Bah Humbug Mother Nature!!

The winter banner above…that is a photo from January 3, 2009…nearly 3 years ago.

Unfortunately, it does NOT look like that today!

There was not much snow when I arrived home. What little there was melted. A day of flurries produced a scant inch of snow and most of that is gone…

And not much promising on the horizon… what gives, Mother Nature???

The good news is that with the warm temperatures and given my not quite 100% state of health…I was able to have Kim’s RV Detailing give Wild Thing a good rinse off. Additionally, WT is full of gas and propane, has been unloaded and winterized: clean and buttoned down awaiting need or adventure. For those who were not here or do not remember…the first winter in this house, I had a chimney fire (I neglected to have the chimney swept after I bought the house…a task that has NOT been forgotten since!). Thinking the house was about to go up in flames, I sat with Karl and Bob in a cold motorhome and contemplated whether I had made the correct choices for my homeowner’s insurance … whether I would have enough money for things like dish towells was my worry…seriously!! – as well as why I hadn’t thought to keep my “spare house” full of propane so I could run it’s furnace…. So, WT stays full of propane for heat and gas for the generator :)! AND, my insurance coverage will allow me to obtain an adequate supply of dish towells should the worst happen.

Meanwhile we pray for snow…

But nothing stops Bear! He is mostly always on the move looking for squirrels or deer or other invading varmints.

Bring it Mother Nature – we are ready!

Nap day

RVing is hard work…plus, it was -11F (-24C) yesterday morning…chilly!! Just like doing things in high heat, being outside in the very cold zaps energy. Bear did not seem bothered by the super cold except for his feet…we will try some booties or mushers wax when we get home.

Louie reputedly went out for a few seconds and then retired to the sofa with LB. LB…he is the blankie dog. That is his blanket on the sofa and he has another in the dining area that he likes to arrange just so. So funny, each habits and likes :)!

Smarty-pants heard the camera… (actually phone camera for these)

…which didn’t disturb him for long.

This is the first photo I’ve taken of Miss Dixie that has been in focus. At 10 months, she is high energy and usually on the move, but today, even she slowed down after a few outings in the super cold.

Mr. Barely sleeps downstairs until early afternoon so I missed getting his photo. And he is probably the one that enjoys the super cold most. He and Karl – I think both most comfortable with very cold temps :) .

Scenes from Monday

5:00 a.m. Making morning coffee and Cranberry Orange Walnut bread. It was too early for Bear :)!

We woke to about 6 inches of new snow. This photo is after I cleared the roof of Wild Thing. Can you spot Bear on the dash keeping an eye on things?

The aspens – their white bark, reddish brown branches – beautiful with the evergreens and snow. The road is lined with aspen groves and if the deer are standing quietly, they blend in and you can easily miss seeing them. It is like a Bev Doolittle painting come to life.

The new snow and the calendar put me in a Christmas mood. Saturday afternoon, Mama, Betty and I went to a local Christmas bazaar. I found the carved nativity ornament and the moose & sleigh salt and pepper…perfect for a bit of Christmas on the road. (The moose had a broken antler which Bill fixed for me!)

Miss Dixie Lee and LB after their afternoon walk. They run and chase and play and probably get 10 times the distance out of a walk. They always arrive back first and sit on the hill together…

…waiting for Mama and Barely.

All of us home today…snow to be cleared, work and chores to do. After a gorgeous and productive day we shared the best pizzas! Crust homemade by my Mama – she, Bill and I each topped a crust. Betty prepped. We all ate and enjoyed and debated which we liked best with no consensus reached…all were delicious.

It was a perfect start to the week :)!

Louie

Louie (Louis Armstrong Morgan)…my folks tuxedo cat. As all tuxedo cats I’ve known, Louie is a tough guy.

“Whaddya mean, what happened to my ear???”

Louie condescended, for a very short time, to be photographed.

“Are you done yet?”

“I am about ready to have that camera outta my face”.

“Do you really want to try another shot???”