Our 18 year-old daughter wanted to make new winter shelters for the barn cats, so we decided on making one to see if they will use them. We've always used totes at the door, packed with blankets, but this time we made these:
One tote inside another, insulated with straw and a hole is cut through both, with a recycled plant pot for the crawl space into the totes. Lids are put on, and the cats crawl inside to stay warm. If we see they enjoy it, we'll make one more. Jesse was checking it out.
Aurora, making a quick exit, not sure about the new house yet.
Sapphire, checking it out.
You can get detailed instructions at Alley Cat Advocates too. They used styrofoam style insulation in their cat shelters.
We have been enjoying more chicken millet burritos, and this last time, we used kale vs. spinach. The kale is a good match with millet, and we don't eat enough of it. This time we did not bake the entire tray of them in the oven, we simply put the burritos together with the warm ingredients.
We finally picked up our snow fencing and hope to get that up within the next week or so. Winter prep is coming along nicely this year. I think last year's record temperatures taught us a few lessons.
I have not been "notered" in a long time. I got this in my email the other day from youngest (the two photos won't show up in this post, but one is a pair of eyes and the second one is a mad monkey):
"Good morning mom. I see you 👀. But you can't see me 🙈. I had to kill to lady bugs this morning to save me and my baby's life. We were in severe danger and I was scared. I handled the situation and.. Killed the lady bugs. We are safe now.
R.I.P bugs "
I had to laugh.
Speaking of kids and electronics. When I was her age, I was roller skating, getting up off the couch to turn on the TV, and reading books with paper pages. Now, I hear her saying, "I have an app for that."
Comments
Oh yes! I learned that phrase up close and personally, about a year ago, when I switched from 'just a cell phone' to a 'smart phone'...my how my life has changed in a year.
I have to say-- the running water and burning breakfast... or lunch, or what have you...that's me. I do multitask, but just not well. ;)
drives the hubby crazy!
Hugs and stay warm my sweet blogging sister,
Beth P
Despite all the research we read which said cats like two entrance/exits (so they don't get cornered by something and if they have to make a quick escape), ours didn't seem to mind just the one hole. And we enticed them into using it with a few sprigs of cat mint tossed in among the straw.
Good luck.
God bless.
RB
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