life in the tundra

+ it got down to -32F last night (that's right, that is a negative number) and no chickens died, so we may last the winter without any casualties! knock on wood. 

it's really difficult to think about doing any outside stuff with the weather this cold. i couldn't tack up a horse without a huge struggle, since normal riding gloves do not protect from this type of cold and "warm" riding gloves make buckling things difficult....plus, they don't really keep fingers warm in this weather. 

+ tomorrow is still chilly, but we should be in the positive numbers — which means we'll FINALLY be able to get to ceramics without too much difficulty. when i say "difficulty" i basically am referring to the incessant layering ON and layering OFF that takes place to leave the house — i have to layerON then when i get in the car, i have to layerOFF a little bit so i don't melt. then before getting OUT of the car when we get to where we are going, it's a game of twister while we layerON again. 

ugh.

i'm so looking forward to spring — even with the wet and the mosquitoes and bugs and and and. i can picture that specific shade of midwest-green and it's a lovely, lovely color. 

~~

today i am probably tackling a loaf a sourdough. o.O my starter is active again after a LONG hibernation in the fridge and i'm ready to try for a rustic loaf. we are almost at the point where we don't buy bread at all anymore — i'd like to take that "almost" out of the equation. 

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