Author: Re-Farmer

The power of ice

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So, a little while ago, while at my computer, I heard a strange thump outside.

I thought the cats might have knocked something over, but when I looked into the sun room, all the kittens were on the bench, sitting up, and looking in the same direction the sound came from.

Then I saw it.

The rain barrel had fallen over.

Now, I’d emptied the rain barrel, but then we got a whole bunch of rain, immediately followed by freezing temperatures, so when the barrel froze over, I just left it.  I couldn’t break through the ice, and it was too heavy to push over.

I found it fallen over into the garden, and managed to roll it to one side, so it wasn’t blocking the path in.

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So why did it fall?

Check out the base.

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As the water began freezing, deeper in the barrel, the ice prevented it from expanding out, or sideways.  So it expanded the only direction it could.  Down.

That base used to be level, with only about an inch or two of the blue plastic encased in the yellow ring.

Kinda shows how freezing water can burst pipes, split rocks and crumble highway surfaces!

The Re-Farmer

Cat water heater – follow up

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Okay, so this is where we left off last night.

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When I checked on it last night, however, I found that the aluminum foil did not prevent water from dripping down.  After looking around for something that might work, I decided to commandeer one of the containers we have been using for the cat kibble.  A heavy bottomed frying pan that the handle had broken off, long ago.

Some time during the night, however, it got knocked over.  We could see the light glowing through the drainage holes in the terracotta pot through the bathroom window.  When I went out to do their food and water in the morning, I found a small ice patch where the water had spilled.

I am guessing that, when it got to hardly any water left, the cats knocked it over while trying to reach it.

I decided to go with the concrete block.

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I am hoping the weight of the block will make up for it resting on the edges of the light fixture.  It seemed high, though, so I moved it closer to the kneeler, and put the pot and tin upside down near it, so the cats could sit on them, if the wished.

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Which promptly got ignored. :-D

At least with the block, though, he can put his paws on the corners to stabilize himself.

When we checked it again, hours later, it had been knocked off again, but it was also completely dry.  There was no new ice. Again, it seems that they knocked it over only when the water was almost gone.

So I’ve put it back, and filled it with more water than I had before.

As for the heat; it is clearly working, in that the water is kept from freezing, but neither the pot nor the block seemed to warm up at all on the sides.  There is no radiant heat coming off.  The heat of the bulb is enough to keep the water from freezing directly above, but not enough to fight off the cold on the sides.  I had hoped it would provide at least a little bit of warmth that way, but it I’d probably have to go up to a 100 watt bulb to accomplish that, at which point I think it would be too hot at the base of the pan.  That cats, at least, know how to use their own body heat to keep them warm! :-)

The Re-Farmer

Cat water heater – let’s see if this works!

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A set up to keep the cats’ water from freezing is now set up in the sun room.

We will know by tomorrow, if not tonight, if it will work.

Here is the set up.

First, the heat source: an incandescent light bulb.

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This is what my brother had used under the kitchen sink, to keep the pipes from freezing while the house was empty.  The first potential problem I saw was the fixture holding the bulb.  While the opening in the concrete block I had would fit the bulb, no problem, the fixture looked too wide.  So I had a terracotta plant pot as a back up.

There was already a 60 watt bulb in the fixture.  The various instructions I’d read called for a maximum 40 watt bulb, but these were all on sites in US states that don’t get as cold as we do!  So I kept the 60 watt bulb.

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The plant pot is what I ended up using.  The cement block was not stable.  I could have removed the fixture, but it’s what was holding the bulb upright.

The narrower bottom (now top) of the pot meant I could not use any of the containers we are currently using for water.  So I dug around in the Old Kitchen and found a cookie tin.

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The tin is not completely water tight; there’s a slight drip at the seam.  So I used aluminum foil around the base, which will also serve to stabilize it.

That left an issue of height.  The cats were immediately curious (and Doom Guy was drinking the water in the tin as soon as I had it on the floor, before I put the foil on), and I could see that there were potential issues for them to reach the water if it gets low.

To solve that, I put the concrete block near it, for them to sit on.  Between that and the kneeler, they should be able to reach the water.

The terracotta pot should absorb and radiate a gentle heat as well.  I would not be surprised to find cats huddling up to it at some point.

For now, though, they are very curious about the whole set up, and even having fun playing around it!

Which means on of the things we have to watch out for is them knocking the water right off the pot.  We’ll be keeping an eye on them!

