March 02, 2021 Tuesday at Rikki’s Refuge

all in a day’s work …. photos by those caring for the animals
(you can help support those animals at www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate)

What a beautiful day !!!!

Donations today !!


We are in need of DRY CAT FOOD and the cheapest place we know to get it is Tractor Supply.
It’s $18.99 for 44 pounds, and we eat two bags a day. Yup, that’s a lot, but there are a LOT of us !!!

You can order a bag on line for us and we’ll pick it up at the local Tractor Supply.
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/multi-cat-dry-cat-food-40-lb-bag#

What YOU need to do to buy us a bag:
choose the Orange, VA, 22960 store for pick up
List “Rikki’s Refuge” as the pick up person
and when you get confirmation that the order is ready
message me at m.me/RikkisRefuge
or www.facebook.com/Kerry.Hilliard
or email me Kerry@RikkisRefduge.org
and give me the following information
order number
your name exactly as it shows up on the order
what you bought for us and the quantity

We must have all that information for Tractor Supply to give the order to us.

We love Tractor Supply’s Paws and Claws canned cat food too, really, we’re not at all picky, we just want to eat !!!! If you can get the large cans it’s a good price, but usually they’re out. If you want to buy us canned food here, we’re happy to pick it up. But for the cheapest prices for
CANNED CAT FOOD are Chewy, Walmart.com and Amazon

If you’re mailing us food, here’s the ONLY address for deliveries:
Rikki’s Refuge
10910 Barr Ln
Rapidan VA 22960

If you’re mailing a check, please use the secure address:
Rikki’s Refuge
PO Box 1357
Orange VA 22960

We are NOT picky about flavors !!!

And we are VERY VERY HAPPY with anything else too, any flavor, pate, gravy, anything. We promise to dig right in and not say a word, except, well, THANK YOU !!!!

It’s always Cats Cats Cats ……

We’re all smiles at Rikki’s !!!

We’re all SMILES at Rikki’s Refuge cus YOU save our lives !!!

www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate
Rikki’s Refuge, 10910 Barr Ln, Rapidan VA 22733 (shipping address for food, etc)
Rikki’s Refuge, PO Box 1357, Orange VA 22960 (secure box for checks, etc)

Thank YOU !!!

March 01, 2021 Monday at Rikki’s Refuge

all in a day’s work …. photos by those caring for the animals
(you can help support those animals at www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate)

Stormy day

Argument about WHO gets this puddle !

Somebody got a feather pulled out of place.

Community pool.

This creek is usually slow and meandering, now it’s rushing right along. The ground is so soaked trees are falling.

How’d you get so muddy Smacks? Somebody’s gonna be mad but they’ll be heading in for a bath real soon.

I think I’d rather be a sheep than a goat in the winter time !!!

Piggy Paradise is a true paradise of mud !!

Waldo declared he was a house cat for the day AND he’d have breakfast in bed, thank you !!

K&S to the rescue, despite the mud here they come to clean the hooman potty !!

I am totally disgusted with all this rain

me too

What is that glowing orb parting the clouds ?



Meet little Cricket – she’s with us cus of congenital cardiac issues.

FINALLY !!!! Some blue sky !!!

and the critters come out …. one … by … one









Make him get up and play wif me …

I don’t know …. but I don’t think it’s so smart for a sheep to fight with a goat …

YOUR support gives us every day of our lives …. rain or shine !!!

www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate
Rikki’s Refuge, 10910 Barr Ln, Rapidan VA 22733 (shipping address for food, etc)
Rikki’s Refuge, PO Box 1357, Orange VA 22960 (secure box for checks, etc)

Thank YOU for saving our lives !!!

February 28, 2021 Sunday at Rikki’s Refuge

all in a day’s work …. photos by those caring for the animals
(you can help support those animals at www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate)

Ohhhhhhhh yesssss we have rain !!!!!!!!!

Just look at that smile !!!!

The ducks cheer on the rain with a call … FLOOD FLOOD FLOOD

Why am I in here with the ducks? And don’t I get a say in this FLOOD thing?

