Operation Raccoon

First off I'm hoping you all had a wonderful and memorable Thanksgiving. We went to my Sister and Brother-in-laws's home and enjoyed traditonal faire with all the trimmings.  We all ate too much but worked it off when the 2 little ones (nephew 4, cousin 6) forgot to close the door after picking eggs. Yup, we got to chase chickens! Altho at the time we didn't think so, it did make some wonderful funny memories.

Didn't catch pictures while the chase was on but she sure has a variety of unusual but gorgeous Chickens!

Let me say among all of the things that I am truly grateful for, YOU are high on the list.

♥´¨)¸.·*¨) ¸.·*¨) (¸.·´ (¸.·` *~♥

This time of year we all are doing our crafting.

My kitchen table is where I do my crafting.
Maybe someday I'll have a corner where I can leave things that are
in the process". But for now I shuttle my supplies back and forth
here and there.
I'm always in a hurry to finish a project so I can "clear the table".
Sometimes I don't think I even get to enjoy the process.
I usually throw my supplies back in their containers.
Organization is not my friend when it comes to this.
The other day after finishing my Gift Jars this is what my ribbon/trim bin looked like: What a mess!! It's pretty much been like this for awhile.

I decided it was time to got through and wrap them up.
It took about 2 hours but I did it!!

Much better ~:)
I know it doesn't seem like much, but what a difference when I'm looking for just the right trim.

♥´¨)¸.·*¨) ¸.·*¨) (¸.·´ (¸.·` *~♥

Update on Cyndar

I was able to get Cyndar into our vet on Wednesday.

She was a mess....so many Raccoon bites.

She had a slightly elevated temperature.

They shaved the larger bites along her back, inner front leg and inner thigh.

After seeing how bad they were she decided that Cyndar needed drainage tubes. They put her to sleep, checked to see how deep the bites were, then opened up the larger ones to insert drains. The bites along her back and front leg were 1" deep, the one on her back leg was 2" deep! We were at the Vets for 3 hours.

I was given some antibiotics for her to take, 4 twice a day. She also is on Rymadil for pain. I put warm compresses on the bites with drains twice a day and Neosporin on the ones that don't.

She gets the drains out on Monday.

She's still sore and tender but doing better each day.

Operation Raccoon

has begun.

I ran fishing line all around the pond as best as I could.

Installed the Scarecrow Motion activated Sprinkler,

tied down the dog food lids, and removed ALL the large rocks from around the inner shelf of the pond. I am waiting for the Coyote Urine, once that arrives it goes around the pond also.

I'm trying any and all tips/tricks to send the Coons packing.

No holds barred!

Wish me luck!!

Linking up to:

Mary at Little Red House for Mosaic Monday

Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Met Monday

Be sure to drop by and join the parties!

Racoon Update

I don't remember taking reservations for two??

These were taken two nights ago. They were cute, amusing and fun to watch.

♥´¨)¸.·*¨) ¸.·*¨) (¸.·´ (¸.·` *~♥

They are not so cute and amusing anymore!

Cyndar, our Great Dane, started barking about 5 this morning. Everyone was still sleeping. The Raccoons were on our deck. I thought if I opened the sliding door they would run away and she woudl stop barking. Well, they didn't, Cyndar bolted by me and got into a fight with one. The other ran away. OMG!! The screaming! From Cyndar!! At first she had the Coon down then it jumped onto her back. It hung onto her as she ran around the yard about 3 times. She then headed for the deck where I grabbed the can's lid & hit the Coon with it. It finally let her go. She is all bit up and I have an appointment in about 20 mins with our vet. She is current on all shots but want her checked out.

♥´¨)¸.·*¨) ¸.·*¨) (¸.·´ (¸.·` *~♥

 This weekend will commence Operation Raccoon.

So far these will be going up:

 a Motion Activated Sprinkler

Coyote Urine

Fishing Line

Eliminating all food sources and whatever else I can think of!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing all a wonderfully warm and Happy Thanksgiving!

Here is a turkey recipe that also includes the use of popcorn as a stuffing -- imagine that. When I found this recipe, I thought it was perfect for people like me, who just are not sure how to tell when poultry is thoroughly cooked, but not dried out. Give this a try.

