More Snow!!!

Around midnight I sat in the hot tub with feet up on the edge. Invisible, cold snowflakes were soft kisses on my legs and feet while the rest of me relaxed in the hot water. Only after the ½" of snow accumulating on my head and soaking through my hair did I head back to bed.

This morning I awoke to about 4" of heavy, wet snow. We ended up with a total of about 5" before it stopped snowing and started shrinking under it's own warning weight. The dogs were as excited as I was.

Breakfast coffee view from my office. 

 Frozen pond with ice laden power lines. 

Start of the day's poses. I used up a LOT of dog treats. Chinook tag was way more enticing than sitting still on the snow.

Cedar is sure Koyuk must have treat remnants.

  mom Koyuk and son Trask

 mom Cedar and daughter Koyuk

"got more treats?"

 Beautiful Matriarch Cedar 

By mid morning it had stopped snowing and the sun came out. Pose in front of the buried Zen Frog.

Paradise yard

Koyuk and Cedar 

Nature's Sculpture Tree with woodpecker.

An accumulation of snow is not all fun and games. There are walks to shovel. The ornamental bushes need to be swept free of snow to prevent delicate branches from breaking. The 25 year old kennel roof needs to be cleared of snow. The roof is vulnerable to not only the weight of the snow on top of it but also snow sheeting off and crashing down from the metal roof 16' above. The one thing in my storm prep I had omitted was moving the 12' ladder and floor squeegee from the back of the house to the kennel. Guess I am way out of practice with my snow storm prep.

I can never get enough of seeing Chinooks in the snow.

Koyuk

Can't forget Vineman. His heart is nicely outlined with snow.

 The pond in the afternoon sun after the power-lines were freed of their weighty load.

Lucy's sun catcher heart adding a splash of color to the day.

Unfortunately there was not enough snow to make dog sledding possible. Maybe tomorrow?

Snow!!!

At 2245 last night, Jake awoke me by jumping up onto my face and shaking the snow off his body. I threw him off and ran to the outdoor light switch. It's Snowing!!!

Jake

A week ago the sun finally reached over the ridge and lit the back yard.

Today, the first snow of the winter covered the back yard.

My great niece Lucy, with her mom's help, made me a valentine sun catcher. I let her know that I was hanging it between the snow flakes Anna and Klara had made me because I was still hopeful that we might get snow this winter.

There are valid reasons I get nothing done on snow days.
1) I forget I am not 9 years old. 
2) The dogs instinctively know they are a sled dog breed and forget they are not 2 years old.

3) Growing up "no work time" was always declared whenever it was snowing. The family would park on the sofa in front of the window.
4) I own a digital SLR camera and can shoot a couple hundred pictures that catch my fancy.
5) I waste an inordinate amount of time sorting and posting the pictures.
The following pictures were taken during numerous outings.

Cedar

 Koyuk

 Trask

 Team Nookies

The woodpecker on my "Nature's Sculpture" tree is camouflaged by snow.

 "Mom, it is much more fun to play than pose."

 Trask during a brief sun break

 Cedar

 Koyuk

 Team Nookies

 Cedar

 Koyuk

 Trask

  "Are we finally done posing?"

Out-of-town company is coming. The house needs some serious cleaning. But - there is snow! I am declaring a "no work time" until it melts. Keeping traditions is important after all.
It is again snowing lightly as I finish this post. I actually did dust off the dog sled today but running on bare gravel spots causes sudden, unwanted stopping to say nothing of runner surface damage. Maybe tomorrow will bring enough snow to dog sled. One can only hope. The day most likely will involve many more pictures and no housekeeping. 

Nook Helpers

Finally winter (snow) is expected tonight. Around here it means getting the the firewood; storing water; cleaning grit out of the inside of boots; getting out the snow shovel; fueling up the tractor and ATV; charging the lanterns and; finding candles, cocoa and a good book to snuggle in with.

Throughout these activities I have been followed about and ably supervised by the BrownStone pack. Snuggle-in will come after we actually get to play in snow.

Let It Snow!

January 2019 Pupdate

Brownstone CNK Century Treadwell (Cedar)
January 14, Cedar and his family ventured into the Oregon cascades.

Anna with Cedar. Middle and North Sister and The Husband mountains in the background.

