Snow Day

We woke up this morning to a beautiful layer of thick snow covering everything.  I let the dogs out at 3:30am and realized there would be a good chance that this would be a snow day.

The first one in my life!  Woot!

Of course, snow days are meant to be played in, and while I bundled up and hurried through morning chores, our pups had no issues with the chill.

Zoomies!

Monty and Harlow are nicely equipped with thick fur coats - I'm pretty sure they don't feel the cold.  Ramble will run out in it, race once around the yard, and want  back in.  I can't blame him.  He doesn't always give me time to put a sweater on, so this morning our nekkid boy had to bravely face the elements.

Dis bad idea...  beep...

He even managed to race around with Harlow and Monty!

I always panic a bit when Monty races towards me.  He doesn't have good brakes....

Harlow and Monty found a new sport that they absolutely love - snow wrestling!  Which of course made them damp, and caused little snow balls to hang off of them - but they didn't care!

Harlow's "vicious" face...

Da Momma, help!

 Of course, the fun doesn't end outside.  Once the pups have decided they have had enough, they need to be towel dried and have hundreds of snow balls removed...

Da Harlow is worth it, da Momma!

Snow days....

Our pups are experiencing their first snow days here in Washington - or mainly just heavy frost days with one true snow day, but they don't know the difference!  BOL!  Ramble makes quick appearances outside to play, but it seems Monty and Harlow are embracing this new frosty wonderland we've moved to.

This is frost, not snow....

Super Harlow Take Down!

I think she's playing the innocent puppy here....

...and Monty fell for it!

It's okay - he gets his revenge!

She would later claim she slipped....

Harlow often accompanies me in the big pasture, mainly because her recall is pretty stellar.  Monty likes to harass the neighbors dogs, and we are pretty sure Ramble would freeze before he gets too far.

She was truly made for snow!

Seriously happy princess!

Ramble has an amazing supply of sweaters - thanks to the kind folks who rescued him and loved him first - and he comes out when he is properly suited up.

They keep busy out there!

She's after me, da Momma!

Monty - distracted by driftwood...  Sigh....

The pups have really enjoyed this change in weather!  While I'm waiting for it to warm up a bit, I think they are all hoping for more snow!

A cold day in heck...

New Year's Day started bright and sunny and full of snow...  Yes, you heard that right.  Snow, in Arizona.  In MY part of Arizona.  We've had snow in the past down this way, it usually melts before you have any kind of chance to enjoy it but I thought I'd give it a try. 

As you can imagine, we aren't prepared for this kind of thing to happen.  Here is Harlow waiting for me to figure out what to do with an amazingly frozen truck. 

Da Momma, can you hurry?  My toes are uncharacteristically cold...

Our first stop is to take care of the horses.  I took a quick photo of the Superstition Mountains from my Mom's drive.

Since the front side of the mountain was very much occupied by folks wanting to take photos of this unusual phenomenon, I decided to head for the First Water Trailhead and take a close up look at the snow from behind the mountain.

Something is seriously wrong out dere, da Momma.

It really was beautiful!  I've done a lot of riding and hiking out this way, and a dusting of snow really changes how the mountain and desert looks!

Harlow really wasn't sure what to make of the icy ground.  This was her first encounter with the white stuff. 

My toes, da Momma, are cold.

If this was a regular occurrence she'd be getting a nice set of boots, I think.  ...and her own jacket.  She is wearing the fleece I sewed Monty a few years back - it's too big on her.  I also wondered how the cold was feeling on her freshly healed toe. 

All in all, it was a beautiful start to the new year for us.  I hope everyone had an equally beautiful day!

Traveling, again...

I am at the Grand Canyon National Park this week for work, and I have to say, I love the canyon and think it is beautiful anyway, but the snow just makes it even more so!

I have never lived in any place that it snows (I just saw my first snowmobile!), so it is a little weird for me to walk outside and see this!

I wish I could have taken the boys with me - I would love to see Sam and Monty's reaction to the snow!  :D

The Camp(Pain) Spot

I was left speechless, if you'll pardon the expression coming from me.

And frankly, I couldn't believe it...of course I'd heard the stories, how as the "Maverick" he was the darling of the left wing media, (Ed. - removed some of the text 'cause re-reading this morning makes the post seem harsher than I actually intended. Sorry about that.) but until this happened, I thought it was just the usual political noise. So it pains me to share the following....

I'd gone to visit the Mom at her training camp earlier today in the Flagstaff area of our great state of Arizona, when:

Click on the photo series to see in full size the dishonor heaped upon my head by the usual suspects.

I just wanna say:

HEY!!! I couldn't believe it!
Hit somebody in the face with a
slushball. Let all that stuff go down in
their underwear.

And I didn't even care. I just sat right
down in the snow. I was so mad. And
it started to melt right thorough my four
pair of corduroys. And I didn't even
care. Because I know when I go home
the only thing my mom's gonna be talking
about:

"You, Sammy! How come you just sit
down in the snow and let it just melt
through your four pair of corduroys?"

"Yeah mom? Well what do you care?
That's all you care about, somebody
sitting down in the snow and letting it
melt through your four pair of
corduroys.

You don't care that Obama and McCain
hit me on the side of the face
with a slushball and let all the gunk go
down in my underwear because if you
did care you'd go out and get him!"

But I’m gonna get you both.
Come November 2010 and 2012,
you both better just watch out!

Paid for by the concerned citizens for inappropriate hi-jinks, Sam! for Senate, Committee.

With apologies to Bill Cosby, for ripping off his skit, and to John McCain, who I "admire" with all my heart...

To the Snow! (Maybe...)

As you all know, Sam and I are quite comfortable in our snow free environment.
(Please note this is a backyard shot - we let the grass die during the winter...)

However, we have enjoyed looking at all the pictures of our friends enjoying the snow! We've talked about bringing Sam and Cisco to play in it, but haven't made it that far north yet. After seeing the perfect snowflake land on Murphy's (Red Dog Romping) fur, Sam decided it was time to go play in the white stuff. Sam wanted to make sure he was prepared in case we decided to go. First, we had to make sure he would stay toasty...


Mom, are you sure this is warm enough?


Sam is still not convinced he wants to go. He has heard it can be wet, which sounds suspiciously like a bath to him. Plus, if he wears my jacket, what am I supposed to wear?