Monday, March 31, 2008
What Happened in March?
Between March first and thirty first, the snow melted off the driveway. And that's about the extent of it. The garden beds have over a foot of snow covering them still. Bah. Humbug. April had better warm up a little. Or else.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Friday, March 28, 2008
Friday
Minus 17 degrees in the morning is seeming a little chilly for the time of year. True, it's clear and going to be a beautiful day, but, Jeez Louise, it's almost April.
Mike was heading from Delta to Edmonton yesterday, and due to all the snow on the Coquihalla he took the Fraser Canyon route instead. Cody and I drove (well, I did the driving) down to Cache Creek and met him for dinner! We spent a lovely hour together having a slightly less than gourmet meal at the restaurant at the Husky, and then we parted ways for a week. At the end of April, I'll be going truckin' with Mike for three weeks to who knows where. That will also mark the beginning of Cody's new career as a trucking buddy.
Mike was heading from Delta to Edmonton yesterday, and due to all the snow on the Coquihalla he took the Fraser Canyon route instead. Cody and I drove (well, I did the driving) down to Cache Creek and met him for dinner! We spent a lovely hour together having a slightly less than gourmet meal at the restaurant at the Husky, and then we parted ways for a week. At the end of April, I'll be going truckin' with Mike for three weeks to who knows where. That will also mark the beginning of Cody's new career as a trucking buddy.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Poor Rupert!
When I went out to feed the boys their evening hay, I found Rupert in his usual "feed me, it's dinnertime" spot, but instead of standing there looking starved and expectant, he was laying upside down, cast up against the fence. He was looking terribly unhappy - wildeyed and slightly sweaty, and was totally unable to roll back over to get himself up. Luckily for both of us, he was on some poop covered ice (there are some things not very pretty about the Cariboo in March), and after putting his halter on, I was able to drag/pivot him around and help him onto his chest. He immediately hoisted himself up, looked slightly embarrassed, and momentarily seemed quite grateful for my assistance. He quickly regained his composure, and tucked into his hay like absolutely nothing had happened.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Easter Sunday
Silly me...on closer inspection of the jumble of USB cables connected at any given time to the PC, it seems the slightly evil, but extraordinarily cute Cody chewed the cable for the programmable tv remote control, rather than the one for the camera...so we're back in business with photos.
Buck and Rupert enjoying the sun, but trying to screen themselves from the wind.
Jasper
A dead aspen; note the woodpecker holes all over it.
Couldn't keep Cody still long enough to get a decent photo...maybe tomorrow.
Buck and Rupert enjoying the sun, but trying to screen themselves from the wind.
Jasper
A dead aspen; note the woodpecker holes all over it.
Couldn't keep Cody still long enough to get a decent photo...maybe tomorrow.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Spring Cleaning & House Training
On a scale of 1-10, my love for housekeeping sits somewhere around negative 6. But clean I must, and today I tackled the top of the kitchen cupboards for, um, the first time ever. Let's just say it wasn't a pretty sight. However, it's all done, and I've put paper towelling up top, so next time, it'll just be a quick paper change instead of major elbow grease.
It's a gorgeous sunny day, and very windy. A good wind helps decrease snow volume!
I have the kitchen timer set for hourly, to remind me to take Cody out on the leash to pee. The vet doesn't think there's much chance of a UTI, he thinks Cody is a busy little sh*t who has other things on his mind than where and when he should pee. I bought him a wire crate on Thursday to help matters, and he spent last night in there. We had a spot free night, and he did well when I took him out. If he just goes running out with the other dogs, he doesn't remember to pee. After they'd all been out for 20 minutes this morning, he came in and whizzed just inside the door. Anyway other than that, so far so good today. His neuter is booked for April 14.
Happy Easter, all!
It's a gorgeous sunny day, and very windy. A good wind helps decrease snow volume!