I remember being in this very spot January 14, 1971. I was a Winter Outward Bound instructor. We skied from there to the top of the McKenzie Pass, so I could celebrate my birthday at the observatory. The snow was over 15' deep. The PNW snowpack is alarmingly low this winter.

Brownstone CNK Century Kate MT (Tika)
What happens when a Chinook discovers a just-delivered case-box of dog treats before the owner does.

 Tika with Kima on January 16.

BrownStone Cascade Mt Loowit (Tule Loowit)
Tule on top of Mt. Ashland. Trask and I sure miss seeing his sister since she moved to Ashland.

Brownstone CNK Century Wind (Ullr)
Ullr as a comforter for a sick family member.

Skiing at Willamette Pass Ski Resort. I am not quite sure if he rode the lift or ran up the slope. McKenzie, Willy, Cedar, Koyuk and Tule have all ridden up the lift. Since Tule moved away, Ullr is now the official Ski Patrol Chinook.

When Ullr stayed with me over the holidays, he became enamored with the TV. His family did not own one so I recycled a spare we had for Dave. As you can see from this picture, he remains fixated while the rest of the family, unused to TV, has their attention elsewhere. 

Team Nookies
I would be remiss to not swivel my chair and include the household pack in my office. They are patiently awaiting a grooming session. Because of a non-winter this year, even Jake the cat is blowing his coat months early.

Koyuk and Cedar on the dog couch.

 Cedar, Koyuk on the couch. Trask and Jake on the dog bed.

 Trask and Jake.

Bluebird Day

I have only skied one day in the past three years. My plan had been to spend the day on the bunny slope to feel comfortable on my skis again and test my injured hips. Next month Dave will be honored with a "Last Call". I wanted to see if I would have the ability to ski beside the empty sled. Yesterday I skied with two extraordinary women: Nancy and Mindy. Nancy drove me to the mountain. She has been a ski school instructor and friend of over 40 years. She was my prime personal supporter during Dave's last months and has been since his death. Mindy is the director of the Pro-Ski Patrol. I first met 14 year old Mindy when her aunt asked if she could join the Jr. Ski Patrol Dave and I had started. Mindy thrived in the program; went on to college; graduated with honors and; came back to Eugene where, until she married, lived in our cabooses while pursuing a dream of a medical career and ski patrolling. She now also works in the ER where she eased the way for Dave during his many visits. I was surrounded by love. I got hugs from several people I haven't seen in a long time, including the owner of the ski area. I had caring (conspiring) escorts ahead and behind me on ever run.

The lift to the top of the mountain is just outside the Patrol Room door and presented itself as much easier to jump on than the long walk to the lower mountain lifts. So up we went bypassing the bunny hill. The groomers were busily preparing the steepest runs for the weekend. Skiing with patrol director Mindy, we "had" to open all the freshly groomed black diamond runs, on a sunny day, with no one around. It was my Destiny. 

Without heavy, wet snow and moguls, the runs were exhilarating. My IT muscles need strengthening and cause of several inflamed bursa. Skiing was a breeze until near the end of the day when my tired quads had to lift a ski. By the end of the day I was catching edges and kissing the snow.

Nancy

 Mindy

Mindy had arranged for a gourmet, BBQ lunch to be cooked and enjoyed at the top of the mountain. A special treat in an unmatched setting.

Yesterday was a tough day because that ski area probably wouldn't exist but for Dave's efforts. When I was in the patrol room, there were still 3 old pictures of Dave and I on the wall. I knew it would be both physically and emotionally difficult being there again but with the support of these two amazing friends, I succeeded and really felt positive.

I have always thought of myself as a very strong, independent woman but loosing Dave has been humbling. I have never been one to cultivate friends. Dave was my friend. One of the reasons our marriage worked for days short of 41 years was that we each had our own activities that we were passionate about then came home and shared each other's joy. We were so different in so many ways but celebrated and supported that difference. (The ski patrol was one thing we shared jointly, though he seldom skied instead managed it and I was but a patroller and wife). Now I am finding myself second guessing and looking for him to be there to embrace the rehashing of life's experiences.

I really did not expect to ski again, especially at Willamette Pass. I am stoked. For the first time I really feel like I can move forward independently and lean on friends.