Tracks, scat, and wildlife visitors.

It is lovely to be keenly aware of just how much more daylight we're getting as I'm out and about in -8 degree weather feeding and caring for the animals. Just being out and about at the same time every day gives a lot of connection to understanding time as the light changes. There are times I think that having flood lights around the house to get more done in the dark hours would be good. Then I remember that doing night time construction in below freezing weather isn't fun or terribly productive anyhow. One of the things that light showed me this morning though, was tracks from some of our visiting wildlife in the wake of the storm.

Seasonal light cycle, effects on chickens, rabbits, and work.

Light has a lot to do with how things go with livestock, and how people feel in general at this time of year, and I figured I would talk about that a bit. Some of the consequences are really obvious in that temperatures are colder, work time is shorter, and a lot of things can't be done outside in the dark and cold. Some of the things are less obvious but just as important when it comes to homesteading in particular, even beyond not having plants in the ground without a greenhouse.

The babies are out and moving around, so are the chickens . . .

For a few moments I wasn't sure what photos to start with, but in the end you can't go wrong with a handful of baby bunny. The one Above is one of Halley's kits that is JUST starting to open it's eyes. Right now Halley's kits are still just barely at the opening their eyes stage. Twilight's just a couple days older on the other hand are already moving around.