When I was younger, I always felt like winter was boring. There seemed to be so much down time. Not many activities and you couldn’t just go outside anytime you wanted to. There were rules: check the weather, put on appropriate clothes (except for one year I begged to go outside in shorts and it was -2 F), check the weather again….anyway you get the idea. Since we moved back to the farm there aren’t enough hours in the day. We seem to have something going on at ALL times.

I was hoping to have more leisure/couple time; which is a silly idea since we have three children under the age of 10. Nope; not here. Jimmy began tackling a new college degree and I have been attending just about every farm/ag type seminar that I can find. Of course, we still have the livestock to take care of and the planning for next years crops. Truth be told,  if there weren’t so many “activities” going on I actually might go a little stir crazy. As far as the farm is concerned not too much has changed since we have entered the “off season”. Planning and preparing for the 2017 crop season is in full swing. All of my seeds have been order for my garden. Sheep are pregnant and getting larger (and hungrier) by the day. Chickens are still clucking. Cows are chewing cud. And we keep moving forward.

I would encourage any farmers and farm”hers” who do have “down time” find some classes to take or seminars to attend. Make use of your local NRCS, USDA, farm/ag shows, community colleges, and webinars are great for those who can’t get out of the house. If nothing else it breaks up the snowy monotony that has become the winter.