Jake lay awake that night longer than usual, he left his curtains open so that he could see the huge flakes of snow that were dropping out of the sky bounce off his window and land on the ledge, it built up on the ledge until it's weight became too much then fell in chunks only to do the same repeatedly, the flakes caught the flickering candle light now and then and made it look like it was snowing twice as heavily, it looked so beautiful from where Jake was watching, all tucked up in a warm bed, tomorrow however it would serve as a timely reminder as to the harshness of Mother Nature when her full force is unleashed.
Morning came all too soon and with it the previous day's wonderful sunshine, Jake raced to the window to see how much snow had fallen last night, he tore back the curtains with all the excitement of a young lad about to be let loose in the most fantastic playground of all time, only to stand there open mouthed at the level the snow had reached overnight. It was above the kitchen window below Jakes bedroom and only 4 feet away from his own window, Jakes excitement turned to immediate fear,
"Dad!" he bellowed out,
"Dad!" once again he cried,
"Jake..what's the matter boy?" came the rather terse reply from downstairs,
"Th..th..the snow, it's almost up to my window!" Jake stuttered,
"Ya munna worry about that boy, I've sin it all afore, get thee down 'ere and eat your breakfast" came Dad's reply, his unfazed attitude immediately putting Jake somehow at ease,
"How will we get out Dad?" said Jake looking rather worried,
"Same bloody way we dost every morning lad, through the back door!"
"But Dad" said Jake somewhat confused, "It's under the snow!"
"Well Jake me boy," said Charlie matter of factly "The way i sees it we can sit on our backsides and do nowt or we can get stuck in and dig our way out, either way those sheep won't feed themselves"
Jake sat down at the table and ate his toast and marmalade with little more said between father and son, the spitting logs of the fire and the slurping of piping hot tea became the background noise to their thoughts as both secretly contemplated the near impossible task that was to face them outside that morning.
It took over an hour for Jake and his father working non stop before they got to the end of the garden gate and a level of snowfall that they could actually see over and around. The sight that beheld him was completely alien to Jake, he recognised nothing of his home from this baron landscape that he surveyed, everywhere he looked the snow swept across fields and tree tops like an imaginary white ocean that went on forever, not a hedgerow was anywhere in sight, not a gate, nothing, just wave after wave of white powdery snow. Charlie headed for the roof of the barn that could be seen jutting out of the snowy landscape and Jake immediately followed, without a word said they both got stuck in digging their way towards the stack of hay they needed for the days animal feed more importantly now than ever, for somewhere out there both of them knew the sheep would be huddled and their need for food would be critical. At last Jake and Charlie reached the hay and Charlie pulled some of the old pig iron off the side of the barn and bent the front over in a lip, he then tied some twine to the end to make a rein and they both loaded the iron up with hay and to Jakes surprise Charlie threw on an old black pot with a cast handle, immediately the two men set off across the fields to the most likely place the sheep would be huddled, the snow was soft and Charlie and Jake's feet slipped deep into it as they both worked hard pulling the make-shift sled across the fields, it was very tough work and Jake was soon out of breath so cold was the air he was continually gasping for, "come on boy, pull yer finger out" said Charlie "I am trying Dad, it's just i cant get any grip on this snow" said Jake almost apologetically, "well put yer best foot forward son and hop to it" came the reply, no less than Jake would have expected.
Charlie's hunch was about spot on, sure enough the sheep were huddled in a high corner of the field against a huge Oak that had acted like a buffer in the strong wind and snowfall during the night, on one side of the tree the snow was almost up to the lower branches, a good ten feet in the air, but on the side the sheep were huddled, the ground was but a few inches away from the highest level of snow, animals have a knack of knowing where to go when mother nature loses her temper, like an inbuilt survival mode that is inspired by pure instinct. They were more than pleased to see the two farmers and their usual wariness of humans was overwhelmed by a pure animal instinct to survive as they clambered through the remaining drifts in front of them to get to the succulent hay they were presented with. Jake counted the sheep and fortunately they were all here, although tired from all the digging and sled pulling the sight of the animals being fed was indeed a comfort and reminded both men just why they enjoy farming so much.
"With a bit of luck they will stay under this tree while theses damned storms are about" said Charlie,
"At least they had the sense to stay put on higher ground, let's just hope they don't try and move away from here" Charlie mumbled, though secretly he knew sheep had an awful habit of being unbelievably stupid.
