This afternoon, we put tarp out to cover the firewood as we approach winter. Next week, 30 additional bales of hay are coming. With those tasks – and putting a new latch on the pasture gate – we will have completed almost all sour preparations for winter, which occurred over the last several months.

We ordered firewood, stacked it, ordered hay, placed it in the barn, put an electric baseboard heater in our bedroom, this week we are adding a storm window to the upstairs. On our farm, winter is our most challenging season, and every forecast, farmer and Almanac and National Weather Service, says the same thing: we are in for a cold, snowy and unrelenting winter.

In addition to these other preparations, we have installed a new gutter over the back porch to keep the rain and snow from icing up the porch. We’ve also dumped gravel by the pasture gate, which gets slippery when it rains or snows. I confess that I am mindful of the fact that Maria will be gone through mid-February on her trip to India, and I will be alone for a bit with winter again.

I mean to be ready.I’ll ask for help if I need it, but I don’t think I will need it.

Sometimes these forecasts are off a bit, in geography or intensity. The forecasters talk of El Nina, a vast system of moisture coming all the way from the Pacific. Rather than be anxious, I’d prefer to be prepared. When you live with animals on farm, one of the lessons is to be prepared, you don’t ever want to get caught without hay, shelter,  or heated water.

Two feelings are incomparable on the farm: a barn full of hay, and a shed stacked with dry wood.