November dawned like classic November, cold and gray. And it’s a Monday, which started with a discovery of two opossums nesting in the stack of hay. Unlike some people, I do like these North American marsupials, but I would prefer they stay in the woods, not in the hay shed.
Possum #1 
Possum #2
This pair of possums looked like twin siblings and had made a nest of leaves that I discovered when I picked up a bale of hay. They were quite adorable, and waddled off to hide elsewhere in the shed, to my dismay. I am sorry for them, but they must move out into their natural habitat. They can carry a disease, EPM, Equine Protozoal Myelitis, so I really don’t want them possibly contaminating the food source. That said, they also eat ticks, one of my most loathed creatures, and they do not always transmit EPM. So I decided to trap and relocate to a wildlife area. Ha!
I will confess that my feeding of the cats in the shed has brought this dilemma down on us, so I will now remove any food uneaten in half an hour, morning and evening. I set the trap this evening, and when I went to the shed at night check, I saw a possum watching for me – it scampered back into the shed as I approached. In the trap was Licorice, who was very unhappy. I released her and reset the trap. It promises to be a difficult week.
The trap before Licorice was caught
The cats in the barn are unaffected by the shed feeding change, but Marmalade and Licorice will not be happy.
Marmalade tries the barn buffet at Tom Morris’ suggestion 
Rosie and Twizzler share a bed 
Marmalade always looks disgusted, anyway
That is all the news here. We went into St. Louis for lunch with friends John and Laura, and that used up much of the day in a pleasant, but not newsworthy, way. There were some less pleasant aspects to the day, not worth relating.
The Kawasaki Mule left here ten days ago because it needed a new muffler, according to the service guy. They promised to return it today after failing to fulfill their original return promise. Apparently, though, it wouldn’t start, and now needs a new battery, which must be ordered. Ah, First World problems… Harry thinks I should get busy writing Anne’s Big Book of First World Problems. We are very fortunate to have nothing serious to complain about on a gray November Monday.
The horses enjoyed a day in the pasture, cool enough that flies were absent.
Morning grazing 
“Where have you been?” 
Oisin wants dinner! He’s obviously starving and can barely fit through the gate
Stay safe, stay well. Peace.
I enjoy all the ventures you have.😃
I know a publisher who might be interested in the big book of first world problems…
Good luck with your possum hunt!
Peace
Your poor mule, but once it’s home, I’m sure it’ll be good as new. You said that your trap was effective, Licorice and a oppusum!
A coworker has a stray/feral cat that needs to be trapped. I’m taking mine to her tomorrow. If things went smoothly all of the time, think how boring it would be.