Posts from the ‘Pets’ category

They nailed the forecast

Four inches of fine, powdery snow fell overnight. I shovelled the walk when Karl and I walked down the driveway in the dark. It is still snowing, but it is only 10F. The snow is so fine and light, it is hard to shovel as it wants to fall off the shovel before I’m ready.

Bob stood on the front porch and looked like he might be having second thoughts about going further, but after some thought he proceeded on his morning rounds as usual.

It is cold enough for the bear dog to use his pillow-bed but not yet cold enough to require the nose be covered with the tail.

It appears NOAA nailed the forecast. It is calm here in the mountain wind shadow but the town weather shows winds from the northeast at 20 mph, gusting to 38 and a wind chill of -10F.

Snowshoes are ready for our lunchtime walk. Maybe it will warm up to 15 by then.

Watching

Just a bit ago…at 5:30 p.m. which feels like much later as sunset at 48 degrees North is now 4:53 p.m. and with the sun low to the south, dusk is fleeting and full dark comes quickly.

Karl was sleeping in the bedroom, Bob on the rug behind me as I worked. Bob growled. Karl was here in an instant.

I saw the critter – a cat or ‘coon but as Bob badly wanted out to go after it, I think a cat. Bob does not take kindly to outsider cats “visiting”.

When Karl got to the scene, they touched noses and looked for all the world as if consulting each other on a course of action.

But I own the doors and their operation so they had to be content with watching.

Braving the cold

The morning started out at a brisk 13F. Bob’s threshold is somewhere around 10F. He sniffed the air, hesitated just a moment and then headed out.

Morning rounds progressed normally for Bob.

Karl took up his post in the rear side yard.

The sun came out and as there is a Winter Storm Warning starting tomorrow at 5 a.m. and continuing until Tuesday at 5 p.m., Karl and I took advantage of the sun and calm with a walk on Swan River Trail.

It was 19F by this point and although the sky looks very wintry, with the sun and only a little wind – AND warm clothes/fur – it was a beautiful walk.

We came home the back way, around the northeastern end of Echo Lake. The sun was taking turns with snow squalls by this time but we made a stop at the fishing access for a second walk before heading for home.

If they are right, we won’t be going far from home for several days – today was the day to brave the cold.

By the light of the silvery moon

I remember my Mama and even my Papa singing me this song when I was little…

Mama, Mama, put the cat out tonight
Cat out tonight, cat out tonight
Worked all day, I’m gonna scat out tonight
And I won’t be home until dawn

Gonna dance with a dolly with a hole in her stockin’
While our knees keep a-knockin’ and our toes keep a-rockin’
Dance with a dolly with a hole in her stockin’
Dance by the light of the moon

Gonna dance by the light of the moon
Dance by the light of the moon
By the light of the moon

I remember the words as “by the light of the silvery moon”, but above is what turned up in my Google search. Last night, as Karl and I returned up the driveway, the clouds gave way to let the waxing half shine through. It was timely as my flashlight batteries were giving up the ghost. The moon found a hole in the clouds as I was standing in the dark trying to shake out the last bit of juice.

The light from the moon was in just the right spot to illuminate the dark part of the walk back. I laughed out loud because the timing was funny – my flash went out and the moon came on. Karl picked up my excitement…game on!

Our dance was a game of soccer in the sideyard…by the light of the silvery moon.

This morning!

This morning started out so very, very right – snow on the ground and still falling! Karl stopped on the front porch and stared – then ran out full of excitement….Bob not so much, but truth be told, he goes out in the snow and the wet and the cold…just not this morning.

It was coming right down but I do know this is a bit of a teaser. It was hovering near freezing, the snow was wet, the ground is not frozen so it won’t stick – probably not even through the morning, but it is the first “on the ground at my house” snow of the year.

And I got a chance to try out my new Uggs :)!

This morning’s coffee was extra good – how that happens, I don’t know…, snow on the ground, a warm fire in a warm house, interesting work for the day, Bob and Karl are well and happy – All is very good this morning!