Long, cold weekend, potty training

Friday into Saturday last week the weather turned sharply colder. By Sunday morning the temperatures were in the low teens. There was not much we could do outside so Nate and I finished burning all the pallets from the pig pen and I tried to set up waterers for the animals that would keep their water thawed in the cold overnight hours. I shut down the well in the barn lot and let the lines depressurize to keep the hydrant at the chicken coop from freezing. It is a proper yard hydrant and would not ordinarily freeze but the weep hole that allows water to drain out of the stem of the hydrant must be plugged. We have had some trouble operating the handle on other cold mornings. Since this was supposed to be colder than we have had in the recent past, I wanted to do what I could to protect the hydrant; besides, I needed to cut in valves at the well so I could selectively shut off the hydrant at the barn. It has been dribbling badly for over a month and has caused quite a mess. I am replacing the hydrant and rerouting the water line into the corral for ease of use in the future, but the area will have to dry out a bit before I can do that work.

Sunday morning was the coldest day of the long weekend. The temperature was 12°F when I bundled up to go out and feed. Believe it or not, the goats were ready to get up and eat. The chickens were not so enamored with the idea of exiting the coop. There is no heat provided for any of the animals, but the coop and barns keep the wind off of them and over Saturday night, the enclosures kept the drizzle off of them. Sunday morning was not only very cold, everything was covered by a layer of ice. It was not a heavy layer, but it was everywhere, on everything.

We were a little worried about the roads but all of us got ready for church. Nate, Cori and the kids were going to do a drop in, but the church they were going to visit canceled their services that morning. About the time we got that news, the person I had asked to song for the a.m. service texted and said she would not be coming to church because the roads were too slick to travel on. A few minutes later, the Pastor began sending out word that services were canceled at our church also. Everyone got changed for a day at the farm. Mama was relieved that we did not have to attempt the sharp rise at the end of our road with ice on it as well as the county road it intersects. We did see some lingering patches of ice on our way into church that night – yes, we had services that night and had a pretty large crowd to boot.

Mama and Victoria had charge of the toddlers for that pm service. Savanna was one of that crowd of little ones. As they were all coming back into the church for the change offering (which the children collect from the adults in the service) Savanna burst into the sanctuary and shouted, “Mommy, I went pee-pee in the potty!” It was a great moment for the church. Every parent in the congregation could appreciate the moment with us. At home, we have all been teamed up to get her potty training off to a good start. There has been a modicum of success; only a few setbacks. It seems she prefers using the big potty rather than the potty chair. Whatever will work. Cori and Nate have a few more days at the farm to continue the training process before they travel to meetings somewhere up north. For that trip the camper will remain at the farm and they will stay in a hotel or a home at the destination. With the weather as it is in that direction, traveling without the camper is a good idea.

At work, we have a very busy January ahead of us. I am not sure what traveling I have over the next several weeks, but I do know there are at least five classes to be taught. I have a hunch, that pace will continue throughout the year.

Welcome to 2018.