None of us get a say in the FLOOD thing, but I can tell you why you’re in here with the ducks. You were a very very very bad boy to the hens and other roosters. You know the rules at Rikki’s Refuge, if you want to free range you must promise to stay home and not go high tailing it off to neighboring property and getting yourself in some kind of trouble AND you must promise not to hurt any other residents. You repeatedly violated that. So you lost your rights in general population.

And the floods came …. dang those ducks !!!!

The outside ducks want to come in and swim with the inside ducks

I’m Clinton, and I approve of this rain !!!

Speak for yourself silly duck, I’ve about had it with all this wet

Ohhh so happy geese !!

Dancing for more rain

I am not a goose and I am not happy

The ground is so saturated the water now just pools or runs off, creating rivers everywhere there was once dry land

The rivers undermine fences

The rivers run everywhere

Can I be a indoor guard dog and protect you from burglars today?

I can sure tell you I’m a house cat today !

We agree, being on the house is the only place to sit and not be in a puddle.

High and dry, that’s me !!

I found a dry spot !!!

Donations in !!! Lunch time !!!

How much more gloomy can it get today ?

That is red we see in the sky tonight, right? Hoping for delightful weather and sunshine in the morning !!

Even when it rains, YOUR support is our ray of sunshine !!

www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate
Rikki’s Refuge, 10910 Barr Ln, Rapidan VA 22733 (shipping address for food, etc)
Rikki’s Refuge, PO Box 1357, Orange VA 22960 (secure box for checks, etc)

Thank YOU for giving EVERYONE a chance for LIFE !

February 27, 2021 Saturday at Rikki’s Refuge

all in a day’s work …. photos by those caring for the animals
(you can help support those animals at www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate)

No, I’m NOT an ordinary cat, and I don’t poo in a box!

I really admire you !!!! Someday I’ll learn how to use the porta potty too !!

says Smiles, who got his name, cuz he always does !!

And YOU thought stare downs were the domain of cats !

Wanda !!! Been digging in the mud again, I see.

It sure is a wet day.

Remember meeting our Wild Friend a few days ago? He’s still here. Hanging out as the only goose with Patrick and Preston the pig. He seems perfectly healthy. Occasionally we have had one stop in and stay a while. Though they usually visit in groups or pairs.

I’m going back to bed, call me when the sun shines.

The 200 cases of cat food have arrived. And now I’ve got to pay for them. Just need a little bit more help and we’ll be there !!! Thank you so much!!

Now we know we’re fed for a few days !!! A case doesn’t go far when you have almost 600 to feed !!!

YES, we have our very own Platter Puss !!

No, these don’t live here.
Yes! They really exist ! Aren’t they beautiful !!! I wish they adorned our trees here !
Technicolor 3 foot long 4 pound giant squirrels. Yes this is the real coloring of this Malabar giant squirrel !! They live in India. They feed on tropical fruits in the tree canopy. And can jump 20 feet between trees. They create food stores in treetops high above the forest floor instead of underground like other squirrels.

You can verify their reality and/or learn more about them here if you wish.
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/yes-giant-technicolor-squirrels-actually-roam-forests-southern-india-180971886/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_giant_squirrel


I love learning about all kinds of animals, don’t you?

Your support of Rikki’s Refuge provides over 300 acres of pristine woods and wetlands preserved for it’s rightful owners !!!

www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate
Rikki’s Refuge, 10910 Barr Ln, Rapidan VA 22733 (shipping address for food, etc)
Rikki’s Refuge, PO Box 1357, Orange VA 22960 (secure box for checks, etc)

Thank YOU for giving EVERYONE a chance for LIFE !

February 26, 2021 Friday at Rikki’s Refuge

all in a day’s work …. photos by those caring for the animals
(you can help support those animals at www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate)

Morning started out cloudy and cool

with the sundeck in use, but not high demand

Still a little bit of snow in shady areas

Panda says, Can we open our donations now?

Nooo, I was just getting some sleep in this wonderfully comfortably bed !!!

