-6 degC and Icicles

The thaw has slowed as the frosts have started - so not much grass yet, but did shift the twinning ewes to beside some trees to hopefully get a pick.  Will be their first grass for a week.

                  Don't think there'll be any sheep in these yards for a while, the depth has dropped a little already though

 This bit of the track often gives the Boss real problems when it ices up, so he left the JDeere and feeder up at the haybarn

           Cruise and Queen in the foreground, Jake and Don waiting to join in.  The younger dogs quite enjoy the snow.



Don



                                                                   Maid and Jess in their well insulated quarters.

 The snowshoes that definitely make walking in deep powder easier, except when Maid walks to close and stands on the edge as you try to take a step - she couldn't work out why I kept abruptly stopping

                      Rory in heaven as he eats his breakfast, dinner is the other highlight of his day at present

                                                           Rory's tracks on the hill as he tries to find a bit of grass

 View up the river to where some of the cows are still on the left, although more turn up daily for hay.  They can just walk over the fences at the moment

If you look hard you can just see the plane behind the trees.  The neighbour went up with a friend to see where his stock are.  They can't access their stock the same as we can, as they are not as flat, so has been an anxious time waiting for the weather to clear.  Huge drifts out on their hills, and the dozer has been working for 2 days so far clearing some tracks.

                      The twinning ewes on the move this morning, didn't need much encouragement apart from the tail enders

                                      The  last of the ewes leaving the feed pad where they've been for the last 6 days

                                Maid and Cruise waiting patiently while I try to get the 2 off that probably won't make it

                                                      This ewe just may not survive, she's probably carrying triplets

 The track the ewes took to get some grass.  If they are on a hill and you cannot doze tracks  people have to tramp tracks then hunt the stock along - it is exhausting work - needs fit young people (so not my job), but we're lucky and with our stock on the flats we rarely have to Snowrake for stock

                                                                                Bales on the feeder for the cows

Ewes having a pick of grass, should perk them up some more, although they are still in good condition thankfully.  10 hour days for the Boss feeding them has paid off!