Finding Home

Chapter Two

 Waking up, I laid there and looked out my window, seeing the snow start to fall. It was that time of year when the green disappeared within a day of being blanketed in white.

Getting up I threw a few more logs onto the fire in the bedroom, making sure it was going before getting dressed and going out to feed and water the animals. Once the fire was set the room was warm enough to change without getting cold.

Going into the family room I threw more logs onto there as well, going into the kitchen, putting some of the firewood into the stove and started that up so at least I could have a nice hot cup of coffee before my day started.

Looking at the clock it was six thirty, the animals were used to me being there around seven in the morning, so I had enough time to have a cup before heading out.

I could hear the wind start to pick up outside, so I pulled my parka out of the closet and my warm boots, hat, and gloves. Going out the wind was wicked, that kind of cold, that had a bite to it every chance it could take at you.

Once inside the barn and with the doors shut it was warmer in there. I made sure the gates to each stall would open into the arena so they could come and go as they wished throughout the day.

Making sure all the water buckets were full and they all had their feed, I set out to make sure the water troughs in the arena were fresh and full. I had them install two water pumps from different wells that were on this property.

After that chore was done, I went and let out the animals so I could clean their stalls for the day. Making sure they had double bedding and that the barn would stay warm enough for them, especially during the night.

Once everything was set and they all were content and secure, I went out and locked the barn door, heading over to the greenhouse which was my other barn to water the plants and make sure everything there was secure as well.

I shut and locked that door once done, making my way to the house the wind had picked up along with the snow. It was hard to see my house with how bad the wind was blowing the snow everywhere.

I made sure walking around the house that everything was sealed up and that nothing was trying to get into the sheds that held my extra food. No sign of tracks but winter had just begun.

I went into the house and made sure to set the counter alarm that would ring in an hour to remind me to check on the animals. No matter what time of year it was every hour or every few hours I would check on them.

A habit I had gotten into once I moved here, knowing there were bears and about everything you could think of that would have no problem taking one of my animals for an easy snack.

Once inside I took off my stuff and went right for my coffee, nice and hot still which is what I needed to warm me up. Sitting in my chair that is near the fireplace I settled in and was finally warming up.

Sitting by the fire I could also see out my window. I replaced the little one they had and made it into a nice big window seat, right now I had it full of plants, but it got most of the sun throughout the day, so it was a perfect spot.

The snow had not let up, so I knew it was going to be one of those storms right outside of the gate at the beginning of winter.

Getting up I went to the sliding back door that overlooked the backyard and barns, I could barely see the barn and just then the timer went off. Checking the fires in each room I got my winter stuff on and went to check on the animals.

I wanted to make sure they had enough water and food in case I could not make it out there tonight to put them to bed, they would go into their stalls on their own if they wanted.

As I was walking, I made sure that the stakes were set that would guide me to and from the house and barns and to the sheds. They were helpful if a blizzard came from nowhere.

After the animals were all fed and watered and all secure for the night, locking the door on my way out, I started towards the house. Before going in I went to the side and grabbed the bag to carry the wood into the small garage where I kept all my tools in.

That way the extra wood would stay dry, and I would not have to venture out to grab more just in case. I made about six trips before I was frozen. Locking the woodshed, I went into the garage and locked that door.

Stashing everything exactly right I went into the house and put all my stuff away. Firing up the stove to make some oatmeal and more coffee.

After eating the oatmeal, I was nice, warm, and full. Sitting there watching the snowfall turn into a nice blizzard out of nowhere. But then again, being in the middle of nowhere and in a place like this, it was going to happen eventually.

I decided to work on my knitting by the fire, since there was not much to do right now, and I was happy to work on the blanket I was making. I knew my Dr.s wife birthday was coming up in a few months and this way I could send it to her.

I always liked doing things for her since she would send me baked goods here and there with a note hoping everything was going well and that if I ever changed my mind on a guy, she knew a few that would make a great fit with me.