Booties for Bear

As the snow got deeper and deeper, Bear and Auggie made good use of the “no snow” zone next to the house. Above was before Winter Storm: Round 3 dumped another foot or so…

The no snow zone is a bit tunnel-like now. Meanwhile it got colder and when it gets below 15F, Bear starts having trouble with snow flash freezing on his warm feet.

A couple of days after Christmas, we made an emergency dash to the local PetSmart and picked up some booties. We tried booties once before – unsuccessfully. I’ve been using a foot wax called Musher’s Secret and that helped but this year it was not enough.

The booties were easy to put on but the rubber pad at the bottom didn’t really stay under Bear’s foot. It flopped around and that made things more difficult.

I recently bought myself some extra thick LLBean boot socks and having dashed outside in just socks and my feet stayed dry, I got to thinking…

Yes, Bear is wearing LLBean boot socks and they work for him. I cut off the Velcro strap from the PetSmart booties and use that under the cuff to keep the socks up.

Right now, we are just doing front feet and getting used to socks. It has warmed up slightly so this is working but if it gets super cold, at least I know we have a solution.

Auggie says the solution is to stay in the house.

Winter Storm: Round 3

This storm was originally advertised for Thursday through Saturday. On Wednesday, I took a quick run into Bigfork for just a few things. Everyone else was doing the same AND it was snowing hard then with what was forecast to be a “trace”, already almost 4 inches.

Then it cleared. And the storm warning moved to Friday through Saturday.

Thursday was snowy but my house was in a wind shadow from the NNE wind. Overnight it warmed up, rained and then dramatically got cold.

NOAA says: “An atmospheric river is colliding with an arctic air mass over western Montana today and tonight. The strong westerly flow associated with the atmospheric river is pushing against the arctic air and stalling the front.”

Bottom line: a LOT more snow (10-20 inches more) is forecast before things calm down on Saturday (tomorrow) afternoon.

Even though Bear can’t run through the deep snow like he used to, he’s got his snow legs now and is using the paths I tromp down.

And he enjoys just lying in the snow and eating it ??? Auggie is more of an inside guy this winter, but he runs out for a quick explore and then right back inside.

Winter Storm: Round 3

Handmade Holiday in Whitefish, Montana

I’ve been watching the weather and hoping, hoping, hoping… for now snow or ice or bad driving this weekend.

Handmade Holiday in Whitefish was Friday evening, and today. I wanted badly to attend.

And I did! We’ve been under an inversion and it is cold and damp, but the roads are bare and dry.

The event features local makers and is held in the Whitefish Grange aka Bohemian Hall. Inside the Grange is like a cozy cabin and the makers were set up nicely throughout the space.

My primary reason for wanting to attend was to add to my Heidi Haugen Pottery collection. I bought individual pieces and then an entire set of dishes from Heidi 17 or 18 years ago. At that time, Heidi sold her pottery primarily from Bookworks, an independent bookseller in Whitefish. Heidi worked in the bookstore Saturday mornings as well. Recently we reconnected via Instagram and in addition to adding some new pottery, I was looking forward to seeing her.

What’s left of the original pieces… I think there were tears when I broke the last mug. But, I am thrilled that some has survived my several moves and dishwashing fiascos.

The new pieces from today. I had hoped a honey pot might still be available but they sold Friday night. Another time. I was very pleased that the bowls were not sold out!

And I had a wonderful time catching up a little with Heidi. Also saw other Whitefish folks I knew. All in all, a grand Saturday morning.

Meanwhile, at home…

The stockings are hung by the chimney with care…

Some of us are more naughty than nice…

And visions of sugar plums ???

Holiday Joy.

Super Moon: moon set

Sunday’s super moon was clouded out for me.

BUT Monday morning, as Bear and I took our sunrise walk… THE MOON appeared full and clear and still high in the sky.

We finished our walk and loaded up in the Jeep to head down the road and watch a super moon moonset.

To the west-south west of the road home and jeep location … pending sunrise.

Meanwhile, the moon drops lower and we watch…

The moonset and sunrise lit the mountains to the north and the trails of Whitefish Ski Mountain.

Just as the moon sets, the sun starts to rise behind the mountains and the clouds … and the rising sun lights clouds to the north…

Beautiful morning.

Thanksgiving Day

An unusual Thanksgiving Day this year …

It started at 51F with a blustery, but warm wind. It felt more like late September than late November.

We enjoyed much of the day on the front porch.

And although there are a lot of larch needles on the ground (and in the house!), there is still a lot of gold in the woods.

The Western Larch are beautiful against a gray sky and also when the sun shines on them.

And then there is Thanksgiving dinner.

I had sardines and black beans for my Thanksgiving dinner. Not exactly the traditional turkey and fixings.

A little over a week ago, I fell. Ironically, I tripped over a mat that I placed on the transition between front porch and walk way. That spot gets slippery in the winter and the mat is for both footing and as a reminder to me to slow down. Right. I was moving too fast and not thinking what I was doing. I barely saved myself from a face plant on the concrete and managed to tuck and roll kind of sideways on to the grass. But my tote bag was under my arm and I came down on that hard enough to get an “oof” and partially knock the wind out. Rats. Ribs again. So nights have been majorly uncomfortable and daytime not too bad until yesterday when the muscles started doing little spasms. I was horribly uncomfortable.

In an effort to help things improve, I upped foods with potassium and calcium hoping to calm things down. At suppertime I got to thinking about some salmon for vitamin D but I just did not have the oomph to cook and then remembered the sardines – superfood! Black beans have good stuff also and I had some in the freezer so sardines and black beans. I had a better night and today, Thanksgiving Day felt MUCH better.

But, I wanted to stay feeling better and decided to stick with the superfood program, hence sardines and black beans for Thanksgiving dinner. I have my turkey thawed, some of the side dishes prepped and I baked a mini version of an Apple Skillet Cake for my sweet. The Thanksgiving turkey dinner will just be a day or two late.

That little cake smelled and looked so good. Between taking the photo and writing this post, the cake is half gone. Fortunately, it takes about 10 minutes to mix up and get in the oven so I can make another if necessary.

Not the usual Thanksgiving Day, but as I noted on my Instagram, I am thankful for another year with Bear and Auggie and today, I am very thankful that I am feeling better.

Happy Thanksgiving!