Monday, February 3, 2014

winter interlude

Pssst! Are you looking for
and giveaway? It's right here!
~~~

We've had a little break recently: after weeks of bitter and paw-chilling cold, the past few days have been warm. Really warm: first in the teens then 20s then breaking 32F yesterday.

There has been much melting.


Piper and I took the opportunity on each warm day to spend some joyful time in the woods.

This is what it looked like the first day:


 And this is what it looked like yesterday:


There was still lots of ice and snow on the forest floor, but there were also many open patches, usually under hardwoods or along the woods road, where the sun had melted most of the snow. 

It was refreshing to see so much color again, and to smell the sun-warmed earth and the autumn-dried plants. A wonderful treat for the senses, especially since I knew more snow would probably be falling soon.
 



Since I didn't need to keep my mittens on (!!!) the camera never left my hand. More than once I spent several happy minutes in one spot, clicking and clicking away, without moving more than a couple of feet in any direction.

Piper finds such behavior baffling. She demonstrates this by eventually running full-tilt across my field of vision, only inches away from my body, and crashing through whatever plant or tiny landscape I am photographing.

And then looking back and giving me a huge happy grin.
Something like this:



Sometimes, I repay this hooliganism by asking Piper for a "Stand Stay" while I take her picture. Yesterday she stood on one of the big glacial erratics we visited many times last summer:


About 5 seconds of standing quietly...click, click, click...then I said, "Okay!" and she was off in one grand, blurry leap.
~~~
Now the cold is back, and falling snow is already covering the recently-exposed ground. Piper accompanied me on chores this morning, then headed straight back to her cozy bed. 

Makes me glad we seized the day(s)!
~~~~~

22 comments:

  1. I love the pics of Piper running! Such a cool and cute dog! Looks like she was having a blast! I bet it was sooo nice to get out after all those bitter cold storms. Very nice hat!

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  2. What a good job you took advantage of the thaw to take your walk. Loved your pics taken in the woods. I enjoyed walking in our woods when we still had our Labrador dogs.That's when I miss them the most, now I keep to the foot path.

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    1. Yes, that "warm" spell was really nice!
      In about 5 minutes I'll be suiting up for the snow again, to go out and put all the critters to bed. Well, not Piper...she's already in bed, and she shows NO sign of helping with evening chores ;)

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  3. how lovely to see Piper enjoying the snow. No snow here, just wet wet wet!

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    1. I hope you get some nicer weather soon, Kath! The pictures of flooding in the UK have been sobering. Can't imagine looking out the window and seeing fences halfway underwater! I suppose my goats and hens would be camping in the kitchen. Wow, what an image.

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  4. I love Piper's smile!! So adorable! We still haven't had any snow apart from one flurry last year which didn't settle - it feels very strange!

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    1. One flurry??? Goodness. Well, I hope before Spring (which I think must be coming up soon in your part of the world, isn't it?) you get enough snow to be fun and not enough to be a bother. :)

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  5. It's official I'd freeze my behind off if I lived where you are. It was 45 degrees when we went into town a little while ago and that was cold enough for me. Piper is a character. Shame on you for making him pose standing in the snow. Stay warm. Ronda

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    1. Hahaha! You should see Piper rolling in the snow! It makes me shiver to watch her do it.
      And Ronda, I am coming to visit soon. SERIOUSLY! :)

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  6. same here, Quinn. above freezing, heck, it was in the 50's on Saturday with sunshine...glorious! yesterday, rainy and overcast, today sleety, icy, cold. The dogs and I took a walk in the upper pasture and the horses rushed me, made me nervous...they have hay but they want Alfalfa...snobs! Piper is a beautiful companion.

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  7. Piper and my dog Cody would have a blast together! Cody loves running loose in the woods no matter what the weather. We've been holed up for a few weeks, and only just got out today (but only in town). I can almost smell the springy earth from your photos :) Not long now, any snow we get now will soon be gone ... right?! Wendy x

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    1. Piper and Cody would be a good pair! Piper loves to run with another dog, and now she has no doggy pals who can keep up with her.

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  8. What a great winter shots, opposite mine , that are very summery :)

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    1. I would love to walk barefoot on those sand dunes :)

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  9. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh - I miss the snow probably about as much as you guys wish you could get rid of it. Just a little bit here would make me happy - huge sigh! LOVE Piper - what a happy dog! Happy Tuesday, Quinn - always lovely here!

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    1. I agree, it is nice to have some snow, even a lot of snow, from time to time. The ice I could do without, though! ;)

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  10. Such days are meant to be seized. I feel sure Piper agrees.

    I would quite like some snow ... it would relieve the monotony of all this wind and rain!

    Gorgeous images ... I can almost smell those winter woods.

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    1. I hope you are not in one of the flood-prone areas, Annie! And I hope you get nicer weather soon.

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  11. Ice on the water, a gorgeous hat and a loyal doggie friend frolicking in the snow - beautiful Quinn!!

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  12. Piper is such a joyful girl! thanks so much for seizing the moment and giving us these great pix.

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