the chickens will thank me someday

Well, I just shot (at/near) my first coyote on the property.  Usually this is Steve's job, but since he's been gone I swear they are getting brave.  The dogs always bark bark bark at them but the lone cayotes just cruise along the tree line, and previously I couldn't bring myself to pick up the shotgun and scare them off.  Though I have been tempted, multiple times... 

However, today the dogs barked and ran at the coyote and it hightailed off into the trees.  Phew.  Except when my two came back to the house, the coyote bounded after them like it was a game, stopping about halfway between the tree line and house.  I'm sorry but that is WAY TOO CLOSE for me.  I don't want them to even think they can be friendly with us, or the dogs, or cat.

So I loaded up a shotgun shell, went out on the back porch and fired about 50' to the left of him.  (I had no intention of hurting him, just wanted to scare him). And BOY howdy did he run for the hills.  Mission accomplished.  And I was all shaky...  Hope I don't have to do that again soon - not a huge fan of using the shotgun when Steve's not home!  Although it's intended purpose is for scaring off wild animals and intruders, so I guess I used it correctly for that.  Just one shell.  And the chickens will thank me one day.  (when we get them)

Anyway, that's my excitement for the afternoon.

ditto.

With the likelihood of Christmas being tight for many of us this year, I thought I would give this a shot...

(check out the house on the right)...

Ah ha ha ha ha haha ha!  Just kidding.  I plan to make Steve make our house look like a gingerbread house straight of a storybook this year.  Because LAST YEAR I lived in a trailer, and had not a single light, baked not a single cookie, had no tree, and couldn't find my Amy Grant Christmas album.  So THIS YEAR we are going to live it up, decoration style.  Just you wait and see.  But you are going to have to wait a while... it's only November 8th :)  I may be headed towards a redneck lifestyle... but I don't still have lights plugged in from last year.   Maybe next year.