Around The Farm In December

Winter arrived both suddenly and early this year. These Rugosa Rose buds were frozen before opening and look as if they might last all winter this way:

I had to begin putting hay bales out for the herd earlier than usual too:

Our early winter storms were uncomfortable but left a beautiful landscape. This is the view to the northwest from one of my second story windows:

And the view to the southwest:

The apple grove held their leaves longer than most other trees, and then they got coated with sticky snow. They looked beautiful, though:

Remy and Blue liked to eat the old hay which the cows have abandoned after I put out a new bale:

They are not afraid to eat at the bale feeder when they want to, though:

The little bantam hens have been safe from foxes and relatively warm (all things are relative) inside their own room in the barn. These are Barred Rock bantams:

These are Easter Egger bantams:

The fourth Easter Egger bantam. They come in all colors:

The white fantail pigeons have done quite well this year:

And I've been wanting a good quality portrait photo of them. I think this is one is probably the best I'm going to get: