{ Preparing for a snow storm }

The past few months, we have been waiting for winter to show it's face.  Aside from a cold day here and there, it's been unusually hot for this time of year.  Matter of fact, Christmas day we were sitting at 85 degrees F.  Unheard of for our area!

 

Instead of snow and a Christmas day more in line with what we all envision it to be, we were barbecuing.  It felt strange and completely out of character.

 

But now the cold has arrived and it doesn't just slide in slowly, it comes in with a bang and delivers a Winter Storm the likes of which experts are saying hasn't been seen in about 15 years.  Remember the big snow storm we had here in Texas a few years ago,  Well it's supposed to be worse than that.  I try not to sit and think about it, it was pretty bad so to envision worse is not something I want to do.

 

With that said, I don't control the weather and all I and my family can do, is prepare for it.  

 

We are looking at freezing temperatures starting Friday morning and into Sunday, with Sunday sitting at a breezy 0º F.  Yikes!

 

The forecast calls for temperatures in the negative for the lows, 15 inches of snow, rain, sleet and ice, power outages that could last a week and so on and so forth.  Not exactly a picture of positivity is it?  Hahahah 

 

(Made a batch of French Bread for sandwiches or pizza)

 

The next two days are going to be full of preparation, inside and out.   If need be, we do have a huge fireplace and I will prepare our meals on an open fire, or on the gas grill.

 

The chicken coops and runs need to be winterized all around, lots of hay, making sure their heating pads work, blankets over coops, tarps as well and keeping an eye on freezing waters which will need to be constantly changed.

 

It used to be that the chickens was all we had to worry about but now we have 9 stray cats that live on our property and nearby properties, that come by every day to eat and seek shelter.  Of those 9, 4 are kittens about 12 weeks old, the cutest little things on earth.  Mama cat is beautiful and daddy cat is a gorgeous orange tabby, who unfortunately is hurt at the moment.  We're not sure if he got into a fight or what happened, but he has been limping and not putting any weight on his front right leg, it looks a little swollen.  

  

If we could grab him we could take him to the vet, but we are unable to at the moment.  However, he has been staying close to our door, lets us pet him and did allow Curt to pick him up for two seconds before getting angry.  During that time we were able to put some cream wound ointment on his leg (for pets obviously).  Aside from feeding them and providing fresh water, there is not much else we can do for him.  Breaks my heart to see him limping around.....but we are still hopeful that we may be able to snatch him and take him to the vet.

 

In the meantime,  we will be building some shelters for them all on our patio, especially with this horrible storm coming in.  We will be using the Alley Cat Shelter system, look it up if you're not familiar with it.

 

I have some tubs coming in from Walmart this afternoon, and we will be going by the feed store later for hay and extra food for everyone in case we get snowed in.