New England weather is known for its changeability, but recently we’ve outdone ourselves. Last week was bitter cold. A touch of snow. Then warmth and mud. Then torrential rain. Then ice storms. Now it’s dreary gray and chilly. My little piece of land has been spared the devastation just ten miles north of here, where snapping, crashing tree limbs brought power lines down.

The hens are fine in freezing weather, and their coops are snug against chilling breezes. But, I worry about them getting wet and muddy. If the ground doesn’t freeze up soon, I’ll put down a some hay to get them out of the muck. Candy will appreciate that, too. Have you seen her look annoyed at her dirty paws and shake them in the air? She longs for clean white snow to tunnel in.