HANG ON A MINUTE …. where’d he come from ?


I pick the most comfortable bed in the house

The cats LOVE this. It was donated by Deep Roots yesterday and the cats say MMM MMM good. You’ll see them right on RT 20 on your to Rikki’s Refuge, 28284 Constitution Hwy, Rhoadesville. Stop in a grab a bag or two on your way over to visit. Or leave there at Deep Roots for us to pick up !! Thank you


It’s litter changing day !!!

and it started raining in the afternoon

Smoky Joe doesn’t like rain

Turkeys aren’t happy

The geese are ecstatic !!!

Thank YOU for making the world of Rikki’s Refuge

a BEAUTIFUL place !!!

www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate
Rikki’s Refuge, 10910 Barr Ln, Rapidan VA 22733 (shipping address for food, etc)
Rikki’s Refuge, PO Box 1357, Orange VA 22960 (secure box for checks, etc)

Thank YOU !

February 25, 2021 Thursday at Rikki’s Refuge

all in a day’s work …. photos by those caring for the animals
(you can help support those animals at www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate)

5 am and time to get the Life Center cleaned up for the morning

Go ahead … reach for it …. I dare YOU … Riley




Getting light enough outside to work without a headlamp

Honors takes a selfie

then decides to let Tony da hooman try his hand at photography !!!

Who do YOU think for the better picture ?

Tony also shot this majestic goat. Shooting at Rikki’s is always done with a camera !!

Such a beautiful day !! The sun deck is the place to be !!

Did YOU know everything Rikki’s survives on donations from YOU ?
Donations of food and supplies. Visit us at Rikki’s Refuge on SATURDAYS for Donation Drop Off and take a self guided tour of with the large critters at the Life Center. Bring apples and carrots to feed the horses, cows, sheep, goats and pigs!!

Our store Re-Tail also relies on DONATIONS of gently used household items, furniture, clothing, indoor and outdoor decor and more !!!!

Bring a bag, a box, or a whole trailer full to Re-Tail. We sell everything and use the proceeds to feed and house the animals !!
Re-Tail is open to accept donations at the Store Saturdays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. And on Saturdays, bring some food or supplies to the store and help us FILL A TRUCK and FEED THE ANIMALS !!
Thank YOU for you support. We cannot do it without YOU.

Come sit a spell. If the chairs are occupied there’s lots of room on the ground!

No matter how much you love cats, you can certainly get your cat fix at Rikki’s Refuge.
With over 500 cats, you’ll find new friends in every color and size !!






The cats will come from all over to greet you !!

Rikki’s Refuge has over 300 acres set aside for native wildlife !!! You’ll see many of them wondering about. Watch for our nature hikes, they’re always a lot of fun !!!

Don’t miss the doggies!! There may not be as many dogs as cats, but there just as loved !!
Most of the dogs have a favorite hooman. Wanda’s is Doug. She’s the first to greet him every day.

Beauty chose Lauren and is out to meet her as soon as she hers Lauren’s vehicle approaching.

Such beautiful blue skies !!

It’s even beautiful at the dump today !

Hustle and ruffle your bustle !!!

No, she didn’t get caught under a falling limb. She saw a comfortable sitting spot and wiggled under !!

Do YOU enjoy seeing pictures of the residents at Rikki’s?
Do YOU enjoy learning about how we take care of them?
Would YOU like to help us ?

We’re hiring for full time positions. Just be here on Saturday at noon to learn more.

Don’t want a full time commitment, but still want to help?
How about becoming a VOLUNTEER ?

I need volunteers at Rikki’s Refuge and at Re-Tail our store.
Which fits your interests more?
Email me at Kerry@RikkisRefuge.org or message me at m.me/KerryHilliard (click or copy and paste)

I can’t wait to hear from YOU !!!

By 6 pm the almost full moon is out !!!

When YOU care, we thrive !!!

www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate
Rikki’s Refuge, 10910 Barr Ln, Rapidan VA 22733 (shipping address for food, etc)
Rikki’s Refuge, PO Box 1357, Orange VA 22960 (secure box for checks, etc)

Thank YOU !

