It snowed most of the night, which means that when I did my outside stuff this morning, the only tracks in the snow were those of animals. It was interesting to follow them along, and try and figure out what story they were telling. Continue reading
outside cats
Those Eyes!
Well… at least they like it!
Since re-arranging the set up for the outside cats, we’ve been checking out the bathroom window, to see how they’ll take to it.
In my case, that involves holding my phone up to take pictures, because I’m too short to actually see that area through the window. :-D
Looks like they have a new favourite cuddle spot! Continue reading
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Winter(ish) Morning Routine
Things are much, much less active, now that the yard work is done for the year! We’re settling in to an indoor routine, which is pretty domestic.
I am enjoying the relative peace and quiet.
Now… I am NOT a morning person. Never have been.
But we have critters to feed, and I have my morning rounds to do.
Thankfully, there are things that make it worthwhile. :-D Continue reading
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Nicky the Nose
This guy is now quite the regular.
The way that patch of colour is on his nose, it sometimes looks like it’s injured and swollen. Nope. Just a splotch of colour.
It’s kind of funny to see this guy in the pile of kittens. They’re pretty much adult size now, but not quite there, yet. Then there’s Nicky. :-D Interesting that they’ve accepted him like that.
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A brief reminder
That cats are efficient hunting machines.
It takes a lot to get a squirrel! They tend to be hyper vigilant.
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Intensity
Checking out the new digs
Played around with a set up for the outside cats, in the sun room. This is what I’ve come up with.
I had another crocheted blanket that we used as a car blanket hanging around. I decided to try draping it from the back of the swing bench to the back of the transfer bench. It’s incredibly heavy, so I knew it would need support.
I have some sheets of foam insulation among my craft supplies that I thought would work. Unfortunately, a sheet is just barely long enough to reach the backs of both benches – which means a stiff sneeze would have knocked it down, never mind rambunctious cats that are sure to jump on top of it.
After going through what was available in the room, I ended up putting one of the unused, home made plant stands on the transfer bench. That would support one end of the sheet of foam insulation.
After draping the blanket over, I folded up one corner for access, and it immediately drooped into where the cats like to sit. So I found another plant stand to hold that up.
As you can see by the photo, Doom Guy and The Outsider were quite ready to check out the new digs! In fact, Doom Guy surprised me by already being in there when I first picked up the corner to open it up. I never even saw him jump under while I was laying it out!
My husband was checking it out through the bathroom window just a little while ago, and he tells me Doom Guy was on top of the whole thing. The foam insulation is rather bendy, but it has enough support that it should hold. I’ll have to check it out, later, to adjust things, if needed. I can just see a cat trying to walk across a part that doesn’t have support and pulling things down. :-D
I don’t think there is going to be much hesitation for the cats to use it. Especially today. Though the temperatures have warmed up, there is a nasty, bitter wind out there. I think everyone, human and animal alike, will be staying indoors as much as possible today!
The Re-Farmer
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Two levels
Meet Slick and the Post Cats
First off, a great big thank you to 53old for identifying our little squeaker. It is neither vole nor mole, but a pygmy shrew! No wonder I didn’t find it in my searches. I was looking up moles, voles and rodents. It’s not a rodent, either, so nothing like it came up. In fact, seeing what it eats, this is a critter we want to keep around! Which means, if we ever had the chance to rescue others, we certainly will.
While feeding the cats this morning, one of the dad cats was around. He seems to be getting more comfortable with us – and the other cats with him (though, to be honest, for all I know, he’s really a she). As I was going in and out of the sun room to get deer and bird feed, I found him eating with our own cats, and he didn’t try to run away. Which is more than even Rosencrantz and Guildenstern will do.
Meet Slick. Continue reading
The Re-Farmer 