I have the kitchen timer set for hourly, to remind me to take Cody out on the leash to pee. The vet doesn't think there's much chance of a UTI, he thinks Cody is a busy little sh*t who has other things on his mind than where and when he should pee. I bought him a wire crate on Thursday to help matters, and he spent last night in there. We had a spot free night, and he did well when I took him out. If he just goes running out with the other dogs, he doesn't remember to pee. After they'd all been out for 20 minutes this morning, he came in and whizzed just inside the door. Anyway other than that, so far so good today. His neuter is booked for April 14.
Happy Easter, all!
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
What did you see on your way to work this morning?
I was lucky enough to see a lovely cow moose idly browsing on willow branches!
We're alive and well, and there's very little going on in the great white north. (Insert repetetive whining about the snow here) The snow seems to be receding locally in all areas except ours...and I'm getting seriously fed up with its stubborn refusal to yield to more spring-like conditions. This time last year, the dogs and I were wandering all over the property, this year we're pretty much confined to the immediate area around the house and driveway. I knew that damned groundhog was going to be wrong this year!
My mom and dad came up for a quick weekend visit, and I think they were a little surprised by how wintery things still are here. Today is my dad's birthday...Many Happy Returns & lots of love!
Cody is well...teething and chewing and full of mischief. He and Lucy are off to see the vet on Thursday; Cody for shots, deworming and a general once over (it's possible that he may have a UTI, based on the fact that he'll go outside & pee, and then come in and pee inside three more times in the next hour), and Lucy for a renewal of her meds for her hips and other arthritic joints.
And now to light the fire, fill up the woodstove, and head to the nest to finish the latest Dick Francis novel.
We're alive and well, and there's very little going on in the great white north. (Insert repetetive whining about the snow here) The snow seems to be receding locally in all areas except ours...and I'm getting seriously fed up with its stubborn refusal to yield to more spring-like conditions. This time last year, the dogs and I were wandering all over the property, this year we're pretty much confined to the immediate area around the house and driveway. I knew that damned groundhog was going to be wrong this year!
My mom and dad came up for a quick weekend visit, and I think they were a little surprised by how wintery things still are here. Today is my dad's birthday...Many Happy Returns & lots of love!
Cody is well...teething and chewing and full of mischief. He and Lucy are off to see the vet on Thursday; Cody for shots, deworming and a general once over (it's possible that he may have a UTI, based on the fact that he'll go outside & pee, and then come in and pee inside three more times in the next hour), and Lucy for a renewal of her meds for her hips and other arthritic joints.
And now to light the fire, fill up the woodstove, and head to the nest to finish the latest Dick Francis novel.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
A Secret Admirer
Some trucker in Iowa has been logging onto the blog today. Hi sweetheart! Miss you! xoxox
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
A Lovely Day
The sun is shining, and I'm of a much sunnier disposition today. I'm not even too aggreived with Cody Amos, who chewed through the cable that downloads images from my camera. No photos for a while though! I'm not sure if the webcam survived his assault or not.
I've been entertaining myself making little drainage ditches in the driveway this afternoon, and by removing tons of hair from Buck with the shedding blade. He thoroughly enjoys it, and doesn't need to be tied to be groomed. Rupert won't start shedding for another couple of months. For some reason donkeys hold onto their winter coats longer...must have something to do with their meditteranean background.
Next week and the week after are four day work weeks! That is good news for many people!
I've been entertaining myself making little drainage ditches in the driveway this afternoon, and by removing tons of hair from Buck with the shedding blade. He thoroughly enjoys it, and doesn't need to be tied to be groomed. Rupert won't start shedding for another couple of months. For some reason donkeys hold onto their winter coats longer...must have something to do with their meditteranean background.
Next week and the week after are four day work weeks! That is good news for many people!
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Enough!
I've had enough of grey, cold bleakness. I have. In our neck of the woods, this is the very yuckiest time of the year. There are little teasing hints of Spring here and there, but it won't arrive till late April/early May. The snow here is melting at a snail's pace, and that which has melted is sitting on the ground creating mud. That's sixteen muddy paws worth of stuff getting tracked inside.
