Mid-Winter Mud

The sheep and llama are upset with me. The horse is ticked. I am no Merry Sunshine. We've had above freezing temperatures for several days now. The snow is almost melted, and rains are expected today. It's the perfect recipe for mud. Hooves on saturated ground churn the ground, kill the grass, create a muddy mess. So, to preserve pastures, the horse and sheep are moved to the barn and paddocks. For them, it means less exercise, less room to roam, more boredom. For me, it means more manure, more maintenance. I watch the weather forecast for freezing temperatures. They watch me for a cue that they can return to their pastures.