The Re-Farmer

So that’s what’s under there.

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The outside cats have a number of places they use to keep warm, as winter creeps its way in.  The kittens have basically moved into the sun room, and there is a path worn into the grass between the house, and the storage house, from little kitty paws.  There is a gap they squeeze through to get into what used to be a full basement, but is now basically a crawlspace.  There are other areas, both in the inner and outer yards, they use, but those two seem to be the most used areas.

The cat kibble we provide for them is pretty straightforward.  No matter the temperature, they can eat the kibble.

Water is a different issue.  It’s already freezing very quickly.

With that in mind, I did some research for what we can do to keep the water from freezing, and found some ideas that utilize cinder blocks or cookie tins and a light bulb.  We’ve got plenty of cinder blocks around, though most are being used to prop things up, so when I did my rounds this morning, I went specifically looking for cinder blocks that I might be able to salvage.

I found other things, too.

A window at the back of the storage house had fallen out.  Which means I could see inside – something I haven’t done since I used to play under there as a child.

Yes.  In the photos below, you are seeing parts of my childhood. :-D

Continue reading →

Bird Feeder – another hunter!

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Beep Beep has discovered she can climb the bird feeder, too!

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At one point, a bird landed on the top of the hanging feeder.

She went for it.

She barely managed to catch herself and get back up on the platform instead of falling to the ground. :-D

The Re-Farmer

Well, that turned out better than I expected

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I had squirrels escorting me while doing my rounds this morning!

I was really looking forward to today, and my appointment with the dentist.

Yes.  I was looking forward to seeing the dentist.

At the same time, I was dreading it.

For the past while, I’ve been having a lot of pain – especially once I lay down in bed – on the right side of my face.  From what I was feeling, it was 3 teeth that were giving me trouble.  One was a wisdom tooth that I seriously considered getting pulled the last time I was at the dentist.  (The dentist actually remembered pulling the remains of that tooth!)  Then there were two more, top and bottom, halfway along my jaw that had a lot of pain. Continue reading →

Bird Feeder – mighty hunter!

/ Re-Farmer / 5 Comments

Doom Guy entertained us on the bird feeder again, not long ago.

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He was trying to watch all of the birds, all at once! :-D

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They all seem to try for the hanging feeder.  Like they refuse to accept that it will move, every time. :-D

The Re-Farmer

Wait a minute… who are you?

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After our deer visitor left this morning, I went out to feed the cats.  Once again, I saw the black and white dad-cat on the dresser in the sun room – and once again, he ran off as soon as he saw me.  The rest of the cats were milling about as if they were starving.  The girls had put food out for them last night, but the bowls were completely empty by morning.  The braver of the cats were eating the food before I even finished filling the bowls!

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Then I stepped back to let the shier ones get to the bowls, and watched them for a bit.  There’s Rosencrantz (or Guildenstern) at the top; Butterscotch and The Outsider on either side.  Big Jim and Bob next to Beep Beep and Doom Guy, then Rosencrantz and Guilden… wait…

What?

Three of them?  Continue reading →

Well, hello, young one!

/ Re-Farmer / 3 Comments

We got ourselves a deer visitor this morning!  A lovely young buck that has been visiting off and on.

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When I got to the window to take pictures, he was right under the bird feeder and looked like he was going to jump up to try and get at the seed!  I didn’t get the camera ready before he started to walk away, but he was so close, it would have been hard to get a photo of him with the telephoto lens, anyhow.

Just look at that icicle beard!

Unfortunately, we are out of deer feed right now, and getting low on bird seed, too.  I won’t be able to get more until tomorrow, at the earliest. :-(

The buck was clearly looking for food, and even settled for some spruce needles!

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Interesting that he has no interest in grassing on the “hay” in the main garden area.  I’ve seen them go for elm and maple leaves before, but this is the firs time I’ve seen them go for spruce.

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He was really yanking on that branch, too!  He even pawed at the ground under there, too, looking for something to nibble on, before heading towards the crab apples.

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There are still frozen apples on this tree, but they aren’t falling down, even when I try and shake the tree.  Ah, well.  Perhaps they will fall over the winter and become a nice deer treat.

I had to wait before I could take photos as he was walking away.  He was walking with his tail up, and I really didn’t want to take photos of a big butt hole and dangly bits. :-D

After this, he slowly wandered away.

It was good to see him again.  :-)

The Re-Farmer