Last Christmas season, there was a snowstorm on the 26th. How would I not recall that one, since I trapped 7 or 8 cats on Christmas Day, over at Blue Ox, only to have the snowstorm hit the next day and close the clinic that Monday. The clinic was so quick to get them in, knowing I was trying to hold so many. I think now about how the clinic isn't even making further TNR appointments and how much has changed there, since the Portland shelter is in charge now. I don't think things will ever be the same again and I wish it wasn't true, and that it could go back to being WHS instead of OHSS.
Then in February, came that ice storm that took down a good share of my cat yard. I go outside and I have cats on the roof of my house. Ha. What a nightmare fixing that became. Getting the cats back in wasn't a big deal, except Phantom got out twice.
I guess we may have a one day ice event tomorrow. Kind of sketchy and vague, the reporting about the forecast, however. Some say it will come tomorrow morning, some tomorrow afternoon and last through Friday and some reports have it lasting through Saturday morning. So its hard to make plans.
I was going to the coast tomorrow with a friend, spending the night, to watch the King Tides, which produce massive waves and ocean influx. Not to be. My friend has cancelled, probably wisely. Nobody needs to be out driving through freezing rain.
Accuweather came up with this beauty of a possible forecast. If that much ice accumulates here tomorrow, for sure my cat yard will be down again. |
Who knows if its accurate. The main problem with ice storms is trees and other things come tumbling down with the weight of it.
Power outages, the usual ice stuff. A one day event can stretch out longer, with clean up. So who knows. I'll just wait and see if it comes, like everyone else. But I won't plan on being on the road tomorrow.
We don't get much extreme weather here, so even a one day ice storm gets exciting to think about.
Not that I want my cat yard to collapse again.
Its not like power outages bother me either. I have my sterno stove, to make coffee or cook and I wander around my place in the dark half the time anyhow.
I finally sent out a few Christmas cards yesterday. Ha. Really on the ball this year, aren't I? Not so much.
Gigi, the neighbors cat I'm trying to integrate here, since I have thus far failed to find her a home, has gotten out several times now, overwhelmed by a couple of my bad boys. Otherwise, if they'd behave to her, she'd be fine. She darts out as I enter the house from the garage, and from there got outside again. She was soon back in the garage and darted back inside the house. Last night she settled in on my lap while I watched TV.
I see a couple neighbors cats now and then. Mostly Pretty Boy. Yesterday he was "hiding" in the Butterfly Bush where the bird feeder is. It was pathetic. He was in such an awkward position. Not a chance with the birds, who flitted around him.
Feel proud of a Lebanon company, Entek, that manufactures battery seperators, makes most of those used in North America in fact. They got a large government grant to purchase more equipment since we'll need lots of battery seperators to make more of a switch to electric cars and such in the future. I have a neighbor who works there.
I haven't seen the new neighbors in quite awhile. The big rig cab has sat idle out front of their place for close to two weeks. This is the busiest trucking time of year too. I wonder if its broke down. Hope they're ok and not sick. Pretty much everything is going around here, virus wise.
When I was trapping that colony in Sweet Home, Lisa stopped by. She's the former KATA foster lady. She loaded a box of apples into my car. I thought how will I use these up before they go bad. I don't have much of a freezer, above my frig, and my garage isn't cold enough to act as a cold pantry.
First thing I made was cooked cider. As opposed to raw cider. The recipe took ten apples, cut up, one orange cut up and some spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. It turned out very well.
Here is my cider simmering, before straining. |
Well, that's it for today.
I hope the ice storm doesn't materialize for you. What a nightmare repairing the cat yard again would be. Is there a way to set it up so an ice storm doesn't take it out?
ReplyDeleteWell I did several things after the last collapse. I got that on sale barbecue cover, which is about six feet by four feet and came with cover, only I covered it more, so its rain proof. Then I put up most of four sides, over time. But that is six or eight feet tall and holds up the cat yard wire where its at. Then I added what I call push ups, 8 foot painted 2x4's with a small board attached at the top, maybe two feet by two feet. The weight of the cat yard overtop wire and their height, holds them in place. I can move them or remove them. they should help immensely. I can make more of those in an instant too. So I haven't a lot of worry over it coming down no matter what the weather throws at it.
DeleteI am sorry about you missing the King Tides. As you say, probably the right decision, but disappointing just the same.
ReplyDeleteLove your creativity with the apples.
It is terribly disappointing. I was looking forward to it. But....who wants to drive on ice, not me.
DeleteYour mission to help cats is a mighty one and I wish you lots of luck in accomplishing your goal. I know you will need lots of help so hopefully more people will join you and make a difference.
ReplyDeleteYour apple creatlions look delicious, I love apples and have one in my porridge every day. I thank you for your visit and comment. I used to live in Portland during the 80s and 90s. My daughter lives in Portland and loves it. Have a nice and festive holdiday season.
I love cut up apple pieces in my morning cereal too. They give it a tang and a crunch! Oh, you know Oregon then, if you lived in Portland in the 80's and 90's. My brother lived in Portland all his life until five years ago, he and his wife moved to Idaho to be near her parents. They love it there too.
DeleteI bet the cooking apples made your house smell delicious. If you could figure out a way to dry some of them they would last for a very long time.
ReplyDeleteOh my yes, the smell was out of this world! I don't have a dehydrator but I dry tomatoes at the lowest oven setting, so that would work with apples. Great idea.
DeleteGigi certainly looks so content. Gee, what you have to deal with weather wise even though weather elsewhere is much worse.
ReplyDeleteGigi is quite happy with her current status, although still nervous around a couple of my a hole cats. She's currently catching up on sleep in the garage, content and left alone.
DeleteIt looks like Gigi's ear is healing well. So good to see. Smart to stay safe, but disappointing, too. I love apples and apple pie is my favorite. I like your little ones.
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet lap kitty! :D Oh, dehydrating some apples is a great idea! Your cider and hand pies look yummy. Stay safe, my dear.
ReplyDeleteI hear and ice storm is coming my way also.
ReplyDeleteCoffee is on and stay safe