We Kept the Kids inside today

Got up this morning and was starting to fix breakfast had all the kids here this morning.  My daughter was here too and still thinking of getting up it was about 9:00 a.m.   Suddenly Taz our German Shepherd started barking more than his usual attention getting bark.  He was really nearly screaming.  Then Rocket who seldom ever barks started his deep bell like barking and was frantic. 

I told my husband who was sitting at the computer still in his PJ's the dogs were really super carrying on and he heard Rocket barking his deep  ROWWWFFF  RRRROWWWWFF.    So he go the rifle out.   I stepped outside into the open sided car port and suddenly  Cheetoh our orange marmalade kitty streaks off the hill above the house fur all fuzzed and eyes wild.  Right behind him is his sister Simba an all black kitty.   Down at the shop I see Salsa my Calico kitty streaking under one of the parked cars and then came old man Black kitty Herman and he was bookin and came fuzzed and made a beeline for the door.  Wanting in now.   The others hid under the porch.   The dogs were clamouring even more but I couldn't see anything.  

Then as hubby stepped out and started walking down toward the shop we heard it a high pitched scream.   My daughter inside heard it and thought it was one of the kids but they were all still inside and getting dressed.    We could not see it but we knew for sure we had a cougar upon the hill.  

My son Dan came out and said he had the feeling the last couple days he had been hunting something was following him and once he heard a low growling snarl in the underbrush.   He thinks the cat was probably stalking him hoping to get behind him.  He said he had his gun cocked, and the safety off and carried ready to swing around at a the sign of anything.  He also had come across a carcass of a large 5 point buck over half eaten.    So now I have to call the Fish and Wildlife and let them know we got a cougar up here again prowling around.  

We told the kids they could NOT play outside today.   Twice more the dogs got all upset but finally around about 3;00 they settled down and so I think it finally got tired of hanging around waiting.   Dan had gone to get his kids and they arrived and others came in and it got more noisy outside and so hoping it left.  But it will most likely be back making its rounds.   So the kids cannot play outside unless an adult is there.  The have to stay right in the yard next to the house where Rocket is with them.  

This is the third time in seven years we have had a cougar around.   The other two were finally shot and killed one had killed neighbors livestock and killed a husky dog and the other tried to get into a neighbors horses and it killed our Alpha herd goat and four others. Five feet from the house at 4;30 a.m four years ago. 

   Can use some prayers that God will keep the grandkids safe.   We told the kids even when they go out stay togather and DO NOT scream and to make lots of other noise cause they don't like a lot of noise.   Going to ask prayers at church tomorrow too for it to get caught or go away.  There are plenty of deer out there lots of them it doesn't need to hang down around our home watching us or the kids.