a beautiful winter day....

Well sort of. Just outside Farmington IL it is 8 above with winds of 20 mph and gust to 30 mph. We had 5 or 6 inches of snow over night and this morning but nothing too serious. Overnight low is supposed to be 11 below and the high 1 below tommorow with continued wind and blowing snow. About 1pm the sun came out, the snow quit blowing so much and it is a nice looking day all things considered. I came in the house about 2:30pm to warm up and kill some time before heading out to do chores. Used the 1086 snowblower to make it a little easier to get around here and I went over the the east farm after lunch and got the 4020 out and cleaned the drive and a gateway out so I dont have to walk in thigh deep snow to do chores. If I'm lucky it wont all blow back in and I wont have to clean things out again in the morning while its 11 below zero.
Each and every single cow or calf on both farms were inside when I checked on them at noon. Not one was outside in the wind. Laying in the nice bedding I put in for them and looking happy.
Caught a picture of one of Trivoli Township's snowplows rolling past a couple minutes ago. Busy day in the snow plowing business!
Time for me to head out and do chores. How is everyone else doing in this nice weather?
bill

Made it back in from chores. Its down to 4 above now. That darn wind sure makes it feel colder. Looked like all the animals were thinking about hunkering down somehwere for the night.
bill

About the same here in Rock Island County, glad it was a light and fluffy snow, not wet and heavy, I left for work about 10 till 6 this am. Made it out the drive and 3/4 mile to blacktop OK. County hadn't been out yet. Turned around and drove back to the house so my wife would have a good track to drive in when she went to work. Had a good 6 or 7 inches of snow, but it just blew out of the way when you went thru it. Got home and plowed drifts out of driveway, just hope it isn't filled in by morniong. Chris

I would like to see some pictures of the cows in the bedding. Your pictures are always so good.

up here in stephenson co. township roads are in better shape than county or state roads.
cow and calves came out of barn this morning went right to bale feeder and wouldn't leave it.
at dark they were still there.

If my camera will work at 10 below zero I will try in the morning. We bed them with wheat straw, well really they do it themselves. Doesnt seem to matter if its round or square bales, but if you put them out they will do a better job spreading them out than I can. They seem to really get a kick out of playing with the bales. Kinda fun to watch!
bill