double digit dance

We are all SO very tired of being cooped up from the cold for sooo long, and yet I feel fortunate to live in WI. We are prepared to handle whatever Mother Nature throws at us. Unlike our southern friends. The infrastructure down south is simply not built to handle Winter. 

I worry about those less prepared/fortunate, in particular the abundance of poorly secured animals that can't get help. Their only option is to suffer a living hell.

Most of our small animal rescues transport all their adoptable dogs & puppies up from the south.

Just a few days after our horse transportation delivered Padame, they have postponed all scheduled routes this entire week. For safety reasons. Horses are stuck wherever they may be, including horse hotels etc while extended storms hit the South (and East). It sounds like they have horses "stuck" at their overnight facility in WI.

It is a huge relief to have Padame safely here!! We have not seen her since our second visit. She had her feet trimmed yesterday. We heard she was "sweet and kept her head low" for our farrier. Just for the record, Padame's feet looked great upon arrival. She came to us with a light trim due to snow etc Both our girls got their feet done a little early in order to get in on the barns trim rotation. Feet are better done early than late.

Brad speed grooming Padame
(at our second visit)

I briefly snuck out without the dogs for some fresh morning sunrise air when I saw this:

I couldn't stand it, I had to take it all in closer. There is something about cast light and untouched snow...it sparkles my imagination...

Our barn is the one place the dogs can go with me in this frigid weather. Although sometimes they still get leg cramps on the short walk in-between the barn & house :(

The dark brown garage door seal Brad added to the big front door made a big difference!! He didn't bother adding any to barn door in the back, because next Winter it will open to an arena.

frosty service door stays shut in Winter

our unheated barn stays above freezing

All three barn cats run out, and run back inside even faster. They are stir crazy, especially Leo. He has been getting in trouble for picking on his sisters. We have been playing "chase the whip" up and down the aisle and hay bales to help with boredom, and they have fun too *^*

Leo

Our horses have stayed inside the past two days when the wind chill was negative 20 something with no sun. They stretched their legs outside while we cleaned stalls, and were more than ready to come back inside when we were done. It was still chilly this morning, but they are back to regular turn-out basking in the sun.

After close to two weeks, we are finally getting back into the (positive!) double digits during the day!! Hopefully I can head out to the woods for a refreshing walk with the dogs, soon. Winter isn't done with us. We have more coming our way, but double digits is a good reason to dance and stay warm! No doubt some crazy Wisconsinites will break out the shorts this weekend when we get into the balmy low 30's. My son used to wear them year round. Drove me nuts. Speaking of nuts, hang on tight folks the weather can only get better!!

feeding our horses something new

 

meow mix hay

(aka Tinkerbell)

double meatloaf grain

(aka Leo & Purr)

Not to worry folks, no cats were harmed or fed and still provide mouse patrol and barn comedy.

two or three

A couple weeks ago we went to our neighbors for an outdoor dinner & fire. They had barn kitties looking for homes, so we agreed to take two. They said they tried to socialize the kittens, but they were very scared and scattered everywhere humans weren't. Hard to pick out what you can't see. Even the mama cats ran and hid. I caught a glimpse of a cute black kitty with white tipped paws and whiskers.

Imagine my surprise when the next day Brad said we should get "two or three". Shocker! This from the guy who doesn't like cats, and has put up with mine since day one. He thinks three will increase our odds of having a couple stick around.

When we went to pick them up they corralled the 8 week old kittens, or tried to. They still hid, but were easier to find. First one grabbed was a light grey cutie, which has since turned into a love bug. He is social, funny, loves to be held and purrs the entire time. He will crawl up on your lap if you ignore him.

The next one to come home with us was the black kitty with white paws that I wanted. It is small and very scared. I am still not sure of it's gender, think it's a female. This kitty is also playful and very fast. It has recently started purring when held, but unlike it's grey sibling would rather not be picked up.

Then came the third cat. Brad's cat. I told him if he wanted three, he had to pick it out!! I only wanted two. That poor third kitty was hissing and clawing, trying to escape when it got caught by it's tail :( and then by it's back leg. Dangling. Brad felt sorry for it, and promptly spoke up saying we will take that one too. Our neighbors are very kind people, I absolutely know it wasn't grabbed that way on purpose. It was just a wild crazy one. Still is.

We (mostly me) work with our kittens every day, multiple times. However my patience is wearing thin with Brad's untrusting cat. After days of gentling, I tried to kindly pick it up and the silly thing went bananas. Not that I blame it after it's past experience while being picked up. HIS CAT is going to take some serious time and patience. She (I think it's a she?) is coming around at a snails pace. There are some cats you just can't hold, and I think this may be one of them. Although Brad picked her up yesterday for the first time, and she didn't go crazy. Now he is a cat whisperer too {roll eyes} !!

My family have all warned me not to get close to these kittens. I am well aware the risk of loss with barn cats is profoundly higher. I still plan to get them fixed, feed them and give them basic vet care. I don't want sick cats hanging around, multiplying. We have not named them yet, everybody asks. I have a few ideas, but they are not all PC lol.

They live in one of the stalls for now, with tall cardboard blocking the slats. I put all kinds of fun cat loving things inside for their entertainment, most of which we had. I only bought one toy, and a soft pillow type bed on sale for $11. The little busy bodies use everything. They are a hoot to play with, chasing the dressage whip around.

The light grey kitty is sooo very sweet. I am considering finding him an inside home, or he may just be a well loved barn cat. 

Brad's cat is hiding under the far box, right flap

If you hang around long enough, all three come out to play

For now I am free feeding the kittens a high protein grain free dry kitten food. They also get a small can of shared wet kitten food most days as a treat, for less stress petting. I have high hopes that they will all survive, and stick around the barn. Time will tell.