The Story in the Snow

I often wonder, living out here in the wilderness (well it DOES take 15 min. to get to walmart), where all the wild life is. I know it has to be here somewhere. I see the remains on the road to walmart all the time. I've seen all the birds I can handle. Hawks, ducks, geese, blackbirds, buzzards, and vultures are everyday occurrences. I've even seen a Bald Eagle hanging around. Man is he gorgeous. I've seen squirrels and even a possum crossing the road at night. I've heard coyotes. I love that. We even startled a trio of young white tail bucks behind the creek bed the other day. But I haven't SEEN much wild life so it's easy to forget how full of animals this area is. I won't forget anymore. The snow tells all.

 I determined with my keen tracking skills that these were squirl tracks.  Simply because they ended at the tree!!!  GO ME!!!

 Those are three different tracks going across the yard from three different unidentifiable (to me) animals. Maybe deer. 

 I'm guessing these are birds.

 Here are scratch marks near the above tracks like they were looking for seeds. It also happens to be near the compost and manure pile.  So it makes perfect sense....to me.

 More birds and scratching.

 Birds scratching marks and poop.

 These were Coyote tracks on the other side of the fence.  I just KNEW those guys were around.

 Uh, oh.  Coyote tracks on OUR side of the fence!

 Coyote tracks by the GARAGE!!!

 Yikes!!!

 TWO COYOTES BY THE GARAGE!!!!!

 Dog track for comparison.

  Maybe they were chasing this rabbit.  Or at least that's what I think these are.  They came out from the bramble bushes and back.

 See the cute hippity hoppity trail.....that's a very technical tracking term.

Those are not toddler hand prints.  THOSE are raccoons!!! By my bedroom window.  Pervs.

Let's call it a day. It's cold out here. I've identified every track in our yard and some out in the pasture....I nailed the horse prints.


Next morning.....

 What the....

 But these are new all pretty right by my barn.

 HOLY COW!!!

 These are Mountain Lion tracks!!!!

That's two and a half feet.

Here's the dogs tracks for comparison

And the kitty cat.

TRAVIS GET YOUR GUN!!!!!

Update:

Today Jon and I went hiking out back.  We found this in the mud.

I'm going to send these to the Extension on Monday and see what they say.  I'll keep you updated.

Snow Scapes

I haven't put up a new blog in a while. Mainly because Jon has been so busy with work I haven't had the opportunity sit down and write. I just wanted to let you know that we are all still alive, if not a little frozen. Barry is still alive and I think past the worst. We did loose a hen this morning though. I really wasn't surprised. She had not been doing well and it got really cold last night. We did get a little more prepared and had gas and propane (and propane accessories) on hand, however when we filled up the generator and tried to check it it wouldn't start. Oh well. Here are some pictures of the interesting snow drifts here in red dirt country.

My Kingdom

I believed I was a pauper, a child of mortals.  Through uninspired eyes I saw my world, my life.  But upon waking this morning, I was reminded of my true unending heritage.  My world, my life, transformed.   Once beautiful yet ordinary surroundings of barren slumbering trees, now ebony pillars, buttresses to an endless dome of sapphire sky.  Carpets of muted grey and green grasses, now wind etched alabaster and marble underfoot. An expanse of diamond and crystal encrusted glass glitters where the pond had been.  And there is a song, a fanfare, born on the wind, and accompanied by twittering flutes and galloping timpani.This is my palace, my inheritance.  For my Father is the King.  The King is the Creator.  The Creator is the artist, the sculptor of my kingdom.

Everyone gets a snow day....except farmers

We didn't lose power!!! Yeah!!!

Our saving grace was that we got ice pellets instead of sleet. I got up at sunrise like usual to take care of the animals....in -14 wind chill. It was quite a shock when I jumped out of the back door(no stairs because of the sewer issue) and did NOT sink into the white mounds there. It was solid ice!!!! I fed the Jackson the cat (Lee hasn't come back so I assume he's dead now), ran back and got the chicken feed, jumped over a snow drift to get into the chicken coop, and checked on them. Everyone was alive and well as, well as warm with their heating lamps. I ran back and got the horse feed and made the mad dash to the barn trying to jump the several knee high drifts but probably only looking very silly as I plowed through them. I fed the horses who at least had decided to come into the barn, if not a little late. They icicles hanging from their sides!!!!! I ran back through the snow hurdles and scrambled into the house and stripped my outer clothing which was soaking wet.

I only have to do that 3 more times today.