Animal Tracks in the Snow ~ Freezing Temps Prep

 

Coyote maybe.

Dog vs. Coyote (photo from Google)

Cat on the left, and possible coyote on the right.

Cat.

Birds. 

                                          Raccoon again.

Although the snow is melting today (the thaw before the freeze), yesterday I was able to get some photos of more animal tracks in the snow.  I was most curious if my thoughts were correct, and that the coyote has made it's way to our property.  I have not seen it on our property yet, but I have seen a very fat raccoon.  To note about that, we have not seen a raccoon here in several years.  I'm guessing they are sensing that there is an extreme cold front coming, and the wild animals are all trying to fatten up.

There is a stray cat we have tried to feed, and have seen it many times since the day after Christmas.  The tracks lead all over the place.  I have a food shelter set up for it, but I do have to remember to bring the food bowl in at night.

Last night I forgot to bring the food bowl inside and low and behold, the big (and very fat) raccoon came up to he house to enjoy some of that cat food, ha ha!  A knock on the door did not even persuade that bugger to bug off. It was sort of funny if you ask me.  I remember when one of the kids used to name raccoons that kept stealing the cat food years ago.

Weekend preparations are being made for the upcoming surge of freezing temperatures.  

The list includes, making sure laundry is done, dishes are done, floors are swept and mopped, chargeable light bulbs charged, batteries charged, wood cut for the wood stove if needed, water in jugs (if needed to flush toilets, water the chickens or water for us - if the power goes out, the water pump to the well does not work), oil lamp oil in stock, and extra wicking, and so forth.  Oh, and extra straw in the coop for the chickens.   Bread and PB and J are always the back up meal plan for a power outage.  Out here we have to prepare for just about anything when the temperatures go to the extreme cold.

Animal Tracks in the Snow ~ Freezing Temps Prep © January 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Goat Coats ~ Helping Others

 

I'm not sure how these survived in a tote this long, but these goat coats were taken to an area animal sanctuary yesterday.  I actually found one more after I took the photo to send to them.  Anyway, the zebra coats were made and sewn by myself.  I know, I am shocked myself.  I can still see the baby goats (kids) running around looking like baby zebras, ha ha!

I dug out my Mom's sewing machine and got to it one day.  The pink one (store bought) was for our very first female Lamancha goat.  The zebra ones were cut from old pajamas from the kids (recycled I should say).  I sewed velcro straps on,  and wah-la, goat coats for the kid goats when it was cold out.

The temperatures here are to dip into a brutal cold spell starting Monday, and the sanctuary has many goats, and kid goats.  They asked the public for help, and we decided to give them all 4 goat coats. 

We have no plans to raise dairy goats again, but we do have the means  (and  know how)  to do it, if we decide to do it again.  I can always sew new coats, so we are not sad to donate them.  We are glad we can help them.

Goat Coats ~ Helping Others © January 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart