Well, Well, Well

Things are not so good here this morning. 

We were at minus 5 degrees this morning when I got up.... we are at 2 above now. 

Yesterday never went above ten degrees. 

My well is frozen. 

Troy next door reminded me that Keith had always kept a 

light burning in the well house during the winter, and I had 

totally forgotten that.  So, yesterday, I tried to lift the 

hatch... it's frozen down.  I ran to Orschelns and bought a 

light and fixture, in case the old one is not in there, and this afternoon, 

I am going to call a friend for help to see if we can get the hatch off and the 

light hung. 

We are headed for the upper 20's today, the thirties and forties tomorrow, 

and the fifties on Friday!! 

I am praying for a thaw of the well, please join me.  :-) 

For the time being, Troy and Kathy are graciously letting me get buckets at 

their outdoor faucet, thank you!!

If it doesn't thaw, I'll be calling in the big guns. 

These guys have not been outside since Saturday, and they are going stir crazy. 

Even with the door to the feed room open, they are under each other's feet. 

I am giving them extra treats to keep them busy. 

IF we get to fifteen or above (my rule is usually 20) they are going out 

this afternoon. 

As you see, something or two somethings are sleeping in the straw of the closet of the old henhouse.  Now that I look at it, that almost looks like blood on the left.  

No body bits, though. 

I caught the culprit sleeping in the larger nest. 

Look who it is!  The grey and white feral cat that eats by my gate!

I found him in the nest yesterday afternoon when I went out to turn the 

overhead light out and check the water and dry feed. 

I went back in the house quietly, so I wouldn't scare him. 

And look what he did!  He actually came and ate the canned cat food I put in the bowl for him, and let me stand there and take pictures. 

You see he is in good flesh, the Caldwells across the road leave food out for him, too. 

I have not seen the grey tabby, or Harley and Spooky, for several days. 

The story of my life, for a few days, at least. 

And I am just going to be honest and tell you I am SO TIRED of wearing double everything. 

And now I have to drive to my son's to shower. 

For being 11, the cold has just awakened this girl. 

She is out on the porch right now, laying in the sun. 

Of course, she DOES like her creature comforts (and she can see the gate from there). 

By the tracks in the snow, a possum has been going in and out of the 

little red henhouse to eat.  I am still leaving some dry cat food in there. 

His/her pawprints go up the ramp and in and out. 

Cat tracks.  

Too cold for the raccoons, but that will change tonight. 

I caught a junco flying out this hole in the window of the old henhouse the day before yesterday.  I guess I'm glad I did not put plastic over it. 

You can see how deep the seed is under the bird feeding station. 

I am doing things differently next year. 

I'm embarassed to say how much I have been feeding.  To be fair, 

a lot falls off the feeding platform. 

There is a better look.  No one has found that new feeder yet!

Woodpeckers are going at the two cage suet feeders on top. 

However.... with the current well situation, I am able only to fill the heated water 

on the deck, and frankly, it needs to be emptied and cleaned.  Right now, it is the only place 

for the birds to get a drink.  

I am going to change the way I feed next year, and not feed on the deck at all. 

I will keep the heated water on the deck, though, because I love the birds. 

(I love how bluebirds drink so many at a time). 

I'm going to talk to a nephew who is an electrician and see if there is a 

way to safely run one of these to the bird area, and keep it filled so I don't have to go 

in and out constantly. 

Lest you think Lilly is the only one cavorting in the snow... Jester has been in and out, too. 

I am always with him, because of this. 

A tiny bit closer.  I don't take the big cameras out in the cold much. 

This hawk was sitting at my feeder last week, and I can't find the pictures, I 

may have inadvertantly erased them. 

Gratuitous cuteness for the end of the post. 

These are INDOOR kitties, by the way. 

Autumn

There are my feet again, those of you who follow me on Insta and Facebook will recognize me in this position, in my recliner. 

There is my sweet little Twinkle. 

I have also written about how he has been scratching and biting me, and someone (Sally) suggested that I discipline him now so that he would not turn into a biting, scratching adult. 

Actually, I have been using a small squirt bottle on him, which we used with
Lilly when she was a puppy, lo, these many years ago. 