February 24, 2021 Wednesday at Rikki’s Refuge

all in a day’s work …. photos by those caring for the animals
(you can help support those animals at www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate)

And we’re blessed with another beautiful day at Rikki’s Refuge !!!

The “pot holes” are goose ponds. They seek our softer areas or small holes, and scratch and dig to make nice swimming holes !!!! And you hear all these claims that hoomans are the only ones who alter their habitat !!!

Where is everybody this fine morning ?

I need to strut and preen and I NEED somebody watching ME !!!

THANK YOU !!!! It was a good day for donations.
Lyn drove around Fredericksburg picking up from our
Donation Locations
360 Farm & Pet at 5037 Plank Rd, Fredericksburg, VA 22407
Giant Food in Harrison Crossing at 5701 Plank Rd, Fredericksburg, VA 22407
Giant Food in Hilltop Plaza at 10346 Courthouse Rd, Spotsylvania Courthouse, VA 22553
Stop by one of these locations, and DROP OFF DONATIONS for Rikki’s Refuge and Lyn will pick them up and make sure they get to the animals of Rikki’s !!!
Thank YOU Lyn !!!

And some canned cat food arrived !!!

Doug just worked out a new partnership for Rikki’s today!!!
Deep Roots Home and Garden Center at 28284 Constitution Hwy, Rhoadesville, VA 22542 will now be supplying our sweet feed and senior horse chow and cracked corn !!! With the rising prices we’ve been experiencing, it was time to do some shopping around and negotiating. Deep Roots will also be a Rikki’s Refuge DONATION LOCATION where you can pick up supplies and leave there for us.

They don’t have an on line store at this time. But YOU can call them at 540-854-5093 and place an order for Wrangler All Stock (sweet feed), cracked corn, and/or Sr. Horse food and just tell them it’s for Rikki’s Refuge. They’ll contact us to come and git it !!!

Their hours are Tuesday – Friday 9 am to 5 pm, Saturday 9 am to 3 pm, closed Sunday and Monday.

By yesterday afternoon they’d already made a nice collection for us from visiting customers !!!

Stop in, check out their home decor, clothing and kitchen sections too. And don’t miss their great nursery !!!! Tell them Rikki’s Refuge sent you !!!

Unloading the donated Cracked Corn …. the Turkeys recognize THEIR bags of feed and run in for a taste testing !!!!

Doug had to make a couple trips to Deep Roots to pick up supplies today. Here comes the litter for the week !!! We’ve been counting on Deep Roots to have our pallet in each week for quite a while now and to keep a consistent price. Believe me, it’s been a real stinking mess when we’d ordered from other places, only to show up and find out they have a BAG for us, not a PALLET of bags !!! Or that the price is 75 cents more a bag for some reason they can’t explain, and just changes randomly every week !!!

Here comes the litter

And look who knows what it is and runs to be the first to get to use the clean litter !!!

And back to Deep Roots for the Sweet Feed …..

Matriarch of the Angora sheep, Fiona, sits atop her throne awaiting hand delivery of her evening meal of sweet feed

Marbles is one cool cat ….. everyone else wants to hang out in the sun. Marbles finds a patch of snow in the shade !!!

Murphy bets you can’t find the cat in the kitchen !!!

Loving this sunny day

YOUR donations make all this possible at Rikki’s Refuge,

their last chance forever home !!

www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate
Rikki’s Refuge, 10910 Barr Ln, Rapidan VA 22733 (shipping address for food, etc)
Rikki’s Refuge, PO Box 1357, Orange VA 22960 (secure box for checks, etc)

Thank YOU for giving them that chance !

February 23, 2021 Tuesday at Rikki’s Refuge

all in a day’s work …. photos by those caring for the animals
(you can help support those animals at www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate)

It’s a beautiful beautiful bright sun shiny day !!!

With a light breeze to keep the windchimes playing all day !!!

