Weather in the Teens

We will have more Indian Summer weather in Colorado, but right now night-time temperatures are hovering in the teens.

Consider these for the house:

• flannel sheets on the bed.  We still like regular pillow cases, though
• electric blankets, mattress warmers and extra blankets
• oven dinners and baking  bread

Consider these for the car:

• blankets in each vehicle so if you get stuck, you're warmer waiting for help.  I didn't say warm as cars in Colorado without our natural solar heat cool off quickly
• take your coat, hat and appropriate walking shoes
• flares and flashlights

Consider these for the pets:

• a place for them to get out of the weather and away from predators.  For us, either the garage or barn is their emergency spot.  However, ours hibernate in the house whenever possible 
• cat condos for one in their emergency spots - smallish boxes with insulation and soft clothes
• unfrozen drinking water.  We use electric bowls (garage sale). 
• small amount of dried food if we will be gone overnight (unusual).  We don't want to feed the wildlife.  We have had mice, squirrels and raccoons invite themselves for dinner and a drink. 

More on Coyotes

We went down to the Garden of the Gods Sunday and found a treasure trove of information on coyotes.  The coyote hide below was killed by a car and gloved skinned.  The hide is soft, but the fur is slightly wiry.

When you go, asked to see and touch their various animal skins.

They also had a display of coyote vs. dog tracks and a sample of coyote scat (poop).  See photos below.

Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife

front end of coyote skin

tall end of coyote skin

note similarities to dog to right

note differences to coyote to left

coyote scat

October is Fire Prevention Month

The Fire Chief says the number of structure fires are down, but we need to improve our awareness of other dangers.  He will tell us how next week.

These photos were taken at the fire station down the street.

You Go Broncos

lead bronco of beautiful herd in front of Mile High Stadium

gift of Pat Bowlen and family

Tuesday (November 1st) is Election Day 2011

Tuesday, November 1st is Election Day.

If voting by mail, be sure to drop off your ballot at the appropriate place.   It is TOO LATE to mail it in.

If voting in person, be sure to get to the polls.

This is our democracy.  It is important that we make the best possible choices even if we don't like the alternatives all that much.

If you are underemployed or unemployed, be sure to voice your opinions.  The Preamble to our  Constitution says "We the People" NOT "We the RICH and POWERFUL People" or "We the People WITH GOOD JOBS."  Check out our Constitution in its original writing.  Or view an easier-to-read version.  Hit the left arrow to return to this blog.

Business owners need to voice their opinions, too.  How can businesses survive when approximately 20% of their customers base is unemployed or underemployed and have no money to spend for their products and services?

If you are no longer eligible to vote, contact your Election Commission and find out why.  Do everything in your power to fix the problem(s).  Ask for help if you can't fix it yourself.  There are more elections coming up...

To REMAIN FREE, our country is depending upon all of us voicing our opinions.  Get in the habit of voting.

Snowstorm - October 26, 2011

Our power and phone lines as well as our crabapples are still okay - so far.  All photos were taken at 11 am.

front patio

yard art - looks like a mushroom today

buggy wheel in backyard

phone line lying on shed

cat ladder to roof - cats are hibernating on the bed today

power line to left - crabapples before brooming 

power line to left - crabapples after brooming

I walked the yard in my cowgirl boots searching for any damage from the snowstorm or animal tracks.  Saw neither - just lots of snow.

Keeping Colorado Wild - Coyotes

Coyotes are extremely adaptable and live in many of our neighborhoods.  They hunt from sundown to sunup.  For the most part, they stay out of sight.  Usually they are fearful of humans and avoid us; but when they lose their fearfulness, problems occur.

If coyotes can make a better living and feel comfortable in our neighborhoods, they will abandon the wilds and hang around our houses and outbuildings and become obnoxious or worse.  When they are here, they may rummage through garbage, eat leftover pet and bird food, injure or kill our pets and approach humans.

The bad news is that research has shown that there is no way to make a coyote fearful of humans again once it has lost its fear.

The good news is that there are ways for adults and older children to reinforce fear of humans in coyotes.  The video below demonstrates many.

We in Colorado want our wildlife wild - not extinct.  Please help.

photo provided by Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife

photo provided by Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife

photo provided by Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife

Click here to see a great coyote video.  Hit the left arrow to return.  The video is called "Being Coyote Wise - Living with Urban Coyotes."  It is provided by the Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife.