The Times are A-Changin'

Here in the midwest we enjoyed Spring on Saturday. By Sunday it was colder and overcast but Easter was a brilliant day, for all the right reasons - faith! Here we are on Tuesday with the temperatures rising and it seems as if I'm destined to get outside and start the seasonal yard work. The dogs have all been out for HOURS rather than MINUTES and that's a great sign. Not only do they get more exercise, they are getting groomed longer, and are toning up their muscles as they romp, they sleep splendidly each night. It was 6:45 a.m. when we arose this morning, a far cry from the usual 5 or 5:15 a.m. I probably look better too :-)

Still, how about some snaps of what was hiding under the snow which graced us with its presence a week ago yesterday?

 This one is a Lenten Rose and I wasn't sure it would be blooming in time since Easter was early this year. It came through though!

This is everyone's spring favorite, the mighty crocus. We have very few of them left as I think the critters dig under and eat the bulbs. Not our critters of course - the ones which live outside. When we see a blossom pop up we're delighted.

Both of these were spotted just a couple of days ago when I was outside shaking dog hair out of throw rugs that had been used to collect mush and mud being tracked in over the last week. Anyone relate to that? I'd write more but there are floors to scrub, dog treats to bake, and thanks to give!

P.S. Here's a shot of 2 of the 6 in residence. Photo was taken less than a week ago. Little White Dog (Harmony Victoria) is wearing her new "peace sign" tee shirt. Baxter Cyclone wants to make something of it. She apparently wants to keep the tee shirt on and to herself.

"Record Breaking Snow" Now Playing in Springfield, IL

You probably will agree it seems the weatherpersons cry "Wolf!" too often. (Oh, no a dog reference so early, who'd have thought? And, FYI, ye of little faith, scientists will tell us all that 99.9% of dogs' DNA matches that of wolves.) Back to the weather, not that it is any more exciting, usually. This week we learned the weather folks do/can get it right. Well, almost. This time they UNDER-estimated what we might get in terms of that springtime precip: S-N-O-W.

Yes, springtime is what I write and what I mean. Typically, or should it be traditionally, along about the time everyone puts up their shovels, drops off the winter coat at the cleaners, rolls up the wool sox and puts them in the back of the drawer, and maybe starts a collection for giving away those items now deemed "I'm not wearing this another year), THAT'S when we get the final snow for the early part of the year. Realize of course I state this at the end of a month which sometimes is followed by a month of surprises. Why, I remember, back in ('XX) the Ice Storm on April 1st. Beautiful sight but treacherous travel which made me thankful I had fireplace heat and electrical power and neighbors to come over and share the spirit(s).

It cannot go un-noted, this will be a year to remember. Therefore, voila', a creation has been sculpted to plant the vision in my memory so decades from now I will recall this time as easily as I do the Ice Storm.

This time it was snow. On one of my visits to the homestead of folks who'd gone skiing (the joke definitely was on them) I had the dogs out romping and running and took
an extra 10 minutes to see what I could build for the snow was
perfect for a construction project. For a first time effort, my
resting snow dog turned out "OK". Don't comment that you cannot see

it. I do not want to read that. Look again. two front legs, a head, one ear out "in the breeze" and one close to the head, a reclining body, one rear leg and a tail. Granted, if I have to go to that extent in defining it then maybe it's not all that great. Oh. Well.

Moving on, let me present two boundless pooches who took it all in stride.

These buddies could not get outside fast enough or play long enough. They rolled in the snow, laid flat in it and also managed to start to walk out onto the covered pool. Thankfully I put a stop to that for I was not certain what I'd do if they broke through, what with the weight of the snow also on top of the pool. They were good. I had it under control. We truly enjoyed being out in this, albeit three times a day. Breathing in the crisp and decidedly fresh air was tremendous. Temps never prevented our adventuring out.

Alas, it's all behind us now, turned to slush and mud. Hopefully this is just what the farmers want to kick off planting season. I'd hate to think it was nothing more than the opportunity to get all that gear out again, put it on time after time after time, and now wonder if it is OK to put it in storage.

Before I go, I want to share this photo of what I call MamaMazda and her baby. Maybe it's just my weird sense of humor influenced by the adjustment in the weather.Humor me. It was funny when I saw them, a big Mazda and a little one, same basic style, same color, side by side.
Give me a break!

Spring Sprung a Leak

Last night the state capitol received a delivery of 17" of snow. Who knew? The pre-snow reports suggested 4"-8", something more tolerable but un-Spring-like just the same. And, wouldn't you know it, we live in the country and the county E-W roads held up to their notorious reputations of being blown closed because there's nothing in the fields to stop the snow from being moved.

It happens to be spring break here. We're not seeing much spring and there's certainly no "break". Some fortunate folks skidaddled skeedattled out of  left town JIT. That's Just In Time, a term typically associated with inventory re-stocking but useful here. Those I am affiliated with left their pets in my care. Cats could probably handle a day alone. No one would be there to listen to their complaints but otherwise, it would be purrfect. But dogs? Leaving them alone for 24 hours - not an idea that will have a huge following. Right?

What this means is I am trekking out into the whiteness. Although I've been taking photos all along, this afternoon offered a window of clarity, over flurries, and I took advantage of it to snap a few shots. I had good company too! Certainly this little guy was thinking he arrived back in the neighborhood a bit too early. It looks a bit as if he is about to be covered with a flood of snow but such was not the case. He moved along and the snow stayed put.

  Turns out all the dogs truly feel released from all worries when they head out into the snow. Go figure.
It takes extra time to make certain
I enter homes or kennels without
traipsing in any snow or ice. So there's a lot of on again off again with outerwear. The dogs know I'm there, not only by scent (hey, not what you think) but also by sound of my clunking around in the entryways. It's not a surprise when I step in where they are relaxing and greet them. They are R.E.A.D.Y. to depart!

There are endless games to play in the snow, not to mention tasting it. No doubt the greatest game requires being able to and wanting to chase another critter through the deep drifts and then do a little rolling around in the snow. We'll never know if the dog thinks that by rolling in it and getting a little on his/her forehead or chest that none of the others will see him/her for awhile. Just another one of those topics that line up under the all-important question: I wonder what that dog is thinking?