8 - 15 lb. turkey

1 cup melted butter

1 cup stuffing (Pepperidge Farm is Good.)

1 cup uncooked popcorn (ORVILLE REDENBACHER'S LOW FAT)

Salt/pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush turkey well with melted butter salt, and pepper. Fill cavity with stuffing and popcorn. Place in baking pan with the neck end toward the back of the oven.

Listen for the popping sounds. When the turkey's ass blows the oven door open and the bird flies across the room, it's done.

And, you thought I didn't cook...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

TWAS THE NIGHT OF THANKSGIVING,

BUT I JUST COULDN'T SLEEP.

I TRIED COUNTING BACKWARDS,

I TRIED COUNTING SHEEP.

THE LEFTOVERS BECKONED -

THE DARK MEAT AND WHITE,

BUT I FOUGHT THE TEMPTATION

WITH ALL OF MY MIGHT.

TOSSING AND TURNING WITH ANTICIPATION,

THE THOUGHT OF A SNACK BECAME INFATUATION.

SO, I RACED TO THE KITCHEN, FLUNG OPEN THE DOOR,

AND GAZED AT THE FRIDGE, FULL OF GOODIES GALORE.

GOBBLED UP TURKEY AND BUTTERED POTATOES,

PICKLES AND CARROTS, BEANS AND TOMATOES.

I FELT MYSELF SWELLING SO PLUMP AND SO ROUND,

'TIL ALL OF A SUDDEN, I ROSE OFF THE GROUND.

I CRASHED THROUGH THE CEILING, FLOATING INTO THE SKY,

WITH A MOUTHFUL OF PUDDING AND A HANDFUL OF PIE.

BUT, I MANAGED TO YELL AS I SOARED PAST THE TREES....

HAPPY EATING TO ALL - PASS THE CRANBERRIES, PLEASE.

MAY YOUR STUFFING BE TASTY,

MAY YOUR TURKEY BE PLUMP.

MAY YOUR POTATOES 'N GRAVY HAVE NARY A LUMP.

MAY YOUR YAMS BE DELICIOUS.

MAY YOUR PIES TAKE THE PRIZE,

MAY YOUR THANKSGIVING DINNER STAY OFF OF YOUR THIGHS!!

Gift Jar Recipe

This is a great recipe for a Gift Jar.
Not a cake or cookies or soup, but Cinnamon Pancakes.

 They are yummy too.
Great for little Thank You or Thinking of You Gifts.
My neighbors love these.

Cinnamon Pancake Mix

3 cups all-purpose Flour

3 Tablespoons Sugar

2 Tablespoons Baking Powder

4  1/2 teaspoons Ground Cinnamon

1  1/4 teaspoons Salt

Combine all ingredients and place in quart jar.

Attach this to the jar:

In medium bowl, combine 3/4 cup milk, 1 Egg, and 2 Tablespoons Oil. With fork, blend in 1 1/3 cups Pancake mix until moistened but still lumpy. Cook on lightly greased griddle or skillet.

Makes about 10 5" Pancakes

Here are some of mine for this year

Remember all those pancake molds I scored here?

Well, they came in handy after all ;~)

So gather your supplies

I printed out the instructions and tags

 

just place the instructions on top of the lid

You can use fabric, doilies, etc. to decorate the top of the jar

I pick up doilies and the like when I see them at yard sales.

They come in handy and have so many uses besides their intened one.

Just happened I had 3 of these red ones.

Placed the doily on top, wove ribbon around outer edge...

And voila!

Don't forget to add a tag

This year because I had all those Pancake Molds I was able to add one to each jar. You could also add a wooden spoon, spatula, or another related gadget.

You could also use stained cheescloth to cover the lids

like I did on these Jam and Jelly Jars

These really make great thoughtful, homemade, and inexpensive gifts.

Mosaic Monday ~ Welcomed Visitors & Ornaments

I've been focusing so much on my unwanted visitor,

I decided it was time to do the opposite for Mosaic Monday 

over at Little Red House. Please visit Mary our hostess for more Mosaics. 