What I found was that after a week, he responded better to "NO", than being

squirted. 

Here is the reason he is on my lap, curled up. 

That's Paiton with Autumn, our new family member from 

Kitty Cat Connection. (Thank you, Tammy Potts)  I went over to pick Autumn up 

last Saturday, and she had to spend some time in the bathroom 

getting used to everything.  When I am here, she is now allowed to 

roam throughout the house with Twinkle. 

Oh, we have had some fun. 

They have been up hill and down dale. 

They are not allowed outside, tho Twink has escaped a time or two. 

They are strictly indoor cats, from here on out. 

Lilly is not sure about Autumn,  so I monitor them. 

Jester wants to play so BADLY, and Autumn is not used to 

dogs, so there is a lot of hissing. 

In fact, he is feeling very left out, he was Twinkle's main man. 

He had been jumping and grinning, play with me, play with me, 

for five minutes before I took this, and they ignored him. 

Here is a dorky picture I took with one hand last night. 

I was watching the Voice finale (sort of) and Twinkle climbed up 

into the recliner and went to sleep nestled on me.  Autumn, for the first time, 

came up with him and also went to sleep.  It didn't last long, pretty soon 

they started wrestling again, and they wrestle HARD.  She is just a hair bigger than he,

and gives as good as she gets. 

However, he has not bitten or scratched me one time, now that he has a playmate. He was just desperate to play, before. 

I got Jester up a little later, and gave him scritches until he was almost asleep, 

to let him know he is still MY  main man. 

Here was Spooky in the old henhouse this morning.  I knew something was 

sleeping in the closet... there are two depressions in the deep straw I put in there, there 

is another just beyond Spooky to the left.  No sign of Harlequin, I have not seen her in two days, and you see that Spooky wanted his breakfast, he was telling me.  He was also telling me "Don't come any closer".  

There is also something sleeping in the little red hen house.  I leave about 

a cup of cat food in there every day, just in case one of the other two ferals is still around... I have not seen them in weeks though, and I know my neighbors at the bottom of the hill feed ferals. 

Something eats it, and something sleeps there, but is gone when I go out in the morning.  It is 

cat or possum sized. 

Speaking of the possums and other wildings, I am moving the feeding station off the porch and into the yard by the pasture.  I'm going to move it INTO the pasture once they get used to not finding it on the porch. 

The cats come to the porch every night, despite the fact I feed them in the hen house. 

The water in the warmed bowl will stay on the porch.  One thing I have NOT done is 

started feeding the wild birds on the deck again.  I have enough fun watching them at my feeding station, and I keep water out there. 

It looks like all I shopped for at the commissary today was cat food, doesn't it? 

I stocked up for the next two weeks, and then got everything else that was on my 

Christmas - party list, like bowls and cups, etc..  We have ham and cheese sliders and potato soup on the menu, but I did get a container of potato salad, just in case. 

While I was there, they had a scavenger hunt, giving 10 minutes to get all the items on the list, and back to "go".... to win a big sack of items, PLUS an Xbox One system.  It was fun to see everyone careening through the aisles trying to get their list filled, and fun for the parents.  The store was not too full, either, so it did not put anyone out. 

What a fun way to win an Xbox for your kids. 

Here is a much-cropped picture of the new rooster, whom I am calling Ferdinand, after the 

bull from the cartoon of the same name, recently re-made by Disney. 

Ferdinand was a big, blustering bull who was a baby at heart, and so is this 

rooster.  I had to pick him up and carry him in 3 times, he has never 

roosted inside, his home had other roosters and they beat up on him all the time. 

My friend who gave him to me told me she felt so sorry for him.  

This is how he slept the first two nights.  Now he gets himself turned around in the nest box, and nestles there, next to one of the hens.  I have never had so many chickens who like to roost in the nest boxes, and I have to clean them out every morning.  As I am getting so few eggs, I guess it doesn't matter!  

I thought this was interesting, I always fill this fortex in the morning, 

because the squirrels and little birds drink from it all day, along with whatever chicken is near. 

Those are raccoon paws in the fortex.  Uh huh. 