As the sheep ate the hay like their lives depended on it, which it did, Charlie set about lighting a small fire and putting the old black pot on top of the ashes, he and Jake then filled it with snow so that the sheep had something to drink from, amazingly sheep would get dehydrated quickly without fresh water to drink despite the snow being everywhere, they filled the pot and sat it in the field and watched as tentatively one after another they lapped at the steaming pot, Jake topping it up with snow as they drank. "We had best leave them to it," Charlie said, "we can't get them to the barn even if we did want them inside, you cant round them up in 6ft of snow" and with that the two set off for the farm buildings with makeshift sled in tow as the cattle needed hay in the big barn.
The cows were inside already as it was winter and Jake positively enjoyed feeding them in the relative warmth of the barn, the steam off the cattle rose into the rafters of the old wooden beamed roof, the cattle were always in a playful mood when there was snow outside, it seemed like they knew just how well off they were in the warm building with soft straw to lie down on and enjoyed celebrating that fact by kicking their legs in the air and bunting and pushing each other around, they always made Jake laugh as they seemed to have a character of their own, unlike the sheep who Jake thought were just plain stupid.
Dinner time came and Jake followed his dad into the kitchen. The warm air hit Jake like a cannon ball as he walked through the kitchen door, his cheeks went the colour of a tomato in it's prime as the big fire raged with the ever present black kettle hissing away on it's hanger pitched above the flames, Jake hated that damned kettle, it looked and sounded like it would explode more than ever today so he slid along the bench at the table until he was as far away from it as he could get, just to be on the safe side. Bread and cheese was the order of the day, with some pickled onions and beetroot, all produce from that years garden that was indeed, now very welcome. The large loaf had a huge orange brown crust on it that crumbled away as it was sliced, Jake loved the taste of the crust, he loved the way it crumbled as he bit into it and that oven cooked taste that only fresh bread can give you, Jake ate until his belly ached, it was a good ache though.
Little was said for the duration of that dinner, but secretly the household was hoping against hope that the snow from last night was the last for a while, but like the day before it was a gorgeous sunny afternoon and yet again clouds could be seen in the distance, that was indeed an ominous sign and it made Jake a little frightened for what he would find the following morning, if Charlie was being honest with himself he too was a little worried that a weather pattern was starting to form...
Morning came all too soon and with it the previous day's wonderful sunshine, Jake raced to the window to see how much snow had fallen last night, he tore back the curtains with all the excitement of a young lad about to be let loose in the most fantastic playground of all time, only to stand there open mouthed at the level the snow had reached overnight. It was above the kitchen window below Jakes bedroom and only 4 feet away from his own window, Jakes excitement turned to immediate fear,
"Dad!" he bellowed out,
"Dad!" once again he cried,
"Jake..what's the matter boy?" came the rather terse reply from downstairs,
"Th..th..the snow, it's almost up to my window!" Jake stuttered,
"Ya munna worry about that boy, I've sin it all afore, get thee down 'ere and eat your breakfast" came Dad's reply, his unfazed attitude immediately putting Jake somehow at ease,
"How will we get out Dad?" said Jake looking rather worried,
"Same bloody way we dost every morning lad, through the back door!"
"But Dad" said Jake somewhat confused, "It's under the snow!"
"Well Jake me boy," said Charlie matter of factly "The way i sees it we can sit on our backsides and do nowt or we can get stuck in and dig our way out, either way those sheep won't feed themselves"
Jake sat down at the table and ate his toast and marmalade with little more said between father and son, the spitting logs of the fire and the slurping of piping hot tea became the background noise to their thoughts as both secretly contemplated the near impossible task that was to face them outside that morning.
