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   Prof. Sam Lawler (sundogplanets@mastodon.social)'s status on Tuesday, 18-Feb-2025 01:25:14 JST Prof. Sam Lawler

   Ok, even the people who grew up in Saskatchewan are now complaining about how cold it is.

   This is dumb.

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     Prof. Sam Lawler (sundogplanets@mastodon.social)'s status on Tuesday, 18-Feb-2025 01:25:13 JST Prof. Sam Lawler

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     Oh gods, I just read the text part of the forecast. The windchill for tomorrow night is supposed to be -51?!! UGH

     The worst I've ever experienced here is -55 windchill. Which even Weather Canada says is hazardous and you should stay inside: https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/weather-health/wind-chill-cold-weather/wind-chill-index.html#toc7 (But my animals are in the barn and I need to make sure they've got as much food as they can possibly eat so they stay warm, so I don't ever get to stay inside...)

     Anyway, have I mentioned that I think these temperatures are dumb?

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     Prof. Sam Lawler (sundogplanets@mastodon.social)'s status on Tuesday, 18-Feb-2025 01:26:00 JST Prof. Sam Lawler

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     All the goats and the horse are in one small barn stall together to stay warm overnight, the dogs are in the stall next to them. The llama is not halter trained, so he gets the big barn to himself with extra straw bedding. Chickens are closed up in their coop.

     The 4 legged animals have access to heated water troughs, and the chickens have access to snow and liquid water twice a day (until it freezes). Dogs get lots of frozen eggs to eat right now because we don't collect them 10x a day.

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     Prof. Sam Lawler (sundogplanets@mastodon.social)'s status on Tuesday, 18-Feb-2025 01:26:00 JST Prof. Sam Lawler

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     It's my partner's job to do the before-bed animal check (I do the early morning check), and the closest weather station says it's currently -47 with windchill, so unless my partner yells that the auroras are amazing, I think I will go curl up under blankets with a book rather than go check on the sky...

     Bill repeated this.
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     Prof. Sam Lawler (sundogplanets@mastodon.social)'s status on Tuesday, 18-Feb-2025 01:26:00 JST Prof. Sam Lawler

     in reply to

     You are probably all getting tired of hearing about my weather. But it's WILD. I mean, look at this!!

     It's supposed to be -41C tomorrow night, and +3C on Saturday, a change of 44C in 5 days (sounds way more impressive in Fahrenheit: 79 degrees F warmer on Saturday than on Monday night!!)

     I've lived here for just over 5 years and this place still stuns me with its regular, non-record-breaking weather.

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     Prof. Sam Lawler (sundogplanets@mastodon.social)'s status on Tuesday, 18-Feb-2025 01:26:01 JST Prof. Sam Lawler

     in reply to

     Time to go check on my animals in -43 windchill.

     But no, I'm definitely not regretting all the life choices that led me to live in Saskatchewan.

     (June is REALLY nice! ...I keep telling myself)

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     Prof. Sam Lawler (sundogplanets@mastodon.social)'s status on Tuesday, 18-Feb-2025 01:26:01 JST Prof. Sam Lawler

     in reply to

     My animals stay warm when it's so absurdly cold with big piles of dry straw inside the barn where they can go to snuggle anytime, and access to as much hay as they want (they eat a lot more when it's this cold).

     This particular pile, where they've recently exploded a hay bale, has a layer of composting old hay underneath so it's an extra warm spot to hang out.

     It's surprisingly ok outside when you stand in the sun and out of the wind (hence the tall wooden fences).

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     Prof. Sam Lawler (sundogplanets@mastodon.social)'s status on Tuesday, 18-Feb-2025 01:26:01 JST Prof. Sam Lawler

     in reply to

     We're well into oh-shit-weather temperatures now.

     The tailgate of the farm truck was frozen shut, and after a battle to get it open, the latch is now frozen open and it won't close.

     The laundry room sink is on an outside wall of the house and will probably freeze overnight (the pipes or drain freeze at least once per winter, haven't burst pipes yet *knock on wood*).

     Have to be careful plugging anything in: electrical cables snap easily at these cold temps (as we were reminded today)

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     Prof. Sam Lawler (sundogplanets@mastodon.social)'s status on Wednesday, 19-Feb-2025 11:50:59 JST Prof. Sam Lawler

     in reply to

     My thermometer says -42C. The goats and horse refused to leave the small barn stall. I don't blame them. (I'll try again after the sun gets a little higher in the sky)

     Minoru Saba repeated this.
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     Prof. Sam Lawler (sundogplanets@mastodon.social)'s status on Wednesday, 19-Feb-2025 11:50:59 JST Prof. Sam Lawler

     in reply to

     These pictures do not do it justice, but wow, frozen bubbles are so weird. The weirdest part is the sound they make - almost a light paper rustling kind of sound when you touch them. And they pop, but then keep holding most of their shape. SO WEIRD.