Winterfolk

One by one, she brought them in - putting the goat and the pig into a temporary pen in her bedroom (truck liner, cork shelving paper, hay, and discount mesh fencing), and the chickens into a little warming area she'd set up in the pantry (boot tray, stray shelter with warming mat, garden edging). The little outbuilding was fine most days, but it wasn't really a barn, and winter was in a mood this year. Hers didn't panic; she came from a long line of people who knew how to make do and make well. "Life hack," she said to all of them (with a smile) and they seemed to smile back, because it was warm in the tiny cottage and it was also tea time.