One year ends...another begins...

From snow deep enough this past week that we couldn't get into the fields without snowshoes, we've gone to above freeing temperatures and rain! Our trails are lost once again, and who knows, by tomorrow, we may have bare areas.
A number of deer were at the back of the house this morning; wolves were heard in the early hours, so perhaps they were seeking refuge. Getting through the heavy deep snow that remains is difficult.
This picture of Blast in the snow was from yesterday, before the change in weather. So pretty.
So, we say goodbye to 2010 with mixed feelings, some joys, some sorrows, and look forward to a new year and some hopeful expectations.

Best Wishes to everyone for the New Year. I never make any resolutions, but hope for health, happiness, and inner peace and contentment for everyone, however many legs they have!

If we all could enjoy life as Blast does, wouldn't the world be a better place....

A New Water-Wubba!

Today we met some old friends for lunch and Auntie Barb brought a Green Water Wubba for the "kids". Barb had Tank in mind as it was meant for "water", but I knew it would be a great toy for Blast and Tank to play with together....and it is!
We went for a walk down the driveway and I tossed this and WOW what a response...they were both after it in a flash. Tank pretends not to be interested in he can't get it from Blast, and starts to dig in the snow...then Blast thinks he missing something and comes to investigate...if Tank is lucky, Blast drops the toy on his way, and Tank rushes in.

Foiled this time, Blast rushed back and grabbed it while Tank ended up head first in the snow having missed his rush. Comical characters, they are.

They had a great time, very worn out by the time we got back, which of course, was the plan!

There's something about Trust...

Trust has always been the dog everyone gravitates towards. The cat that hated us and everyone and everything else....loved Trust. She would sit beside her and rub against her. The foster puppy that we worried about "protecting" her from Trust....immediately went to her, and sat beside her. Trust just leaned over and licked her. When Tank arrived as an 8 wk. old puppy, it was love at first sight...for both of them. We have so many wonderful pictures, they hugged, they licked, they rolled together, slept side by side. She's always been so "motherly" and tolerant. She's even had a baby mouse between her front legs, carefully watching it.
Then along came Blast! Now, there's only sooo much one can put up with. He tries, and tries and tries, as he just loves her. He's just too rambunctious and pushy. She tolerates him up to a point and then just 'puts him down', albeit 'gently' with (what we call) her UGLY face. So funny.
He immediately respects her, but he just doesn't give up. This afternoon, I let them have some time together, just them. She just wanted to lie where she was, and he kept at her. What she hates is how he pushes at her with his feet and legs.

So, it was going pretty good if he kept a little more calm than normal, and let her lick him instead of him constantly trying to lick and roll around for her.

Body language says it all. He's trying soooo hard to win her over, giving her a short reprieve, turns to me and yawns. She looks comfortable right now.

But, he can't contain himself, springs up and starts licking furiously at her face and here's the result. The UGLY face!!! And what an ugly face it is. She snarled and he ran off to find poor Tank to bug.

Love these snowshoes!

For years we used to struggle with the old style snowshoes, actually the worst part was the bindings...they just never stayed on, and it was frustrating. Two years ago, I got a "newer" style, and last year, David got the same type. You can actually RUN in these! They are so secure and being a narrower shape, are really easy to walk in. Love them.
Today, we've begun to open up some of the trails so we can continue to walk all winter. It's been SOOOOO frustrating having only the driveway to walk the dogs in the last two weeks. In most places the snow is over my knees. So off we went today. David actually went out earlier on one trail to see how it went, and going over it a second time today was a breeze.

What's really nice is to have the snow pack down and when it goes through a couple of freezes, it will become hard enough (to walk on) for the dogs. The forest is just covered with deer tracks right now, and they go down well over a foot - very hard for them to get around. Oh...that's me above.

David thinks he will wait for me to knock snow down on my head using his pole..ha.ha.ha. As if I don't know that trick!

A little clear spot back in the woods where we often see signs of deer bedding down in the winter. It's a good place to pause and watch and listen. Moose are often out behind this spot.

We're headed back towards the house now, and this was such an enjoyable walk....out of the wind, (windchill ws -20) and it didn't even feel cold. We are hoping to get out every day at least once while David has some time off, and keep stomping down this trail and we will work on a couple of others. I'd like the front field to have a couple of trails also, but being open, usually they get drifted in pretty quickly.

It just couldn't have been more beautiful out here today.

Now Three Pine Grosbeaks

I was so happy today to see two more male pine grosbeaks have shown up to keep the first guy company. I have great hopes that we will once again, end up with a nice little flock of them for the winter. Their beautiful red colour against the white snow, and mixed in with the gold coloured evening grosbeaks and bluejays is a winter treat.

This is a little redpoll joining them. The grosbeaks are almost entirely ground feeders while the redpolls - now a flock of over 20 - usually attack the nyger feeder, but also will eat seed on the ground.

Christmas Day Dog Walk

For as long as I can remember, we've looked forward to our dog walks on Christmas Day. Most people may not understand how this was so important, but it has become a cherished tradition for us. It doesn't seem terribly long ago, these walks involved 8 to 9 dogs. They were wonderful long walks through the field and forest. But time changes everything. Although we still have five dogs, two (Jess and Storm) are not able to come along with us. I've been very sad about this, but glad they are still with us this Christmas. They've been out a lot for short periods, with us around the house, Jess still rolling in snow, but both feel the cold more now and are anxious to go back inside. If we aren't fast enough, Storm stands and barks at the door.
So here we are, three dogs heading down the driveway; the other unfortunate circumstance is the deep snow wiping out our normal trails. So, we ended up going on two Christmas Day Dog Walks and playing a lot with the "bestest" toy involving more than one dog. Even Trust got involved, not one to play much with toys.

We all had a good time, lots and lots of running and chasing and pulling. At any time that it became a bit too frantic, I would call them back for a cookie - special ones that Santa brought - and off they'd go again. Obviously, we are near the end of the walk, or Blast would not have flung himself down acting the fool for Trust....and there's no way Tank is letting go of his end!

It was a good day, and the old memories are bittersweet, never to be forgotten. Today, like all the others, was special.