Where the sun (which we haven't seen much of recently) doesn't get to, there's lots of treacherous ice. I almost fell about 10 times this afternoon. Currently I can't get to the hayshed without risking life and limb. My parents are coming up for a quick visit on the weekend, and I'm trying to clear enough ice so they don't break their necks. For some reason the tractor won't start, so I'm left with a pick and shovel. If I were short, I could be the eighth dwarf. And I'd need a new name...apparently Grumpy is already taken.
Where the sun (which we haven't seen much of recently) doesn't get to, there's lots of treacherous ice. I almost fell about 10 times this afternoon. Currently I can't get to the hayshed without risking life and limb. My parents are coming up for a quick visit on the weekend, and I'm trying to clear enough ice so they don't break their necks. For some reason the tractor won't start, so I'm left with a pick and shovel. If I were short, I could be the eighth dwarf. And I'd need a new name...apparently Grumpy is already taken.
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Sunday Summary
I had a psychological sleep-in this morning...not a real one, but as the clocks went forward last night, but it was nice to wake up to 7 a.m. rather than 6.
We had a little snow first thing, but I went into town anyway to stock up on fresh veggies & fruit. Cody came with me and slept all the way there and all the way home. There is very little snow left in town...they've been loading it into dump trucks and hauling it away!
I coaxed the first stump pile of the season to burn this afternoon (just a very small one!). We're going to have to take more dead pines down this spring, so burning will continue through at least 2008. Our area has been absolutely devastated by the mountain pine beetle. From Clinton to about 130 Mile, there seem to be more dead conifers than alive. The highway 97 corridor from Williams Lake to Prince George is mostly spruce and fir, so things don't look so bad up that way. I have no idea what it's like north of PG. Luckily this winter hasn't been very windy, or we would have had many power outages from falling pines. They will eventually come down, one way or another. I worry about the lot across the street. It's almost entirely beetle-killed pine, and the owners haven't done anything about taking the dead trees down. They're a big fire risk. The property is for sale, so perhaps the new owners will log it.
The wooded areas have lost enough snow to make it pretty easy to get around on foot. I did a test step into the untouched snow in front of the greenhouse, and it's still knee deep (and I have long legs). This is the slowest the snow has retreated since we moved here. I think I'm going to have to make a trip south to see some green things soon. There is a little kinnick-kinnick showing itself in the woods. The willow buds are beginning to swell. The first Canada geese flew overhead this afternoon. I've seen them up by the 108, but not yet here. We're higher and colder, and the birds pass right on by us initially in the spring. I feel a little sorry for the geese at this time of year; there isn't much for them to forage on.
The dogs all played and played outside today, and have all passed out on their various beds. And I think I'll be heading to mine quite soon.
We had a little snow first thing, but I went into town anyway to stock up on fresh veggies & fruit. Cody came with me and slept all the way there and all the way home. There is very little snow left in town...they've been loading it into dump trucks and hauling it away!
I coaxed the first stump pile of the season to burn this afternoon (just a very small one!). We're going to have to take more dead pines down this spring, so burning will continue through at least 2008. Our area has been absolutely devastated by the mountain pine beetle. From Clinton to about 130 Mile, there seem to be more dead conifers than alive. The highway 97 corridor from Williams Lake to Prince George is mostly spruce and fir, so things don't look so bad up that way. I have no idea what it's like north of PG. Luckily this winter hasn't been very windy, or we would have had many power outages from falling pines. They will eventually come down, one way or another. I worry about the lot across the street. It's almost entirely beetle-killed pine, and the owners haven't done anything about taking the dead trees down. They're a big fire risk. The property is for sale, so perhaps the new owners will log it.
