a group of ewes feeding this morning
Last night it unexpectedly began to snow…and snow and snow. This morning we were shrouded in a foot of soft, white silence. Trees bowed under the weight, bent almost double, forming arches and bowers. Power cables and phone lines stretched to within a couple of inches of Robert’s head. Huge wet snowflakes fell, fell, fell.
the farm lane in heavy snow this morning
The dogs are beside themselves with snow excitement.
...and this afternoon we bring out the snow plough!
This afternoon we dig ourselves out with the help of the trusty bobcat. Half a mile of steep lane needs to be cleared.
olly clearing snow from the lane
And shovelling.
the view across to Dartmoor from the top of our lane
Locks Park Farm 
8 comments
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February 6, 2009 at 11:01 pm
elizabethm
Wow! We have been snowed in but my mother said they had a foot of snow in Okehampton.
Hope you are ok in so many ways. x
February 7, 2009 at 2:42 am
LittleFfarm Dairy
Good to have you back, Paula –
been thinking about you, every day, hoping you are OK & sending warm & friendly thoughts.
Snow has been a nightmare here; have been snowed in for almost a week now. No point in clearing the driveway as it’s over half-a-mile long; very steep; snowcomes again each evening; & there’s only me & my trusty spade to do the work.
Fortunately I stocked up with animal fodder & firewood etc as soon as I learned it could get bad. Wasn’t quite expecting this duration, though! unlikely I’ll get out for a few more days yet….pah.
Will blog as soon as I get a chance (aka break from shovelling snow, slogging through chores & baling out from burst pipes). Sometimes it really does feel like “not waving but drowning”….literally.
Stay warm & safe, hoping things are better with you – in every sense.
Jo x
February 7, 2009 at 8:26 am
Lindsay
I have always loved snow and now that I am retired and do not have to travel, I really enjoy it. Like your pics!
February 11, 2009 at 1:14 pm
paula
elizabethm – I seem to be working backwards on comments at the moment! I’m overcome by peoples’ kindness and concern.
As I’m sure your family down here have told you – the snow was engulfed by 24 hours of every conceivable type of wet stuff coming out of the skies – what with that and snow melt floods were rife.
But today is glorious – sun and blue skies – a treat.
February 11, 2009 at 1:21 pm
paula
Jo I feel for you, I really do…it’s no fun being alone when everything is a hard slog – and working with stock in snow and freezing conditions certainly is a slog and exhausting. Are you milking at the moment too? As I guess that is another very difficult thing to manage especially if lines become frozen.
You have my thoughts behind you to give you the energy and will to battle on. Are you clear yet? Or have you been drowned under persistent rain and snow melt not to mention the burst pipes?
Today is glorious – I hope Wales has the sun too.
I’m thinking of you – atta girl, you’ve got the guts!
February 11, 2009 at 1:21 pm
paula
I love snow too Lindsay.
February 11, 2009 at 5:24 pm
heidi
The sheep look like Musk ox up in the Arctic!!
Wow!
Iam happy as hell to see you back.
My thoughts have been with you, wondering how you were, but not wanting to be intrusive by emailing you, so lots of good thoughts instead.
What is it with dogs and the fresh snow happy dance? Our old lab Bob would go berzerk when it snowed, he loved it!snuffling in it, rollling, diving into banks until all you could see was his black tail sticking out. He loved to chase and eat snowballs…
Hope all are well, no broken pipes, over flowing watering basins, or ice skating in the barns..Hooves make crappy ice skates I have found…
February 12, 2009 at 11:54 am
paula
It’s a strange space to be in at the moment heidi – time seems to either be ahead of itself or behind – and your sensitivity and thoughts are very special.
What an apt description! That’s exactly what the sheep look like – musk ox – clever you.
You are so spot on about dogs and snow. Ness, wolf dog, was beside herself, leaping up into the sky trying to eat mouthfuls of snowflakes and acting as a snow plough with her mouth. Hilarious!
Otherwise we’re okay – we have sheet ice first thing in the morning – difficult to see and lethal – but otherwise I feel this is a good winter – a proper season.