I think this cat was just traveling through.

My neighbors and I got together a few years ago and had CalFire do a serious fuel reduction project on all of our properties. Then the neighbor above me really thinned out the trees along the deer trail. There is no brush for the cat to hide in waiting for prey.

Also, I haven't seen any deer on the deer trail since I saw that last bunch pass through, which is unusual.

I did play Paul Revere this afternoon and stopped by all of my near neighbors and warned them that there was a cougar in our neighborhood. I kind of felt foolish ... kind of like an alarmist, but some of them have small children. Better safe than sorry.

One neighbor told me that there had been several reports of cougars in town on Facebook, but not on our side of town and promised to put the word out.

Keep warm y'all.

Lyn, No reason to feel foolish, good thing to know about what might be in the neighborhood.
It has finally stopped snowing and it is just beautiful out there. I know all the work and real danger snow like this brings but I still can't help thinking it is just beautiful. Ric shoveled a path around the house to the garage where the snow blower is and the bird seed. No way can I get out to the feeders and even though I see a few birds out there it is hard to believe that there is any seed left. I was thinking about setting a tray out on top of the snow and filling it with seed and then I was thinking that I could spread out an old sheet or table cloth and put seed on that. It won't sink down through the snow and when Ric is read to clean off the patio I can gather up the sheet with whatever seed is still left on it.

I did throw out a sheet with bird seed on it. Boy it is working great. I have tons of birds coming in. First were the little snow birds. They would land in the snow not too sure about getting on the sheet, but one little brave snowbird ventured out and then the rest followed. More of the little brown birds (sparrows and such) Next came the Cardinals they just sat and looked till the Blue Jay came in then they decided that it was safe. Then they came in. The Starlings weren't the least bit wary but the Doves were but they finally gave it a try, Lastly one of the Woodpeckers came in.
Not the best pics the camera doesn't do too well shooting thru the glass doors.

Good idea about the sheet, Holly--maybe I'll try that once we are home.

Great idea (the sheet)
I wonder if they would like flannel ...not the one with the cats..I know better than that...

Holly - really enjoying your life on the water journal. A lot.
Was that on DG ? I never saw it.

No MissingRosie, That was in Cubits, so glad you are enjoying it. I had a lot of fun writing it.

Holly, how do I find it? In Cubits, I'm just getting gardening articles.

Lisa, Look at the bottom of my post, Very bottom you will see "Please visit me and learn more about My Life on the Water a Personal Journey Thread in MidAtlantic Mussing Cubit and there is a link. Just follow the link.

Wow! Holly, that was fun. Feel like I had a Caribbean holiday. Snow? What snow?

Glad you enjoyed it Lisa. Been a long time since I wrote that since then I have been on several more dive trips and the Grands have grown quite a bit. JR and Lily are becoming quite accomplished Kayakers, Lucas loves being on the back of his parents Kayak and in another year be big enough to paddle his own.
Nov 2014 was my last dive it was a Cenote Dive I call it Cave Diving Light because it is almost but not quite cave diving. It was a beautiful and exciting dive. It was Chac Mool Cenote in Playa Del Carmen Mexico. There are some really nice UTube Videos just do a search for Diving Chac Mool Cenote I tried to post a link but I am not having much luck.

That was a good idea to put a sheet out, Holly!

I saw a Towhee in my backyard today - the first time I've ever seen one outside of my bird books, so I was pretty excited!

It was eating suet but then was scared away by a Starling. I went out a few times to shoo away the Starlings and to put out a board covered with millet (which Towhees reportedly like), and unfortunately I scared off the Towhee. I hope it comes back tomorrow and sees the millet.

Birds were eating like mad yesterday - the Cardinals non-stop - but there weren't nearly as many today.

I think this is a Carolina Wren, but not totally sure. It was during the storm yesterday.

Carolina wren? Another small, boring brown bird?
Gotta take another trip.

Yep, it looks like a Carolina Wren, Sequoia. I'll bet it was glad to find that suet!

Lisa, hasn't a woodpecker found your suet yet?

Muddy, I had a towhee yesterday too. And I did have some millet out there. First time at my feeder that I'm aware of. Much less bird activity today maybe because we were out shoveling and kept them nervous?

I don't think the wrens are 'boring'. I think they are quite fun. This one flew underneath our grille and was just chilling there for a few minutes. They are fun to watch and I like their colorings and long beaks.

Wrens, Chickadees and Titmice are among my favorites because they're so unafraid and will let me get quite close to them. Mourning Doves, on the other hand, will fly away if they spot me by the window when I'm inside.

I didn't see the Towhee again today, but I'm hoping it came and ate some millet when I wasn't looking. I think the birds gorged so much when it was snowing that they're able to rest today.

I'm disappointed that bluebirds didn't come in force like they did last year, when I had a dozen show up for suet during a big snowstorm. The other birds were entertaining though, and I only had half a dozen starlings and 1 grackle. Yay!

There's a poor squirrel in my yard with a tail that's missing at least 3/4 of its hair...it looks like a rat tail when it's not fluffed up. The poor thing must be cold at night because it doesn't have a full tail to cover it.

Birds are hitting the feeder hard this morning. And they had emptied the two small ones out back yesterday. They seem to prefer those, which are more open, than the other ones which maybe are a tight fit for bigger birds to sit on.

We'll venture out today, and try to persuade Mark to take me to my favorite store for some premium seed.

Another thing I have saved for a snowy day is a couple of old hanging light fixtures that I hope to take apart and the repurpose for a feeder of some sort.

Sounds like an interesting project, Sally!