End of Season, Winter Prep

While it pours rain the next few days, and we appreciate it, we are working on winter prep for the pens.   Each house will get a new door and all already have their first fresh slices of straw.
Straw and corn are both up this year.   We are getting corn (for deer) at $8 now but it is as high as $11 locally , for 50 lb.  The midwest drought will be felt in all supplies this winter, we suspect.

Bow hunting season is on, thus, we are doubly careful of securing dogs.  However, at 3AM,  Ruthie , our chief dog excavator, appeared on the front porch.   Helpful and vigilant Copper simply got up from his bed and sat facing the front door (he's the silent type).  I awakened, saw him sitting,  and found that Ruthie was sitting on the other side, having somehow escaped.   So, out I went in the rain ,to secure her until morning, in a closer pen.  Copper galloped alongside, herding her.  Since all is silent right now, I'm hoping she is still secure.

A friend of Jim's brought us new pallets, so each house , slowly but surely, will have a new and sturdier pallet to lift each off of the winter ground.   That is a lot of house wrestling.

I've been a bit under the weather all summer, but it appears that I'm on the mend, so hopefully we have an active winter ahead for dogs and humans.  We all love the fall cool air and beautiful colors.