Ice Storm Aftermath

First off, thank you everyone for your words of concern and encouragement. It means a lot to hear from friends during difficult times.

The skies were clear and the landscape crystalline the day after the ice storm. Chain saws provided the soundtrack for morning chores as every one on Patten Hill cut their way through the tangle of limbs littering yards and driveways. A curtain of ice cloaked the woodland in lace as the temperatures remained below freezing. We looked around and took stock of the damage.

Winter lace

The pic below shows one of the impassable farm access roads.

Blocked access road

And this photo gives you a sense of the thickness and weight of the ice, which was simply too much for hundreds of our trees. The birches were hardest hit. The main drive is now nearly birch-less.

Iced branch

A limb came right through the roof of this shed. Fortunately, there were no sheep inside.

Garden shed

The fence got whacked like this at least 50 places. In some spots it was ripped right off the posts.

Fence damage

On the plus side, our electricity was restored on Monday. We lost no plumbing at the farm. I know many others who are still struggling without power. I can't say how much I appreciate the Asplundh, Utility and WMECO crews who came from many states away and worked long hours to remove limbs and replace lines and poles. 

While this has been called the worst ice storm in decades, the sheep were rather unfazed. As long as we show up, toss out hay and fill buckets twice a day, everything is right in their world. 

Mike feeding sheep

That goes for goats, too, though they're much happier when we bring treats.

Mike gypsy butch

I am writing this from the comfort of my kitchen in the midst of a major snowstorm (exactly one week from the date of the ice storm). Another storm is predicted for Sunday. Winter is here with a vengeance. We turn a small corner this weekend as the light begins to return.

Happy solstice.

Frosty pups