Tree Hunting

This morning I have three totally crashed Chinooks sharing my office.
Yesterday we went in search of a Christmas tree - totally futile when the youngest tree on the place is over 20 years old but a great excuse for a fun adventure.
On our way up to the top of the ridge and into the fog.

These trees were once part of huge Holiday parties we used to hold. What started out as three boys baking cookies after bringing down their tree turned into a party with over 100 people getting trees; making wreaths and; baking hundreds of cookies - a little frosting for the cookies, a lot of frosting for the kids - a little sprinkles for the cookies, a lot of sprinkles for the kids while the adults washed down the sweet treats with drinks of festive joy. We had a full bakery, long counters, three ovens and a commercial mixer for the cookie dough - lots of cookie dough.

The last party held here included children and grandchildren of the original three boys along with friends and the now grown boys themselves.
The trees are now much too big for the living room.

 Cedar and Koyuk resting and waiting for Trask on the sunny side of the ridge.

 A dash to the back pond.

 Koyuk after her cooling swim.

Um, "Trask where is your visibility vest?" I suspect snagging the vest was the reason for Trask's delay in making it over the ridge.

 Exploring around the oak Savannah.

Without his vest, Trask is no where to be seen. I did see a pile of bear poop the size of a small load of bread. I guess mine don't hibernate.

Koyuk

Twelve year old Cedar still running on the way back up the ridge road. I tried to get her to ride with me but she insisted on running with the other dogs.

 Trask in the lead.

We searched the woods for Trask's vest but were as unsuccessful with that as we were with finding a living-room size tree.

 Heading back down the north side of the ridge.

 Trask has once again disappeared.

Trask was quite proud of himself when he came from the same area with a stinky deer leg.

There was no way I was going to get anything more than a picture of him with his prize.

 "Nope, it is ALL MINE"

All of the dogs were filthy. Normally I toss them into the pond to cool off and get clean after a run. But, the pond was still frozen solid even after 48 hours of heavy rain and above freezing temperatures.
The ripples are ice, not wind.

After everyone was through supervising Trask eating the entire leg, they agreed to come in for a bath and nap. Twice this week I have spotted a cougar from my window in the same area Trask found the deer leg. A cougar defending a carcass is not the confrontation I want to think about. Just in case, new batteries were put in the invisible fence collars. Our next adventure to find the visibility vest will be delayed. The tree will have to be store bought this year.

"PR" CH Moonsong Cedar River Touchdown, CGC, TT, WSD (Cedar)

Happy Birthday Sweet Cedar. At 12 years, she is still spry and usually the initiator of Chinook tag games. Yesterday she tagged Trask so hard he did three complete rolls down the icy hill hill then broke through, landing in a large mud puddle. Without being called, all three dogs came running to the door knowing that when someone gets a bath, they all get treats. Soaked and muddy Trask was definitely in need of a bath. 

Cedar ready to pounce.

We have had over a week of deep hoarfrost. While those in town warmed to the 40's, the dogs and I enjoyed a winter wonderland. Our temperature never got above freezing and most often remained in the 20's. The ponds had three inches solid ice covering them. Jumping up and down on the dock did not crack the ice but did make some great sounds. I got to share the simple joy of skidding pebbles over the frozen surface with visitors. The thick ice wasn't as musical as ice with varying thickness but none-the-less, a surprising delight to those who had not experienced the thong and tinkle of a rock bouncing along a frozen water surface. The downside of my isolated winter has been no heat for almost two weeks. The geothermal heat pumps had drawn all the warmth they could out of the pond water. Being 6' down in depth due to the drought, there just isn't enough water to supply the demands of the system. The now super-cold water froze creating the pond marimba but no place to warm-up after playing it.

Triumphal Cedar  - treat time 

Cedar and the other dogs do their best to keep we warm at night. I am swathed so tightly with their warmth and love, rolling over is often a challenge though not a bad trade-off.

Last night it rained hard - first freezing rain them plain old Oregon winter rain. The sound on the metal roof was welcome. This morning the heat pumps kicked into life and the white hoarfrost that had coated every surface was gone. Before the predicted next storm, I rushed outside to mow the final leaves released by the onslaught of ice, wind and rain.

Grief and the holidays are a tough combination. Everything reminds me of something wonderful Dave and I shared. I often find myself idled by overwhelming grief. I tackle huge chores outside to help bring me back into the present. This morning as I looked back over my mowing handiwork I noticed a still frozen patch. It was in the shape of a ghost heart.

I called the dogs to share the wonder.

I have to believe that Dave was sending his love and his birthday wishes to Cedar.

BrownStone Family Fun

I found the perfect total BrownStone family (even Jake the cat) entertainment...

Everyone was glued to the TV and followed every jump. If they tried to ignore it, even a deep sleep was aroused by the squirrel vocalizations. Life of Wolf videos have never created such attentive rapture.
A neighbor dog did trigger a howl-in partway through the program but chipping squirrels brought the family right back to the video.
So if you want to be entertained watching your fur family entertained, check out this PBS program.

Pupdates

September 2018

BrownStone Cascade Mt. Loowit (Tule Loowit). Tule has moved away and is greatly missed around here.

BrownStone CNK Century Wind (Ullr)

Always ready for a new adventure.

 Could that be comfortable?

October 2018

BrownStone Cascade Mt Mazama (Bramble) with BrownStone Iditarod Takotna (Muku) running in the
woods of BC

BrownStone Nala  (little Ms Pink)

Nala was from the very first BrownStone litter - the Christmas litter - and joins her siblings: Silly Willy, Lupin, Rotor, Sua, Kisa, Copper, Parker and Rogue over the Rainbow Bridge.

12/13/2003 - 10/26/2018

BrownStone CNK Century Kate MT (Tika)

 10/31/2018 Tika joined sister Kima with her first heat cycle. Poor girls - poor family.

 BrownStone CNK Century Wind (Ullr)

November 2018

BrownStone Ali

BrownStone Cascade Mt Mazama (Bramble) with BrownStone Iditarod Takotna (Muku)

 Moonsong Mouse - BrownStone Cascade Peaks litter foster pup

BrownStone CNK Century Kate MT (Tika)

with Desert Sol Kima

 BrownStone CNK Century Wind (Ullr)

 Smile

 11/25/2018 Sledding and Skijor adventure

Ullr is a natural. I can't wait to get him on a team with Trask.

I am finally up-to-date with the Pupdates. BrownStone puppy owners, please keep the pictures coming so I can share tales of you fur family members.