Post Apocalypse
We Made It!
According to a reputable source (which also happens to be my favorite doomsday website – not telling, of course - do I want to lose all credibility?), the 21st of December, 2012 commenced this morning at around 5:00 am or so, CST. This particular date and time marks the end of the Mayan calendar and as some have prophesized, the end of the world… or at the very least, the end of the world as we know it.
The blizzardy snowstorm has passed and all we are left with now are blizzardy winds and subfreezing temperatures. We’ve survived! We made it! The world is pretty much exactly as it was yesterday, and the day before that, and the day before that, etc….except of course, in my little neck of the woods, there is now about a measly 6.5 inches of snow on the ground. Some places in the region were nearing the 24 inch mark! See, I haven’t even reached a higher level of consciousness (another predicted outcome for December 21st) – I’m still as greedy and covet-like as ever.
So, how did the chickens fare? The chicken coop (which is located within this old building – otherwise known as the hen sanctuary) was a comfortable 47 degrees this morning despite a persistent brutal northwest wind and 2 power outages (one yesterday morning and another last night – both lasted only a couple of hours each – Thank God!) This building is where the chickens have hunkered down for the past several days, having had absolutely no interest to go anywhere near the doors – not even to check things out. As long as I keep them stocked with a fresh head of lettuce, some finely grated cheese, dried mealworm, a hot evening meal, and their regular chicken food, they seem to be content. I have 2 small awesome space heaters going and so far, no water has frozen. It’s comfortable enough.
The power outage last night helped me to realize that it might be a good idea to buy a couple of those sticker-like LED lights for the coop. I spent over an hour holding a flashlight in the coop while they “prepped” for bed-time — drinking, eating, preening, and then finally each of them individually jumping on the perch and settling in (taking their own sweet time.)
But they did surprisingly well. Even though their routine was disrupted and the flashlight made scary looking shadows on the coop wall, which kind of freaked them out, they followed along with the program. I think they are slowly beginning to trust me.
Now, what about the dogs? Well, they are alot like chickens. Brutal cold wind is what really keeps them indoors. Before the official start of the blizzard, I was able to capture a very typical snowy-newf moment, which is a Newfoundland lying in the snow during a snow event and allowing themselves to be buried in it!
With the chickens, dogs, and pet mice squared away and tucked in, this morning then, my greatest concern was for the wild birds that I saw flying around, supposedly looking for water and food. I scraped some snow off the driveway in front of my car (the birds often times hang out under the car) and put down a bowl of food and water.
I never give nature the proper credit. I always think that I must intercede (like FEMA or the Red Cross) and provide sustenance during harsh times. Well, I went to check out the south side of the property and it was like Grand Central Station over there, with animal marks forming a deep track through the snow to get at… water…which was plentiful!
So what did I do when I came to the realization that wild animals actually know what to do during and after a weather event? I brought out some carrots for the rabbits and tossed them along side the wild animal thoroughfare………………..because I just can’t help myself.
Tonight, even though the winds will slowly diminish, the real-feel temperatures will drop to below zero (F.) I have confidence that the power will stay on and so I think, the chickens will do just fine.
It looks to me like it’s going to be a lovely white Christmas here on our little sliver of earth and our world – almost exactly as we know it – will probably ring in a new year.
So my post apocalypse wish for us all is that 2013 will be happy, healthy, and prosperous!
What state are you in? I sure hope you get snow this winter! We are still in drought too – we just got lucky to have this snow event right before Christmas!
I love…love…love the snow!!! Love seeing the pictures. We are sitting here in the drought having dust storms. Crazy how the weather is. This morning it was 19 degrees…this afternoon up to 56 degrees. I miss snow and love seeing the pictures and I sure can relate to wanting to take care of the creatures…silly us.
I mean the “wild” creatures…who really do very well on their own…
BTW, how is Chip Chunkear and the Chunkear clan? We’ve heard nothing for ages and you know I’m a big Chip fan.
He’s still around – with his ilk, if you can believe it. What a persistent mouse! I still deport him when it’s warmer outside. I stopped once the temps started dropping into the teens and low 20′s this past week. They are all a bit less obvious, so that helps their situation. I will do a another sweep soon. I can’t let things get out of hand.
Hi there. I wanted you to be one of the first to know that Chippy died – I think at least a day ago, but I can’t be quite sure. I am repainting my laundry room and tonight, I smelled something strange – bad strange. I was in the laundry room earlier in the day and didn’t really smell anything. So anyway, everything is sort of out of place in there and I looked around to try and figure out where the smell was coming from. I looked behind a cabinet I had moved somewhat to the middle of the room and behind it there was a dead mouse hanging – his head stuck in a wall outlet (I had taken the face off of each outlet for painting purposes.) Somehow I suppose he got spooked and tried to run away. I imagine he thought that the outlet space was a real opening. On the lateral side of the inside of the outlet, there is a v shaped metal plate, which made it easy for him to slide his head in, but once he figured out that the outlet was not an opening or hiding place, he couldn’t slide his head back out. What a horrible death, I imagine. Needless to say, I put on some plastic gloves and got his head out. Checked the left ear. It was Chippy. I’m very sad for him. It was a bad death for such a special mouse. I put him in a plastic bag and took him to a container in the barn. Tomorrow, I’ll give him a proper burial. I don’t think I will blog this. I just wanted to let you know. All the best…
Oh NO!!!!!!!!!!! Not Chippy!! You’re right, a dreadful end for such a spirited little guy. But it’s not like there is anything you could have done to prevent it – I thought he was smarter than sticking his head in a hole and getting stuck
(( I agree, don’t post about it. It’s too sad and there is no silver lining.
Thanks for letting me know, I’ll toast the little guy with some of my Christmas bubbly.
This post is hilarious. I can just picture you with a flash light helping the girls with their evening ritual. I know as soon as you left they had a good old laugh at your expense – that eccentric lady who makes shadow puppets.
Then the was the natural water source – what a hoot.
The rabbits? They must think the Mayan prophecy was right, the world has ended and they are in Nirvana.
Warning – the word will spread and you will be inundated with the laziest animals all hoping you’ll spoil them rotten. Good for you!
I think the word was spread this summer during the drought, when I had sprinklers and mini-pools going all summer. That might be why not all the birds left to go south! Thank God I have my own well or the town might have told me enough is enough
Very disappointed – all my PA preparations, for nothing!
I know. People are leaving the doomsday/conspiracy websites in droves! I mean if nothing doomy happened with the Mayan Calendar prophesy, then I guess we just need to go back to living our lives and fogettaboutit