A Slushy Mess but a Nice Day

A rainy/sleety/slushy/messy day. And although we had a period of snow this afternoon, the precipitation didn't add too much to the mess that's on the ground. However, it's to go down to the teens tonight and the wind is picking up. That means the stuff on the ground freezes...UGH  The good news is that Monday should be in the 50s so the frozen stuff will melt.
There is a rather large puddle at the bottom of the front porch steps. It was just a bunch of snow but yesterday the area turned to water. Now Honey has enjoyed the snow, danced in it, sniffed it with her nose that then holds the flakes, jumped and sat in it. But she does NOT like this puddle. I took her out. She sat at the top of the steps – no, Mom, I don't want to go down. I could hear her saying this. Well, down we went and she, the wuss, went into the bush on the side of the walkway to not get her little toes wet! Then off she went to cavort in the snow and really, got wet all over. On the way back in, same route – around the puddle and up the stairs. Smart dog!
We had plans for dinner. However, that plan didn't work. So, at 5:30 we were without a plan for eating. Now I spent the afternoon going through my typed recipes and making sure all of them were saved to a flash drive in Word 07. I also printed any out that were still hand written in my file. So you could say we were recipe focused. However, at 5:30 there was a limit to choices. So, in the oven is Barber chicken (broccoli, cheese and ham). I love Barber chicken!!! B is not so liking them but given several choices, he is OK with this. I also have a small pot pie size cherry pie in the oven and conveniently it needs the same temperature. Add a salad and there is our meal.
I have to add that Honey just jumped up on the sofa and is laying beside me. She did try to nibble on the laptop..guess it didn't taste too good as she is now asleep with her head against my leg but not on my lap as that is where the lap top is. Such a good girl!!!

Well, it's warm inside!

Another cold morning! It's 11 AM and the temperature is up to 31. Quite a lot of snow melted during the brief warm spell. The roof is just about clear thanks to the warm temperatures and the sun! The slope across from the front door, a favorite potty stop, is quite icy. So we now go to the back of the houseby the septic mound where there are bare patches and flatter land. She is so interested in the acorns, twigs and branches she finds. Yesterday, with the wind blowing, she spent enjoyable time chasing the dancing leaves. She even managed to get one or two. Honey then brings these prize treasures back in the house. I then remove them when I give her a treat. I swear we could start a nice fire with all the twigs and such she has brought in.

This morning she was under the table as we ate breakfast. Then she stretched. This is Honey relaxed... such a cutie!!!

Yesterday she was playing with her newest favorite toy. After covering the sofa with a fitted sheet, we have allowed her to get up. In the evening, she often sits next to me with her head on my lap. In this picture she was really enjoying this toy (that you can just about see by her mout)h and the sofa was one "stop" on her play time.

It was warm today!!

It was above freezing this morning when we went out at 6:10. You could just feel the difference. Right now at 2 PM it is 48 out. The wind has started to gust and there is water dripping off the roof. It's overcast and we are expecting show showers. However, it's to then warm up again by Wednesday and stay warm. B got the VW out of it's spot - between the snow blower and the melting he was able to move it.

Yesterday I took pictures of Honey while she was eating a treat and she relaxed and fell asleep in the middle of eating. That's unusual...nothing gets in the way of our girl and her food. You can also see how big she is getting!

She opened her eyes when I got down to take a picture

And then closed them. The treat - a rawhide bone, is between her front paws.

The sun is out!!

Sun out... so even though it's cold we aren't complaining.

Honey was busy yesterday...snuck up on the chair where she is NOT supposed to be!

OOPS....better get down

I love this treat

A Beautiful Morning

Snow again...and it was quite lovely. Honey and I went out for a walk around 5:30 and the snow was falling softly - big flakes. With the lights on it was beautiful! I went out around 6:45 with the camera to take some pictures.

It was still snowing

From the front deck to the woods - and it's snowing!

I was back up the hill on the side of the driveway. Still early in the morning but the big flakes had stopped

I'm not Ree Drummond!

