Archive for ‘February, 2014’

Just like old times

I’ve lived in Northwest Montana for 20 years as of February 4!

In those first years there were always 2 plus weeks of super cold: -teens/-20’s overnight and not above 0F daytime.

In the last years (how many ???) this has not happened. I think the first year I was in my current house – 2006 – was the last good Winter.

The super cold – I worry about the wild things and livestock and people who don’t take care of their pets… BUT, this super cold, I think it is ultimately a good thing and a NORMAL thing for this part of Montana.

And, I am a bit thrilled that it is a bit like old times. (NOT enough snow, though!!!)

On the home front…there is a kitten…there is a kitten who can see the sunshine and that kitten thinks he should be able to go out and play and hunt and run with the beardog!

Mama says otherwise.

The day started at -7F and never made it past 5F.

The kitten’s lungs and paws are not made for that much cold.

So.

We played “birdie”

The birdie toy is the MOST favorite toy. (those black things are my knees…I’m on the floor…)

Auggie often drops a birdie (we have 4) at my feet. Game on!

Yes, he retrieves…except for when I set up the camera for video, then he does not…

Bear and I had our normal walks except that I moved with a bit more briskness and a few more “NOW, Bear’s”.

But, I breathed deeply and enjoyed the cold, clean air!

And for lunch, after the lunch walk in the cold, clean air…I had a wonderfully warming roast cauliflower-onion-garlic soup…with plenty of turmeric and cayenne! And a refreshing water with blood orange juice. THAT should ward off any cold-flu bugs as well as most people!

Back to Auggie.

We got out every toy and a few other items: the laundry basket.

Auggie likes to put the birdies, the crackly fish toy and the mousie…places where he has to figure out how to get them back.

The laundry basket worked for a bit of a puzzle.

He played with putting things in and reaching in to try to retrieve them, going in after them and generally just playing in and around the basket and the crackly tunnel.

I don’t know what to do tomorrow, though!!!

The sun was brilliant all day long even if it did only get to 5F.

From inside…

Because it is COLD!

But beautiful and just like old times.

Single digits in Montana is like triple digits in Arizona

Montana is used to cold, like Arizona is used to hot. But over 100 is HOT and below 10 is COLD. Both can be life threatening even if you are accustomed to it happening. We are to be in the below teens F nights and single digits daytime until Saturday when it is forecast that we will hit 13F!

So. It is cold. This morning started out at 1F and we made it briefly to 7F before it started down again.

Winds are more than a breeze, but not howling. Still, the wind chill is in the -double digits and in some areas as low as -40.

Cold.

But, as typically happens with the super cold…the sun is shining, the air is clear and it is beautiful.

However. Single digits for the beardog and the warmly dressed woman is entirely different than single digits for the kitten.

Auggie went out twice. I set a timer for 5 minutes. He came in before the timer went off both times.

Inside, he was a bit cabin feverish.

Distractions were needed.

I made a tunnel cave for him.

Fun, fun, fun!

Off and on he played in and on it.

Time out…

For the record, Bear chose his spot first and then Auggie snagged the bed.

See the sun!

See the sun from inside the warm house as even with the sun, it was 4F when I took this photo from inside the warm house.

A cold day enjoyed AKA the fluffy tail duo! …such SERIOUS faces :) !!

Auggie on the hunt

I have been wanting to share some photos of Auggie from the rear – to show how he’s built. Yes, the long hair adds some fluff and the camera DOES add some heft, but his back legs and haunches are thickly muscled.

I know that all cats have incredible muscles – their athleticism – the way they seemingly effortlessly launch themselves 4 and 5 times their height is really amazing. It often looks like they can defy gravity.

I’ve only had 2 cats: Bob and Gus, Auggie’s namesakes -both were powerful cats. Yes, even Bob! Even as a big cat he could get to high spots when young. But Auggie is something else! Auggie is strong, agile and incredibly quick.

Auggie on the hunt:

Are you ready for some football …or a reasonable facsimile??

Oh, boy.

So.

Super Bowl Sunday.

As a person who has not had tv for twelve years…

I like sports but have not really followed much except via reading and the occasional viewing of the World Series, Basketball playoffs, Super Bowl. But my viewing is via the ESPN gamecasts which is a graphic and text thing.

And no audio.

And I like it.

5 … 0 ???

What kind of score is 5 … 0 ?

Safety and a Field Goal.

Srsly odd and set the stage…

15… 0 Seahawks ahead.

29… 0 By this time, I’d spoken to my folks (Denver fans) 4 times and my neighbors (Seattle fans) once and I was flabbergasted at how things were going.

…writing on the wall…

Keeping an eye on the gamecast while enjoying my Super Bowl supper and reading a book on my Kindle…

Game over.

Congrats Seahawks!

Condolences to Denver, CO.