Snug Little Home

  Today saw us preparing for the upcoming "winter".  So far, the worst we have had was a "near freeze" and a couple of "maybe freezes".  Supposedly, that is all to end with a "severe freeze".  My garden is not going to be happy.  The day started with rain so it was rather miserable work to split and stack the firewood that would see us through this next week.  The work had to be done, however, so Son and I set to it.  We managed to get enough for at least a week's burning in both wood-burning stoves so we turned our attention elsewhere.  Plants and pipes are covered but the in ground garden will have to wait.  Most likely, the 30 or so cabbages will have to be harvested and the rest will just have to suffer.  I am in hopes that the system will not swing down this far but it is a "wait and see" game, at this point.

  While doing chores, Son called my attention to yet another tiny tree frog.  This time, the little squirt decided to make its home in a hole in a brick.  Luckily for the frog, the brick is in the chimney which will provide some warmth for the critter.  Once the old stove is cranking out the heat, the bricks will warm and the froggy will be quite snug.  The metal stovepipe extends up inside the brick chimney so the smoke will not harm the froggy.

  It is probably sad by others' standards but I fret over my wild critter friends during times like this.  Extra food will be put out for any that need a bite to eat, the greenhouse will still have the eave vents left open so birds can seek shelter and the brush piles will not be cleared so other critters can be protected from the ice.  Most will snuggle down in their nests or dens but the steady rains will still cause a lot of problems.  Folks, be kind to the critters in inclement weather.  They deserve some sort of protection just as we do.