Sink upgrade, winter temps, a mess

For the past couple of weeks Norman has worked on replacing our kitchen sink counter and the sink. This included not only made replacement of the countertop and sink, but also the backsplash. I think it was two weeks ago that I helped Norman cut the counter so that we could set it in place and hook up the new sink. That turned out to be the easy part. Hooking up the complicated plumbing system required for the sink and the web water supply lines to the multitude of valves that the sink offers turned out to be a challenge for Norman. He did finish most of the water and drain lines the first day, but we've been waiting on the backsplash.

Over the last several nights he has set and glued the backsplash in place and last night he grouted and cleaned the backsplash so that all that's left is to seal it and to do some caulking along the edges. It looks really good! Mama has not seen it in person yet since that part happened while she and Victoria are still in Florida. However, she was very excited over the pictures Norman sent to her. This is the second sink that we've had in the kitchen, but this is by far the best remodel we've ever done of that counter and a huge upgrade at the sink. The backsplash is icing on the cake, so to speak. Norman does very good work. It's taken some time because he's sandwiched the work in between several other jobs he's working has contracted to do but it is nice to see that project come to completion. Now, we'll start to work on the other side of the kitchen - the stove countertop that expands into the living room. No hurry on that.

Though the temperature yesterday peaked at 81, this morning’s temperature was 34 degrees. Just above freezing. For the next three nights we are going to see temperatures just slightly below freezing somewhere around 28 degrees. That's pretty frigid for this time of year in North Texas. It does not portend a severe winter, but it did put me on my toes getting the water supplies we have in the house and around the farm ready for freezing temperatures. I had to spend yesterday afternoon, all afternoon, disconnecting and draining hoses, covering faucets, and running heat tracing on one line.

We're at that time of year on the farm where life is most difficult for us. When the temperatures are below freezing overnight, we have to make sure that all hydrants and spigots are drained and covered. Then, in the morning we can hook up the hoses that we had drained and use them to get water to the various places on the farm that we water the animals, making sure to disconnect the hoses in the evening and prepare for the overnight freeze. Fortunately, this cold snap is only going to last three nights. Unfortunately, I have a very poor selection of hoses that we can hook and unhook easily, so I’ll have to buy at least two hoses to help us make it through the winter months ahead.

From the animal 's point of view, all of them have good dry shelter and places where we can feed them in the dry, so it's not a hardship on them. They just huddle up together in the corner with the least draft of whatever barn or enclosure they're in. It is amazing to feel how warm they are in the mornings when we feed them – just after they have stirred from their beds.

To ensure the two little boys that we had in the garden while they were being weaned could stay warm, I carried them over to spend a few days with Samuel in the small enclosure over on the East side of the farm. Saturday, Norman helped me wrestle Midas from the small enclosure into the larger enclosure with Little Boy Blue, Mini, and Jersey, two of our little does that needed to be bred. Little Boy Blue was having trouble getting the job done because he's just a bit too young to handle the more mature does, but Midas didn't have that problem. Later this week after Mama gets home, we will move Samuel and two of the little does into a separate area to let that breeding take place. I'm not sure what we'll do with the Little Boy Blue except to leave him where he is for right now. I wait further instructions from Mama.

Also, as soon as Mama gets home, we're going to get the quail and baby ducks out of the garage. The cold temperatures outside necessitate leaving the garage door closed. Because the garage door is closed, the messy little ducklings produce a less than appealing smell in the garage. Every time we raise up little tiny ducklings, we are amazed that how huge a mess those tiny things can make. We are using a water container to provide water to the little ones in the hopes that they can't make that big a mess of it, but they manage anyway.

Grandpa provided them with fresh water in the container that most fowls would simply drink out of, then he stood back and watched. Within a few minutes the ducks had sloshed almost all of the water out of that container and onto the puppy training pads that we try to keep fresh in there to soak up part of the mess that they make. The four little ones simply dipped their beaks into the water, waggled their heads back and forth in a blurring motion, and spread the water around everywhere. A little fresh water became a huge mess in about sixty seconds. It's impressive. We have kept the ducklings in the garage just to safeguard them from the low temperatures, but they'll find a home in the grow out pen until they can be integrated with their larger cousins.  

There, they can mess up the area to their heart’s content.