I used to be afraid to look out because of Cogburn, however, if I even show my face for a minute, I hear tap-tap-tapping at the door.  See the red hen?  She had been tapping.  

They are spoiled. 

However... I am going to start treating them OFF the porch, I have to power wash porch and deck, they are not discriminating when they have to go, if you get my drift!

I end with a Random Act of Kindness.  For years, I have read "Sugar Pie Farmhouse", a blog written by a wife and antiques dealer in the Ozarks, in Branson, who is called "Aunt Ruthie".  She linked to another blog the other day called "MorningChores".... and they both suggested doing this, a random act treating someone who helps you all year, and not just at Christmas. 

I heard the trash truck come up the road on Monday, I am the last customer on the road, and 

they commonly turn in our driveway entrance.  They were there a little longer on Monday morning as they found these on top of the trash bin.  What a great idea from Aunt Ruthie, thank you! 

The mailman will get his on Friday, and I am taking a batch to the feed store tomorrow, they help me all year (the main helper gets a cash tip, too)... don't forget all these folks that help us 

through thick and thin. 

NOT Like my Other Posts

This is kind of an unusual post today. 

You see, it is 29 degrees out as I type this, and the wind chill is 

making it feel like 22.  I did take some pictures outside 

this morning, but it's hard to manipulate the camera on the phone 

when your fingers are encased in gloves and warmers.  

So, I am going to show you some pictures from the game 

camera on the porch last night. 

Here is Lilly checking out the water and food bowl on the porch.  I always 

make sure the water is filled to the top. 

I had poured some dog food they won't eat into the bowl. 

You notice she is not eating it? 

I am standing there making sure there are no critters around, and this 

is actually early, if I COULD EVER FIGURE OUT HOW TO SET THE CLOCK ON THE BUSHNELL CAM. 

This was taken about ten minutes later. 

About 20 minutes later. 

That's a big 'un!

Of course, I did not have that camera aimed just right. 

Lilly sensed that raccoon, and went barreling out the door, after alerting me. 

Jester also went out, and I don't let him stay out alone. 

So here I am, waiting for Jes to finish.  Lilly was running around in the yard, 

looking for that coon, which I suspected was under the deck, from the smell out there. 

So, while I was out there, I decided to take some pictures of the 

fading supermoon. 

There is a step down at the door, it's the step I rolled my ankle on 

in 2006 and broke my tibia.  Keith built a step for me to break that 

six inch downwards step, but I am still really careful to this day. 

I had locked up Twinkle at this point, because he got out at 

least six times yesterday. 

I do NOT want to take a chance on letting him out at night. 

30 minutes later, one of the kitties was on the porch, with no food left, 

looking for something to eat. 

I was worried about the kittens, I did not see them yesterday and when I went 

out to close up last night, their food had not been touched. 

However, they were both there this morning.  

So, here I am this morning, it was already 8 AM, (I had overslept) and I was 

getting the dogs out.  Lilly still looks sleepy. 

So does Jes!

Lilly smelled the bowl many times, and was on the alert. 

I got myself dressed and came out to do chores. 

I was making sure Twink did not get out behind me, here. 

And pretty soon, the girls had beat me back to the house while I was 

still trying to get the 14 YES FOURTEEN eggs they laid yesterday 

UNDER THE NEST BOX. 

More about that tomorrow. 

Oh, yes, Cogburn was there too!

Here I am tearing up some breadsticks, I just throw them on the deck and pretty soon, the girls are all there. 

I swear they can hear the door open in the bottom of the pasture. 

Today was the first day I had to wear tights under my jeans, and use my hand warmers

(which I gave to my friend at the feed store, since he is in and out all day). 

He had never heard of them! 

I also had my hood over my knitted cap, so yes, my hair is a mess. 

Anything to stay warm. 

When I got to the Ag, the water founts were frozen, the 

big one, on a heated base, was obviously on a base that was no 

longer working.  I changed plugs, just in case. 

As we are dispersing that flock next week, I decided to go back tonight and 

put a fortex of warm water out for the chickens to use tonight. 

Then I'll go early tomorrow. 

