There was no snow for Christmas or New Year's celebrations but we did finally get a delightful snowstorm this weekend. The first real snow of the season is always special. I do enjoy the blanket of white on the ground and do not mind shoveling this one time. My thoughts are that I have proven each year that I can shovel snow, why do I need to keep doing it over and over again with each snow storm! I am always grateful for each winter day when I do not have to shovel!
I made an attempt to get to work early in the morning. Leaving before the crack of dawn - or even before there is any thought of dawn, I made my way slowly to town. The roads were not plowed and traffic was moving at the racing speed of 5 mph. Given that I have quite the distance, I knew I would never make it to the office on time. So I decided to take the next exit and go back after being on the road for almost two hours. Just them my brakes seized as they were caked with ice so it was good to head back after clearing some ice blocks. Never good to smell burning brake rubber!
Back home I left the boys out again and they loved it. Because it was snowing hard, I did dress them up in their puffer vests and sweaters. For the last two years I put long legged pajamas on Fionnegan and Gunnarr hoping it would reduce the snow bunnies on their legs. That never seemed to work as they were always slipping out of the outfit, even when it was under a sweater and vest. So I saved myself the trouble of dressing them in an outfit which they do not like.
They played, I shoveled. They sniffed out a mouse or mole and were furiously digging in the snow. But Shorty kept an eye on me while I was shoveling at the gate. Last year he did a runner and I think he was looking for another opportunity to visit the neighbors. Fool me once......
All in all I shoveled three times to make sure the driveway and porches were under control while it snowed. And my buddies kept me good company, especially Shorty. For a dog from Yap in the tropics, he thrives in the cold and snowy weather.
The next day I cleared the roof - I am trying to minimize ice dams on the front as the ice coats the windows and it is a concern that there will be leaks or worse. We can hear the ice moving down the roof. One year there was a leak under the window frame and when I came home from work I found Fionnegan and Gunnarr on their dog beds surrounded by water. Floating doggies! Can't let that happen again. Fortunately, they were still dry.
Even though it is raining now, better to keep things cleared before the freeze. High boots, warm gloves and a long roof rake will do the trick. Most of the time, the following day is bright with sunshine, so it makes it pleasant to be outside even when working!
In the early hours of the snowstorm I also cleared the hemlocks from snow with a broom and released the boughs from the ground. It doesn't take much snow for the boughs to be buried in snow and if it is cold enough for the duration of the winter, they stayed buried unless they break. Even though the dogs love running under the branches, I
need to keep them cleared as much as possible. The only time to clear them is early - before they are buried.
Cannot forget to clear the bird feeders!
Shorty loves making his trails in the fresh snow. He makes the trails for Fionnegan and Gunnarr as he does have longer legs!
Gunnarr always comes back first to be next to me. He was having a great time!
While life is rather mundane, and I do hesitate to post a blog with no real excitement for my readers, I do enjoy sharing our day to day life adventures. The Christmas trees are still up, we still turn on the electric/battery candles at night for ambience and we enjoy the lights on the house at night (does make it easier for the boys at night). And yes, they are still taunted by the deer. Found fresh deer tracks just by the back gate and fresh deer dropping inside the gate! Oh Bucky Deerburger - do be careful.
And if you want to see what Shorty is doing these days, from his point of view, check out his blog: https://mydogshorty.blogspot.
Eventually they all look at the camera!
I realize those are napkins, but they look so cute as bandanas!
