So, this is April

 I was swearing doing morning chores at 8 AM yessterday and the humidity was pretty thick much of the day. Yesterday afternoon the kids and I walked in to Hobby Lobby. Rachel was wearing shorts. We walked out 20 minutes later. The temp. had gone from 76 degrees to 46! It sprinkled on the way home, around about 3 PM it sounded like elephants walking across the roof. I looked outside to find these....

Ice hail balls

pelting everything!

It poured for a good long while, then yesterday evening was off and on sprinkles until about 8:30 PM when the sky opened up and one of those amazing thunderstorms began. The constant cracking of lightening across the sky, the huge heavy rain drops, the much needed moisture!

It poured for many hours, at about 2 AM the power went out and flickered on and off for a good long while. A thick coat of ice coats EVERYTHING this morning.

I worried about the 2 month old chickens in the chicken tractor all night long. Their protection is a heavy duty tarp that I hoped would not be taken off by the wind. They are in the chicken tractor because a hawk swooped down 2 weeks ago and took one in plain site. They will not come out of that tractor until they are close to being full grown.

I suited up at 5:30 AM to check the barnyard to be met at the gate by a flood of frozen water. I had to go back up and change into boots. The grass crunched beneath my feet. It was still quite dark and the wind blowing through the trees made them sound like glass chandeliers. This is April!

The tarp held. The tractor, hardware cloth, and tarp are all coated in so much ice I cannot see the chickens inside. I cannot open the northern door, it's shut tight with ice. Fortunately there is a small door on the opposite end and while it was frozen from the inside, I was able to push it open to be sure everyone was still alive an kicking, they are.

I planted strawberries 2 days ago. Who knows how they'll be. I should have covered them in straw, I didn't think about it. They are in 15 gallon buckets so it's not like I could move them inside though they are sheltered by the greenhouse on their north flank so maybe they'll be OK. I did put my blueberry bushes inside. We got the fruit trees in the ground Sunday. The only thing the ice may be good for is the new grass seeds we planted. I am sure not thrilled to go out to do chores. I fed everyone at 5:30 when I was out there, but I still haven't milked or watered.

I am not anxious to get out again.

My poor Red Bud was about to be gorgeous!!!!