Today is portrait day at Rikki’s Refuge
Jupiter

Florence

Firedance

Honeybear with his idol Vincent, the first ever Spokes Cat of Rikki’s Refuge

Clinton

Peter

Lars

Billy and Buster

Jack, Mini, Tubs, Tinker and Molly

Shelby

Murphy

Buttercup

Reece

Waldo

Beauty

Monty

Wanda

Goliath announces the contest of the day. To see who has the best post.

You WILL vote for ME, won’t YOU?

Vote for MY post, says Waldo

MY post is the highest, says Tessa

MY tractor is better than any of your posts!!! Smacks

I have a table, says Riley, and if YOU don’t vote for me, I’ll bite you!

I’ll one up you Riley, my post is the stack of nums!! If I don’t win, YOU don’t eat !! Caitlyn

I sit on litterscoop, I can winz? Grizzly

Who do YOU vote for? Goliath says only REAL posts count. Riley says I’m warning YOU !!!!
Cast your vote NOW and let’s see who wins The Best Post Contest !!

The NOSE knows when it’s nums time !!

The gang shows up !

Did somebody say BREAKFAST !!!

What ?

I’m all ears !

Yup! Breakfast, that’s what this little birdie heard !

The taste testing staff

Num num num

I really need YOUR help !!! We’re very short on caned cat food. We haven’t had enough coming in on most days. Getting enough inexpensive canned food locally here is about impossible. So we have to take time off work and drive an hour or more or spend the extra money on it. And there is NO extra money. We’re barely scraping by. The prices just keep going up and up making it harder and harder.

Well I just got a great deal. But I NEED YOUR HELP. I got 200 cases of canned cat food for $1,696 and it should be delivered, FREE, by Saturday. And now I’ve got to pay for it …. uh oh … that’s the hard part !!! Can you possibly buy a case for $8.48 ? These are 13 oz cans and that makes it 4.77 cents cheaper per 5.5 oz average can than I can get anywhere else. And most places have restrictions on how many cases can be bought at a time. 200 cases is only about a week. And all my cats must eat !!! Please help with what ever you can !!! A case, or a can !!!
www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate

Don’t stop sending food too !!!! We need it EVERY DAY !!
Rikki’s Refuge, 10910 Barr Ln, Rapidan VA 22733
Thank you

To da dump to da dump ….. every day … all the bags of stinking ick must be loaded up into the dump truck, piled high and driven to the dump. It becomes a challenging job on muddy slippery days !!!

Hanging out on the sundeck is this afternoon’s plan

You never see any hoomans sitting around relaxing, do you ?

The poor geese are so disappointed things have been drying up. They’re hanging around in patches of snow left in shady areas, hoping for it to melt into puddles.

It’s certainly a “belly to the sun” kind of day

Contented afternoon nap

I think it might be time for treats ?

YOUR support of Rikki’s Refuge saves lives !!!

With out YOU we would not exist !!

www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate
Rikki’s Refuge, 10910 Barr Ln, Rapidan VA 22733 (shipping address for food, etc)
Rikki’s Refuge, PO Box 1357, Orange VA 22960 (secure box for checks, etc)

Thank YOU for giving us LIFE !

February 22, 2021 Monday at Rikki’s Refuge

all in a day’s work …. photos by those caring for the animals
(you can help support those animals at www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate)

Started another day with sleet and freezing rain. I am thankful we get nice sunny days in between the bouts of this horrible wintry ick !!

Everything is flooding and miserable. When we tell you to wear good waterproof boots to work at Rikki’s Refuge, we’re NOT kidding !!

Ice is clinging on to everything

By 10 am everything is iced over

Wanda and Arlow are soaked from doing their rounds with the hoomans, and they’re miserable. They’ll get extra treats. Unlike the hoomans, who won’t have time to even grab lunch today with all the extra work and how much longer everything takes in the ice.

The ducks are ecstatic to be flooding again

The geese are thrilled with the weather

The cats are thoroughly disgusted. Few plan on venturing out today.

