It’s Official: I Have Become a Winter Wimp

Winter has come to the Ozarks with a vengence this year. And you’d think that snow and bitter cold wouldn’t bother  me all that much. After all, I grea up in Chicago, where I lived until I went to grad school. Normal Illinois, where Illinois State University is, isn’t any warmer than Chicago. Nor is Denver or anywhere else I’ve lived until my latest relocation.

So now that I’m in a place that is mild most of the time, I can’t stand the thought of snow hanging around for a week. Oh, it’s pretty, but it doesn’t take much to bring most of life to a screaming halt out here. Four inches of snow in Denver or Chicago is nothing. The same amount here closes schools and disrupts trash pick-up.

But even though I have a warm coat – for which I am grateful beyond measure – I keep thinking it should quit with all this bitter cold and warm up already!

I must say that the snow makes for a beautiful frosting on barren tree branches. Here’s a picture from out back of my house.

And this one is also right by my house.

The chickens are going stir-crazy, literally cooped up because of the cold and snow.  Our first winter with chickens, about 3 years ago we tried letting them have a furniture pad so they could get out for a bit. That was not something we repeated.  Here’s a picture of chickens in the snow that I took back then:

Here’s a trio of hens on high, from our first batch of chickens.

Here’s another snow-kissed tree:

My cat Tica loves it when I toss my coat over the end of the couch:

And now – time to get my muffins out of the oven!

I hope you don’t mind me sharing my little corner of paradise with you. yes, despite how cold it is and despite how the snow is going to hang on, I live a life of blissful abundance.

I am so full of joy and gratitude!

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Stray black kitten Touched by Ethereal Light

Thanksgiving weekend, a little black kitten showed up by my place. I gave her food, water and a warm bed of straw with a lid on it to keep her warm and dry on a COLD night. I would help every stray in the world find a good home if I could. Since that’s not possible, I do what I can for the ones that show up at my little house in the woods.

This kitten obviously knew what it was to have a home. She tried to get into the house several times. She loved Molly. I couldn’t get a picture, but when I walked back to the house with Molly, she and the kitten loved on each other. Molly’s tail waved and the kitten affectionately rubbed her new canine friend’s face.

I already have 2 cats plus Molly Flagtail, and you never know what a stray might bring in, but I’m glad I did what I could for her. Also, I asked people around if they knew of someone missing a kitten, because she was SO friendly.

Every free cat comes with a pricetag. Consider the costs of spaying and any medication she might need from having lived outside, and it adds up. Think of this before you give someone an animal or take one in yourself.

Anyway, take a look at the picture of her and notice the ethereal effect by her head. Isn’t that interesting? Waht could this be?

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Kitty in the Window

My animals all have character. Trippy cries loudly from the window when I walk Molly Flagtail. Here is Trippy waiting for me and her pet dog to return.

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Molly Flagtail After Her Bath

I’m afraid I embarrassed my dog. I thought it would be so cute to have her wet head looking at the camera, but she couldn’t believe I would take out a camera when she’s all wet after her bath! So she literally would NOT look at the camera. Unbelievable! Anyway, she’s adorable, and once I brush her out and she’s all dry, the Magnificent Molly Flagtail will be ready for our trip to Orlando.

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Molly Flagtail Hoping for Handouts

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