Calm Before the Storm

I heard the rain this morning on the roof and was hoping that it would stop and turn to snow. I dreaded the thought of kicking the horses out of the dry barn into the rain. I always feel so guilty when I have to kick them out in the mornings into any type of inclemental weather.

I was actually rather suprised that it went as well as it did. No one was in a huge rush to get out of the barn but they were all willing to walk out on their own, even Bob. I did decide to throw Bob's blanket on. I know it's too warm but I want him to stay dry.

The temps are in the upper 30s right now but later today it's supposed to drop to below freezing. As I was driving to work, I heard on the radio that Madison (which is only a half hour drive north) was already at 32 degrees and closing many schools and businesses. And interstate from the Wyoming border to Mitchell is closed. Mitchell is not that far away. Made me very nervous. And I just heard that there is no travel advised west of Alexandria. Alexandria is even closer to home that Mitchell. So it's definately coming, it's just a matter of when.

I didn't realize it until now that there was an eery calm this morning while doing chores. There was absolutely no wind. It was a nice straight down relaxing rain. And to think, there's major wind gusts coming our way soon.

I wasn't sure how Maverick and Brego would handle going back into their muddy pen. Maverick wanted to be naughty and not put his halter on. In the process he banged his head on a post. Poor guy. But I told him he was the one who did it, it wasn't me causing him pain. I'm not sure that he really listened. But we finally managed to get his halter on. I went over and pulled Brego out and tied him back to a post. I figure if I tie him up, Maverick won't flip out. Both of them are so herd bound, it's terrible.

Maverick walked into his pen with only one backward glance at Brego. But that was more because Brego was standing there trying to paw a hole through the concrete. I keep telling him if he's going to paw, he better paw all the way to China. I'd like to go on a vacation, it might as well be somewhere far away so keep on digging.

I got everyone settled for the morning. It seemed as though everyone was more interested in eating than in anything else. When I finally got back in, I was pretty well soggy. I'm currently keeping one eye on the weather and one eye on work. I think at the first sight of a snowflake I'll be out of here. One snowflake here may mean a blizzard at home. Although we are only in a Winter Weather Advisory. But I'm paranoid since Borderlands is only three miles from the next county over which happens to be in a blizzard watch. What can I say? I'm paranoid about bad weather.

From NOAA's National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office"
"Blizzard conditions with heavy snow will continue from the James Valley westward through mid morning with light snow developing from Yankton towards Sioux City. Travel is not advised west of Alexandria. Snow will begin to fill in across the Interstate 29 corridor from Elk Point to Sioux Falls to Brookings by late morning. Snowfall amounts west of a De Smet to Tyndall line will likely be in the 5 to 10 inch range by mid to late morning. With the wind gusting to 45 mph at times, visibilities near zero as well as significant drifting will be likely. "