New Tricks

Toby has developed new ways of communicating in his old age. He can't really bark any more and he's not willing to wait for someone to let him back inside, especially when it's cold out. He has discovered that putting his front paws on the screen door gets our attention, particularly if the inside door has been left open. We find it annoying, but it is rather difficult to reason with a dog who can't hear.

Toby has also discovered the snow is high enough so he can look into the living room window in the evenings when we're watching television. The first time he did that gave us quite a start, I can tell you!

One snowy morning before we had gotten out of bed, there was this terrible racket going on at our bedroom window, waking us. Toby, soaking wet, was attacking the screen on the window - having found the snow level with the window sill - and making it perfectly clear that he wanted in, NOW. He'd had enough of the snow and rain and wanted his morning treats, pronto.

If all that weren't bizarre enough, Cupcake has also learned the screen door trick.

Years ago, when we slept upstairs, the snow in winter would get high enough to reach the porch roof and Toby and the cats would appear at the bedroom window early in the morning to make sure we were up and moving.

After living with pets for a time, one wonders who owns whom.

The Last Day of the Year - 2010

The last day of the year seems to prompt reflection.  The past year has been one of a series of years that seem to have all blended together.  There have been big changes this past year so perhaps a new exciting year is in the offing.  One can always hope!

I discovered this craft blog recently, CraftGossip.com.  They have some great ideas!  I finally have time to get back into some of the fun things I like to do - so I'm planning on making some of their projects.  There are always more projects I want to do than I have time for - and there are a number of UFOs I absolutely need to finish, plus a number of books I'd like to read too.

Today is cold, 10 below, and cloudy.  Supposed to be colder tonight.  The lakes will be icing up for ice fishing shortly.  We've got about 2 feet of snow.  Snow machining and skiing are in full swing in the area.  A few weeks ago some moose came to visit - right up to the windows.  It's amazing how big they really are up close.  We've seen lots of wildlife recently, especially elk.  They're pretty good size themselves.

Afternoon!

Woke up to a flurry of snow this morning.  I'm not sure if it was really snowing, or just blowing, or a combination of the two.  Couldn't see out the windows, though.  One of our elderly neighbors tried to drive in this stuff this morning.  He didn't make it.  Rather sad.

For now, the sun is out and the icicles are melting, but I see more clouds on the mountains coming in.  We're to attend an annual Christmas party this evening.  Christmas is most definitely sneaking up on me this year.  I'm usually prepared way ahead of time.  It doesn't really matter, I suppose, it will arrive whether or not I'm ready, and since we're not doing the commerical part this year, I guess I won't worry about it.

I'm hoping to get some guest bloggers to liven things up.  I've invited several people to guest blog, so we'll see what happens.

Two classes started yesterday.  I always like teaching the last course of a program.  The students are all excited to finish up and since this particular class has a project rather than assignments and such, it's fascinating to see what they come up with.  By the way, I teach college courses online.

Another article written by me:
Mountain Lion

I liked writing the ones about animals.  Also going to write some home improvement guest posts for another blog.  Ought to be interesting.

Good Morning!

The snow was so pretty last night.  We got several inches, but it's so dry that it seems like sugar.  It's impossible to make snowmen out of, which is quite disappointing.  The sun was out for a little while this morning, but the clouds are coming back.

I read a very funny blog regarding rural mail carriers this morning.  Living out here, the post office doesn't quite work the way it does in more populated areas.  We get mail 3 times a week.  There's no special time for it to arrive and sometimes the mail carrier forgets us completely.  How, I don't know since we get more mail than anyone else on the route.  In fact, our mail is deposited into one of the plastic bins they use for sorting, and that is put in our mail box.  Steve had to build an extra large gorgeous mailbox complete with flag to accomodate these bins. 

Out here our mail boxes aren't just for mail.  For example, if we borrow a book or DVD from someone, we return it to their mailbox.  If someone buys eggs from us, they put the egg cartons back in our mailbox.  Christmas gifts are left in mailboxes, advertisements of new businesses or notes of community gatherings are all left in the mailboxes.  They're part of our community connection.  Our post office will even accept things like groceries from town to send up with the mail carrier, or deliveries from other services such as UPS or FedEx.  Some of the other carriers can't find where someone lives, although our UPS delivery person knows everyone, he often can't get to people's homes in the winter.  His truck isn't equipped with 4-wheel drive.  Since we're closest to the highway, we are often the main delivery point.  Once, 24 boxes were delivered here for a neighbor, who came the next day, when he was able to plow himself out, to retrieve them.  Anywhere else, they wouldn't even bother trying, I don't think.

Greetings!

It is dusk here now and starting to snow.  We have about a foot of snow on the ground now, although it's been snowing for days not much snow has been put down.  We need the moisture badly, too many drought years in a row.  The mountains are all blanketed with clouds and the neighbors' lights are barely visible.  It hasn't been too cold, though, up into the 30's, so some snow has melted already.

Still, only one cat will venture out.  The other prefers to sit by the fire and kept warm.  The dog wants out, but then gets too cold and barks to be let back in.  The chickens are warm in their coop and their run is wrapped in plastic so they get the light, but not the snow.  They don't like to walk on the snow.

As the evening darkens, we won't be able to see anything outside, except for the closest lights, maybe.  Perhaps we'll get a lot of snow this evening.

Here are some links to articles I've published:
Ice Fishing -- Cold & Dead or Warm & Alive
Ice Fishing Gear
Snowkiting
Nutritional Facts of a Sea Urchin