Tennessee Winter vs. New York Winter

My husband and I are both from Upstate New York, where the average snowfall is over 100 inches a year. One of the biggest storms we had there last winter dropped a couple feet in just a day or two. So we’re quite familiar with snow!

This week was pretty fun, though- we experienced our first Tennessee snowfall. At our house we got maybe 2 inches, with drifts up to 4 inches. A bunch of the local restaurants closed for the day. The kids got a snow day. It was really something else.

It rained a lot before the snow came, so it all stuck to the trees and made a perfect winter wonderland scene. While it was really beautiful, it made for a few really muddy days. I think the chickens were a little confused on the first snow day. After coming out for some food and water, they spent the rest of the day huddled under the heat lamp in their coop. The pigs did the same.

There was just enough time this week for all the snow to melt, and for the temperature to creep back into the 50’s. Now today we have another 2-4″ of snow coming, with temps dropping into the single digits overnight. So far it hasn’t started snowing yet, but this is going to be interesting.

The biggest difference we have from last winter (besides the amount of snow) is that we now have animals to care for. We gave them extra straw, turned on heat lamps, and made sure they have adequate food and water. They do have protection from the wind, and of course with 24 chickens and 4 plump pigs, there’s plenty of body heat as well.

I was really hoping we would make it through winter without any snow, but I guess you can’t have everything. At least the kids are loving it. And I know it won’t be around for long!