It took over an hour for Jake and his father working non stop before they got to the end of the garden gate and a level of snowfall that they could actually see over and around. The sight that beheld him was completely alien to Jake, he recognised nothing of his home from this baron landscape that he surveyed, everywhere he looked the snow swept across fields and tree tops like an imaginary white ocean that went on forever, not a hedgerow was anywhere in sight, not a gate, nothing, just wave after wave of white powdery snow. Charlie headed for the roof of the barn that could be seen jutting out of the snowy landscape and Jake immediately followed, without a word said they both got stuck in digging their way towards the stack of hay they needed for the days animal feed more importantly now than ever, for somewhere out there both of them knew the sheep would be huddled and their need for food would be critical. At last Jake and Charlie reached the hay and Charlie pulled some of the old pig iron off the side of the barn and bent the front over in a lip, he then tied some twine to the end to make a rein and they both loaded the iron up with hay and to Jakes surprise Charlie threw on an old black pot with a cast handle, immediately the two men set off across the fields to the most likely place the sheep would be huddled, the snow was soft and Charlie and Jake's feet slipped deep into it as they both worked hard pulling the make-shift sled across the fields, it was very tough work and Jake was soon out of breath so cold was the air he was continually gasping for, "come on boy, pull yer finger out" said Charlie "I am trying Dad, it's just i cant get any grip on this snow" said Jake almost apologetically, "well put yer best foot forward son and hop to it" came the reply, no less than Jake would have expected.
Charlie's hunch was about spot on, sure enough the sheep were huddled in a high corner of the field against a huge Oak that had acted like a buffer in the strong wind and snowfall during the night, on one side of the tree the snow was almost up to the lower branches, a good ten feet in the air, but on the side the sheep were huddled, the ground was but a few inches away from the highest level of snow, animals have a knack of knowing where to go when mother nature loses her temper, like an inbuilt survival mode that is inspired by pure instinct. They were more than pleased to see the two farmers and their usual wariness of humans was overwhelmed by a pure animal instinct to survive as they clambered through the remaining drifts in front of them to get to the succulent hay they were presented with. Jake counted the sheep and fortunately they were all here, although tired from all the digging and sled pulling the sight of the animals being fed was indeed a comfort and reminded both men just why they enjoy farming so much.
"With a bit of luck they will stay under this tree while theses damned storms are about" said Charlie,
"At least they had the sense to stay put on higher ground, let's just hope they don't try and move away from here" Charlie mumbled, though secretly he knew sheep had an awful habit of being unbelievably stupid.
As the sheep ate the hay like their lives depended on it, which it did, Charlie set about lighting a small fire and putting the old black pot on top of the ashes, he and Jake then filled it with snow so that the sheep had something to drink from, amazingly sheep would get dehydrated quickly without fresh water to drink despite the snow being everywhere, they filled the pot and sat it in the field and watched as tentatively one after another they lapped at the steaming pot, Jake topping it up with snow as they drank. "We had best leave them to it," Charlie said, "we can't get them to the barn even if we did want them inside, you cant round them up in 6ft of snow" and with that the two set off for the farm buildings with makeshift sled in tow as the cattle needed hay in the big barn.
The cows were inside already as it was winter and Jake positively enjoyed feeding them in the relative warmth of the barn, the steam off the cattle rose into the rafters of the old wooden beamed roof, the cattle were always in a playful mood when there was snow outside, it seemed like they knew just how well off they were in the warm building with soft straw to lie down on and enjoyed celebrating that fact by kicking their legs in the air and bunting and pushing each other around, they always made Jake laugh as they seemed to have a character of their own, unlike the sheep who Jake thought were just plain stupid.
Dinner time came and Jake followed his dad into the kitchen. The warm air hit Jake like a cannon ball as he walked through the kitchen door, his cheeks went the colour of a tomato in it's prime as the big fire raged with the ever present black kettle hissing away on it's hanger pitched above the flames, Jake hated that damned kettle, it looked and sounded like it would explode more than ever today so he slid along the bench at the table until he was as far away from it as he could get, just to be on the safe side. Bread and cheese was the order of the day, with some pickled onions and beetroot, all produce from that years garden that was indeed, now very welcome. The large loaf had a huge orange brown crust on it that crumbled away as it was sliced, Jake loved the taste of the crust, he loved the way it crumbled as he bit into it and that oven cooked taste that only fresh bread can give you, Jake ate until his belly ached, it was a good ache though.
Little was said for the duration of that dinner, but secretly the household was hoping against hope that the snow from last night was the last for a while, but like the day before it was a gorgeous sunny afternoon and yet again clouds could be seen in the distance, that was indeed an ominous sign and it made Jake a little frightened for what he would find the following morning, if Charlie was being honest with himself he too was a little worried that a weather pattern was starting to form...
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