragmatism, took the opportunity to relieve himself on the fresh bedding.
The goat enclosure demanded attention next. "Good morning, boys! How you doing? How are the goatis?" The speaker announced the need to shovel their gate, requesting their patience. "Follow me, boys! I got fresh hay!" A moment of playful chaos ensued as Abby attempted to herd a straying Loney Stone back into the enclosure. "Uh oh, Abby L's being naughty! Can you help me get him back in here? Good job!" Abby's herding instincts, while generally helpful, sometimes bordered on overzealous playfulness. Fresh water was then provided to the excited goats, their anticipation fueled by the sight of the water bucket. With the goats secured, the focus shifted to the cattle.
An adjustment to the usual routine was announced. "Now ordinarily I wouldn't feed the cattle more hay today, but because I already have to fire up the tractor to clear the snow, figure I might as well drop a couple extra bales in here. That way I don't have to feed them hay tomorrow." Efficiency dictated the combined effort. "Okay, dogs, I'm back. Did you miss me? You guys want to get out now? I got to go do some water stuff first. I just took it a couple extra minutes and just snow blowed the driveway just in the name of efficiency. That way I did all my tractor chores in one fell swoop."
Upon reaching the cattle's water trough, it was evident that the animals had already taken matters into their own hands, creating a drink hole through the ice. Nevertheless, the speaker proceeded to break and scoop out the remaining ice, a preventative measure against further freezing as the warmer morning temperatures were expected to give way to colder conditions later in the day.
A tale of recent farm mishaps followed, involving a cracked shovel handle during a particularly vigorous ice-breaking session. The speaker expressed a preference for the multi-functional shovel over alternatives like sledgehammers or ice axes, despite this recent breakage. "Good morning, Astred! How are you doing?" The cattle herd, including Astred, Annabelle, Betty Rubble, Amanda Hug and Kiss, and Baby B, were all present and accounted for.
Anticipation for calving season was discussed, with the speaker estimating a start date in early to mid-April. Betty Rubble, the current "baby" of the herd, would soon transition to the heifer area, enjoying a year of growth before breeding. A similar trajectory was planned for Alice B. Toews, Baby B, Betty White, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Belle.
A final affectionate greeting was directed towards Toby. "How's my Toby dog? Hey, buddy, a good to see you."
With the morning's chores largely completed, the speaker offered a brief farewell. "So yeah, that's just the quick update from the farm. Be back again real soon with another another update, but until then, you should watch one of these videos, and I'll be back again real soon. See you later everybody!"