Saturday, December 7, 2013

Annual Holiday Photo

Last year's Holiday card photo was taken in 70 degree weather with us wading in 4" of water in the yard. The high here today was 18. (It is 6 degrees as I type). We have over a foot of snow.
Before we set up for the Holiday photo, I took Cedar and Koyuk for a mailbox run. As always we came full speed around the first tight corner then...
Cedar and Koyuk spotted Trask, McKenzie and Dave and took a shortcut on the steep side yard.  Trask was beside himself. He really wanted to join in this new game.
We finally untangled ourselves from Trask's leash and were off.
Trask and McKenzie left behind and watching for our return.
The really fun part of the mailbox run is coming downhill out of the woods.
The mailman and paperlady did not make it to the mailbox yesterday or today but we had a blast checking.
In theory, after the mail run Cedar and Koyuk should have been a bit tired and less likely to take off with the sled during the family Holiday photo. Unfortunately the sun was quickly disappearing behind the ridge as I hooked Trask and McKenzie up to the gangline.
Each dog had their own idea of what to do next.
Finally they were all facing forward but the sled had to move to stay in the sun.
The rested dogs took full advantage of the released snowhooks and took off down the hill.  Poor McKenzie got caught under the fast moving sled.
 Untangled but not quite ready to pose.
 Much better.
Christmas photo done and time to turn around and head back up the hill into the warm house.
Now all I have to do is figure out which picture out of a couple hundred will be our card this year. Ho-Ho-Ho.