01.25.2026 Preparing for a Big Storm

 All week we have been alerted to a major storm across the country, not just New England. It is advertised as the first major snowstorm in years. Admittedly, we have had relatively little snow these past several years, so I have been remiss in how thorough I shovel. The idea of one to two feet had me outside shoveling wide and far to make room for more snow!

It has been bitter cold - down to 0 degrees Fahrenheit in the mornings. Heavy clothes are the fashion now for all of us. There is no real relief in sight from the cold for today, so the boys and I are preparing for a "long winter's night"! There are a lot of preparation chores to be completed - gas in the car, car moved to inside the gate, water in all of the water bottles and buckets in case of a power outage, nonperishable food for all of us, batteries for flashlights and battery-operated candles. I think we are ready. We even filled up the bird feeders and hung two packages of suet so our feathered friends and a squirrel or two will be able to have some food. 

A handsome blue jay. They can be aggressive towards the smaller birds, but today they are all at the feeders together.

A bit shy, as soon as he realized the camera was in the doorway he was off.

It is hard to have the dogs go outside in this bitter cold weather. It is just as hard for me to go out there and pick up after them! But we must, so we do!

Gunnarr and Shorty are all bundled up in a sweater and wool overcoats. A bit hesitant to move off the porch, they do run after a little encouragement.

 

Gunnarr gets colder first but he didn't seem to mind today. Maybe he is just getting used to the cold weather. Shorty on the other hand does not seem to mind the cold weather, but of course he is wearing a thick fur coat!

 

 

We have new neighbors and so Gunnarr and Shorty often greet them whenever they are also outside. Fences make good neighbors, so they do not have to worry about a direct visit, just a greeting.

A quick pose on the porch. 

They both are good sports for the camera.

My precious and spirited Fionnegan would have loved playing in the snow with them. And he looked so cute in his winter outfits, even if I had to chase him around the house to get him dressed! Both Gunnarr and Shorty still miss him so very much. And so do I. Not a day goes by when I do not think about him and the fun times we had and the joy he brought to our household. He is forever in our hearts.

Until next time, please stay safe and warm. And I hope you may weather this storm without any troubles..........