All Tucked In For the Coldest Winter Storm in Two Decades In These Parts!

No snow, yet, at 35F. Spent a couple hours with Kevin (aka Chicken) this afternoon finishing up the last bit of weatherproofing for the rabbits. The pens have been very securely wrapped in tarps, I've an extra two in the shed should we need more. I've always saved the binding cords on the hay bales and I'm so glad they did as they made excellent tie downs for the tarps. All solo bunnies have been brought into the shed, tucked away in insulated crates. I'm leaving the Bunhalla bunnies where they are for tonight, given that at this point in the expected temperature drop, it's more stressful to move them then leave them with several dogloo's and doghouses filled with nesting hay in their own pen.

I've gone ahead and filled an entire set of replacement water bottles for the bunnies and a few gallon containers over the last few days even as we've been assured our community water will continue to be pumped even should we lose electricity. Current temperature schedules state we will hit freezing temps at 10pm, continuing down every hour until we hit the coldest at 26F at 7pm. I'll be heading out every few hours to replace out thawed water bottles, should that become a problem, and clear snow off the tarps. Brrr! Morning temps expected just under freezing, we'll have to see what's what in the morning. Too much ice or no power downtown mean I get to stay home tomorrow and fret about the bunnies some more.

See ya on the flip side!

A quote for the Elders on my Flist

Education is learning the rules...experience is learning the exceptions

Midnight Update

A very dry snow is coming down, blanketing the property, but no real accumulation yet. WeatherUnderground has it just shy of 28F, so a thick wool vest and fleece jacket, paired with hat and gloves did me right. Bundled up, I headed out with 8 bottles of room temperature water over my shoulder. Most of the bottles were thick with slush, so I replaced them all.

The tarps are working quite well to raise the ambient temperatures. I checked Noir & Nyx's ears and while a little cool, they had good blood flow. Poor girlies, they were very concerned at me barging in on their nest. Moof is doing great, he's made himself a little tunnel of hay to keep warm. The Bunhalla bunnies, irritatingly enough, don't seem to mind the snow as they were out playing in it. I knocked some slush out of their watering can and put out another two bottles. As far as I can tell, they haven't used the nesting boxes, but there does seem to be a lot of re-arranging of all extra hay. Shed bunnies are doing fine, it's actually warm enough in there I couldn't see my breath. Not anywhere I'd want to nap, but comfortable.

I did a property line walk along the fences before heading in. The Witch's Circle looks so beautiful and serene in the snow. Wish I could have shared it with you all. Even the dogs quieted down and walked slowly through the trees.

We're expecting another temperature dip at 4am, so I'll set the alarms and hit the hay soon.