Much more welcomed visitors:

It's Metamorphosis Monday with Susan over at Between Naps on the Porch and my first time linking up with Wendy for Frugal Friday at The Shabby Nest and Cindy for Make it for Monday at Cottage Instincts.

Be sure to pop in and see the transformations!

I found Formica samples in my Treasure Pile and had a thought...I know dangerous!

It went from this to this...

Yep, a Christmas Ornament!

Here is what I did....

Brushed on Mod Podge to the sample,

added some paper for the background

Found an image I liked and printed then cut it out.

Glued it on, embellished with vintage lace, ribbon, trims, stones, etc.

I also had smaller ones I decorated and embellished. 

Love how they turned out!! Some are for sale on Ebay and Etsy.

Meet Our Intruder.............

I received some good ideas and suggestions from freinds that read this post.

Thank you all very much.

Our pond went from the total surface of the water being covered densely by Water Lilies:

To this:

Water Lilies torn to shreds leaving my Koi exposed. This Water Lily keeps it's leaves in the winter making it ideal to keep the fish safe and hidden....at least in the last 14 years it has.....

I placed flour all around the pond and dog food can as suggested by friends hoping to catch some footprints to let me know who/what I was dealing with.

All quiet for a few nights....

Then while watching Tv last night about 8pm we heard the Dog Food can lid hit the deck. We looked out and saw that indeed the lid was on the deck, but there was nothing in sight.

But we did find a wet footprint on one of the watering cans.

My Daring Daughter decided to investigate further. She got a flashlight and checked out the side of the house nearest the deck. Now this is the ugly section of my backyard...yes I DO have an ugly section!

It houses the cages left from past pet Rabbits and Iguana,

stores lumber, and a variety of other yard related items.

All of a sudden I heard a scream!

I went out to see what she found and saw this.....

see the glowing eyes?

now?

How about now?

Of course, Macho Middle Son wanted to shoot him. What is it with males?

It isn't the raccoon's fault. The way they were building homes on farmland around here it's no wonder Mr Raccoon has to look elsewhere for food.

We watched Mr Rocky Raccoon as he finally left over the fence to visit the neighbor next door.

I decided to leave the lid off the Dog Food can so maybe he would leave my Koi alone.

We went back to watching Tv. During the next commercial Daring Daughter decided to look out the sliding door.

Lo and behold he was back..in the Dog Food can!

I grabbed the camera and by the time I got there he had left.

We opened the door and peeked out.

He was at the side of the house looking around the corner!

When he saw me, he slowly backed away.

I went out after him.

He again climbed up the cages and over to the neighbors.

We left the yard lights on thinking that woud deter him....HA!

He came back again!

Tasty!

Yes, he even smiled for the camera!

So amazing he wasn't even scared of my flash.

Bold critter.

So we turned off the lights and left him to hopefully fill up on Dog Food, not fish.

Now, I realize my yard is certified as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat and I know about the Circle of Life but c'mon.

It was hard enough watching a Harris Hawk catch a Sparrow while eating at one of my feeders...but I love my Koi!

The darn things are so trusting. When the Dogs go into the pond to drink the Koi come right up to them. I often wonder if crumbs fall out of their mouths or something! LOL 

So now the dilema.

What to do.

I intended on catching it in our Havahart Trap.

But seeing the size of this beauty, I'm having second thoughts.

After researching I've also found it is illegal in most states to catch and relocate unless you are licensed to do so.

I'm going to call County Animal Control on Monday and see what they say.

I'm hoping they have an answer...like they will come and trap it ;~)

There seem to be alot of remedies out there to ridding your yard of Raccoons.

From Motion Activated Sprinklers, to catching, to...and this is my fav....

Soaking Marshmellows on Unpasturized Brown Apple Juice and placing around the pond. Supposedly the Raccoon will pick up the Marshmellow and try to wash it in the pond. Once wet, the Marshmellow gets goopy, thereby getting his hands dirty and sticky. Since Raccoons don't like their hands dirty they  associate dirty hands with the pond and stay away.

Now that I know what I'm dealing with, I wish I didn't.......

Hey, Mr. Stay Puft Marshmellow Man, where are you?!