Emus absolutely hate to have anything over their head. They won’t go under cover unless they are really miserable.

And they keep going out to check and see if it’s over yet.

WHEN will this end ??

The sheep are so dirty in all this mud.

If it’s warm and dry tomorrow, I’ll have to get some woolite and get to work.

Just kidding !!! They’ll simply get clean the next, not too cold, rain we have. I once said something silly about needing woolite, and a bunch of folks sent it to me !!!

I really just need canned cat and dog good, cat dry food, sweet feed, senior horse chow and cracked corn. And the whole array of cleaning supplies so we can sanitize everybody’s living quarters every day !!

I so much appreciate it when you send goodies to help us out !!! We really rely on YOU !!!!
www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate
Rikki’s Refuge, 10910 Barr Ln, Rapidan VA 22733 (shipping address for food, etc)
Rikki’s Refuge, PO Box 1357, Orange VA 22960 (secure box for checks, etc)

Come by on Saturday from noon – 3 pm and bring some goodies to Donation Drop Off and get to

KISS ME !!!

Aren’t we DONE yet?

Panda decided to be a house all day !!!

Puffster was loyal and did the rounds checking on all the residents.

Finally !!! Near the end of daylight hours, the sleet and rain stop coming down.

YES! We ARE ready for dinner !

Crybaby gives Marty his evening bath

Good night moo cows … happy munching … I’m glad it’s stopped sleeting.

YOUR support gives these animals a forever home !

We cannot do it without YOU !

www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate
Rikki’s Refuge, 10910 Barr Ln, Rapidan VA 22733 (shipping address for food, etc)
Rikki’s Refuge, PO Box 1357, Orange VA 22960 (secure box for checks, etc)

Thank YOU !

February 21, 2021 Sunday at Rikki’s Refuge

all in a day’s work …. photos by those caring for the animals
(you can help support those animals at www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate)

A bright beautiful dry day !!!

Everybody is getting fresh new dry straw. The nice thing about straw, and what makes it so much better than blankets or towels or other bedding, is that it dries quickly, so moisture from the air or from bodies doesn’t keep the bedding damp and dank, but allows it to dry out nicely. So why change it out after really wet days? Well the critters have brought in a lot of moisture on their bodies from going in and out in the rain and sleet yesterday so it’s gotten pretty wet. And some don’t like to go out into the wet to ….. well ….. wet. So the straw gets yucky. And who wants to sleep in that. And they’ve drug a lot of mud into bed with them. So time for all fresh bedding !!!

They’re so excited they jump in and help spread the new fresh smelling straw all about !!


Oh yeah !!!!! Just right !!!!

Mmmmmm that smells good !!!

THANK YOU, hooman !!!!!

Nap time in the fresh new straw with the sun streaming in !!!

What more could anyone want ?

Everybody is out strutting about in the sunshine

The nicer weather makes everything so much easier. Each bag of sweet feed weighs 50 pounds and all this must be distributed around to the big animals. Being able to drive with out slipping and sliding on the ice and snow and mud makes all the difference in the world to the aches in shoulders and back from carrying such heavy loads across fields and up and down hills.

Contentment

It will take more than one nice day to dry up the mud. And the pigs are hoping we never get that. As much as they love sleeping in the sun, they just love rolling in the mud !!

The ducks and geese feel it’s drying up all too fast and are praying for some more rain or sleet or anything WET !!

Freckles spends the afternoon in sun cat watching !

Interesting choice of nap spots !!!

The geese have traveled far and wide today. They know it’s time to come home as the sun heads for the horizon. Safer to be sleeping near Beauty and Wanda and Buzz and Arlo for protection. Foxey woxey don’t want to mess with the guard dogs !!!

YOUR support gives these animals a forever home !

We cannot do it without YOU !

www.RikkisRefuge.org/Donate
Rikki’s Refuge, 10910 Barr Ln, Rapidan VA 22733 (shipping address for food, etc)
Rikki’s Refuge, PO Box 1357, Orange VA 22960 (secure box for checks, etc)

Thank YOU !