I did leave them water in the summer plastic fountain for the day, and 

left a metal fount out in the sun in hopes of it thawing. 

Winter is definitely here!

Thank You

Thank you, my friends, for reaffirming my faith in humanity. 

All of you to 100% confirmed you were as amazed as I 

with the bird lover who wanted to kill all the birds he considered 

nuisances.  

I did write to him privately last night, before I blogged, but 

why would he answer me?  We have never met, and were only 

friends in the broadest of terms, members of the same group. 

I am no longer a member. 

I appreciate all your comments, both on the blog and on Facebook.

Now, let's not think about it any more, as I can't change his actions. 

Here is something I literally thought I would never see again. 

Lilly, on the bed this morning, the big bed, my bed.  

She is so shaky now I didn't think she could jump up there.

She was watching the road.  

Yesterday, there was a contract Amazon delivery man who came to the gate.  Lilly picked up 

very bad vibes, she was actually trying to attack him.  She has always been our biggest guardian here... Ranger scared people but they should have been scared of Lil.  She disliked the man so much that she chased his truck... from inside the fence.  It took it's toll, too. 

But, because of her reaction, I steered clear of the man after I verified the package.  I trust her. 

Early this morning, I took Shiner, my son's bulldog, to the vet.  He had a follow-up to his entropion 

operation on his eyes last week.  His eyes are amazingly clear and it's so obvious he is no longer in pain.  He has fun in the car, and uses Lilly's steps to go up and down.  I can't believe I forgot to take his picture. 

I turned around this afternoon and took Lilly, who is having so much trouble with allergies that she has two bare spots.  She is now on Apoquel for the itching, Ceflex for the infection from the itching skin, tramadol and gabapentin for the pain.  BUT... at least we know what we are dealing with. 

In between, I went to the "Ag" as we volunteers call it, and began to decorate the 

General Store, where I am in charge of make and take crafts for Santa's Express the first two weekends of December.  Braden, our youngest volunteer (HE LEADS TOURS) helped me while his grandpa sorted out decorations.  I am trying to keep the tree as natural as I can, and I am putting real branches on the counter with tiny lights on them as we get closer to our opening of December 2. 

Braden put all the decorations on the tree for me. 

He did a great job, as usual. 

Braden has a birthday next week, on the 21st. 

I'll put a small blanket under that tree, I tried a tree skirt and it was too modern. 

Spooky and Harlequin were on the camera last night in the old henhouse. 

And then, along came Jones.  Actually, several Joneses. 

You can see what the Spookapotamus thought about it. 

I can tell when the raccoons have been there, even if I didn't 

leave the camera overnight... the food I put on the floor is all gone. 

Some mornings lately, there has still been dry food on the floor. 

Here is the thing, this is Tippy, the other black and white cat... and I think I also saw Blackie overnight.  Blackie was the fourth kitten who came just before the raccoons sprung the kittens from the little red henhouse. 

So, all four ferals are still alive.  Remember, these have been vetted and neutered. 

The gray and white kitty who eats at the gate has now been missing about 8 days.  I have not seen my former tenant's black and white kitten for almost 3 months now.  The grey tiger adult feral is also missing. 

Life is hard in the wild. 

At some point this henhouse will be put back into use as a henhouse, but probably not til next spring, I am not in a tearing hurry for anything, any more. 

This clear picture from the Bushnell camera on the porch is clearly Blackie.  He is the most feral of the older kittens. 

Ignore the weather and date, it's from last night. 

Blackie's tail is not "poofy" like Spooky's. 

This little guy visited a few nights ago. 

Lilly rarely senses these visitors any more. 

Ruthlynn had a question about Cogburn, the rooster. 

He is a Buff colored Cochin, a standard breed, and from 

Stromberg's Hatchery in Pine River, Minnesota.  The Stromberg family has been kind enough to support the Ag by donating chickens these last two years.  Unfortunately, we cannot keep roosters... last year, one attacked a child who got into the henhouse.  So, the five roosters were found homes. 

He is gorgeous, and is learning  humanely not to bite  the hand that feeds him. 

I hope you all had as beautiful a day as we had here!  Rain is on the way.