I was just reading blogs today. There are a lot of them out there on a lot of topics. Some are religious, many are family oriented and are often about younger children and their antics. And then there are the food blogs. I post recipes on occasion and I had thought (briefly) about doing this as a food blog. What I find interesting is that many of the blogs I read have adopted the breezy style of Ree. Now Ree Drummond is the author of the cookbook PioneerWoman's Cooks. She has been blogging for a while and I just recently became aware of her blog. It's quite good and not only has great recipes but interesting and well written posts on her life on a cattle ranch. She also takes great photographs of her family and real life on the ranch. To check out her blog it's at http://thepioneerwoman.com/ As I read other food blogs today, I noticed that many of them were attempting that same breezy style. Maybe it's part of food blog 101 but the similarity hit me. More often than not, their attempt does not make it - the breezy "cute" comments sound forced and don't fit. Just give the recipe...don't try to be cute or copy someone else. Back to Ree, she has just published another book about how she met her husband - she is one busy lady!
   Other than my blog reading, it was an uneventful day. We had blueberry pancakes for breakfast that were quite good! A mix and fresh blueberries. We had used Mrs. Butterworth's syrup a bit ago on pancakes and I found it too thick. So today we tried Log Cabin which was, we both felt, better. However, the best is real maple syrup which will be on the table for our next pancake or waffle meal. Tonight we are having tacos a quick and easy meal. B got some nice tomatoes the other day so we will have them along with the chips, onions, lettuce, cheese and taco meat sauce. YUM  See not cute or breezy :)
   It's cloudy but the temperature got up to the upper 30s/low 40s and some of this messy snow/ice melted. Cold temperatures this week starting tonight but no snow in the forecast for the week - at least not yet!
 

Are These Birds Turkeys???

Yesterday I was home with Honey while B was out doing something. I looked out the kitchen window and saw what appeared to be a turkey jump over the wall off the back driveway and head down to the little stream at the side of the house. I had heard noises up on the roof right before this sighting and thought it might be ice falling...but perhaps it was these birds. I quickly grabbed my camera and took two pictures. From the back with their wings all folded up, I'm not sure what they are. I think turkey...do you know??? Then when B was walking Honey today he noticed three toed prints in the snow leading to the back...and the picture shows birds with three toes. So, anyone able to help??? You can comment here or email me... Thanks!!!!

A warmer day

Yesterday's rain helped to start the melting of the snow. Today it's "warm" in the mid 30s and the melting is continuing. We are due for a cold blast tomorrow and snow is expected several times this week. Quite frankly, we are sick of the snow!! All three of us slip and slide!

Honey was on solid ice while B was on the plowed driveway

Wheeeeeee!!!!

I'm tired....

The Sun is Out!!

Yesterday's snow gave way to sun this morning. We even made it out to breakfast!! The sleet we got yesterday gave the snow a crust. Then the snow is deep on both sides of the driveway due to the snow blowing B has done. It makes walking difficult for all of us. Honey is able to stay on top of some of the snow as she isn't as heavy as we are. But the snow is icy and it's hard for her to stay put to pee. We are sinking as we walk - sometimes up to our knees. When I took her out this morning around 5:30 I could feel myself tip...so I just relaxed and fell soft. The problem was getting up as she was all over me licking and checking. And I was laughing and did get up. No problem except for wet feet as snow got down my boots (no socks)

Yesterday I took some pictures in the afternoon and they are below. B got out the smaller snow blower and gave it a work out. We got it primarily because the large one is too large for me. This is more my size and if, for some reason, B can't get out I can clean the driveway. So he got it out for a test run. And Honey was by the slider in the living room watching him. Very intently and as he walked up and down the drive she turned her head. She was glad when he came back in.

Our sweet girl who was watching B

And then turned to take a look at me

The new smaller snow blower. This has no lights or gears. Just start and go. More my speed (yea, it's B not me that is out there)

More Snow!!!

Starting last night, it snowed off and on all day. At times the flakes were big and fat and then would change to small and almost invisible. We got several inches. 

B went out to snow blow after lunch and I cleaned off the SUV which by then had more snow than the above picture shows. We have not gone out to get the mail and with the next storm to bring ice, we may not get out tomorrow.

Lots of snow. YEA, B!!!

While some just relax and sleep!!!