The wooded areas have lost enough snow to make it pretty easy to get around on foot. I did a test step into the untouched snow in front of the greenhouse, and it's still knee deep (and I have long legs). This is the slowest the snow has retreated since we moved here. I think I'm going to have to make a trip south to see some green things soon. There is a little kinnick-kinnick showing itself in the woods. The willow buds are beginning to swell. The first Canada geese flew overhead this afternoon. I've seen them up by the 108, but not yet here. We're higher and colder, and the birds pass right on by us initially in the spring. I feel a little sorry for the geese at this time of year; there isn't much for them to forage on.
The dogs all played and played outside today, and have all passed out on their various beds. And I think I'll be heading to mine quite soon.
Friday, March 07, 2008
Catching Up
Right...so where did we leave off? Ah, yes, last Saturday. A very good thing we went to Prince George when we did...they got over a foot of snow the next night. Sunday was another travelling day...we went to Kamloops and got Mike a laptop for the truck, so now he can be connected just about everywhere. All the truck stops now have WiFi.
As we came up the hill out of Clinton on the way home from Kamloops, we met a snow storm which left us with about 6" of new snow overnight, and it promptly buried the bird bath which emerged last week. Another 4" of snow Monday, and we were back to as much accumulation as we've had all winter. Two good melting weeks all for nothing. This afternoon was as warm as we've had it all year, though, and after work I spent some time making little drainage canals in the driveway to drain away the melt water.
Our newest family member Cody is full of life, and as Yvette said, has a very big presence. He's a little big dog. I've been a life long avoider of little dogs, preferring the bigger specimens of the species, but he's quite captured our hearts. His house training is coming along, and we're encountering fewer puddles this week. Jasper is a little jealous of him, but Lucy has been very tolerant, and plays quite gently with him (he's not so gentle with her). I think with her sore hips she's quite happy not to be roughhousing too much. Gillis is pretty much ignoring him. He'll go on his first long haul with Mike at the end of April. (Cody was someone's Christmas present...they decided he belonged outside and banished him to -30 temperatures. Luckily for him, he was rescued by Turtle Gardens!)
All else is well here. Only -5 this morning, about 10 degrees warmer than we've had for the last two mornings. We were all up at 4 a.m. to see Mike off on his latest journey, so it's going to be an early night, I think.
Cody with Jasper
As we came up the hill out of Clinton on the way home from Kamloops, we met a snow storm which left us with about 6" of new snow overnight, and it promptly buried the bird bath which emerged last week. Another 4" of snow Monday, and we were back to as much accumulation as we've had all winter. Two good melting weeks all for nothing. This afternoon was as warm as we've had it all year, though, and after work I spent some time making little drainage canals in the driveway to drain away the melt water.
Our newest family member Cody is full of life, and as Yvette said, has a very big presence. He's a little big dog. I've been a life long avoider of little dogs, preferring the bigger specimens of the species, but he's quite captured our hearts. His house training is coming along, and we're encountering fewer puddles this week. Jasper is a little jealous of him, but Lucy has been very tolerant, and plays quite gently with him (he's not so gentle with her). I think with her sore hips she's quite happy not to be roughhousing too much. Gillis is pretty much ignoring him. He'll go on his first long haul with Mike at the end of April. (Cody was someone's Christmas present...they decided he belonged outside and banished him to -30 temperatures. Luckily for him, he was rescued by Turtle Gardens!)
All else is well here. Only -5 this morning, about 10 degrees warmer than we've had for the last two mornings. We were all up at 4 a.m. to see Mike off on his latest journey, so it's going to be an early night, I think.
Cody with Jasper
Saturday, March 01, 2008
And His Name Is...
Cody! (His middle name is Amos). After meeting him and finding out what a curious, busy little livewire he is, we decided he needed a lively upbeat name. Amos seems a first name for someone more placid. Anyway...Cody Amos had his first ride in the big truck today; we delivered a huge motor to Finning in Prince George. The motion of the truck had a very soporific effect on him, and he snoozed most of the way there and most of the way back, except for pee breaks. He is a very good traveller!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)