Hellooo, Mother Nature

My eyes widened with shock when I prepared to write a blog today. Has it really been a week since I last posted? 

Time, you've done it to me again. Slipped through my fingers like so many fine grains of sand. I can't seem to keep up.

My mom once told me that the older you get, the faster each day flies. Isn't that the truth? So I'll blame my neglectfulness on age. And memory (or lack thereof). But most of all there's the other stuff I wanted to do last week.

After all, the sun glowed. I left my jacket at home. A few buds appeared on trees. People put on shorts and jogged down the street.

But today everything has changed.

You can ignore my smug proclamation that we'll get an early spring. With a wink and a nod, Mother Nature let me know who's really in charge.

Holy catfish, Mom, I could have told you that!

Winter--Back Again?

Old Man Winter arrived during the night for what (I hope) is his last hurrah. We got 2-3 inches of wet heavy snow...the kind that comes down in flakes the size of quarters that plop to cover all surfaces below. The whole event also took the weatherman by surprise, given that only flurries were predicted. The resulting morning traffic tie-ups gave me plenty of time to contemplate things.

It's hard to believe we're only a few days from the official start of spring. Even harder to believe we could go to over 70 degrees on Thursday. For those who love variety in atmospheric conditions, consider a move to Missouri. It's the place you can safely bet that if you don't like the weather, all you need to do is just wait a minute.

Meanwhile, Bogey is up to his usual feline activities. Scratching whatever he can get his paws on, jumping on the keyboard, knocking over moveable objects and crawling into any empty box, no matter the size. For some reason, this shot kind of reminds me of the last time I tried on a swim suit.

But there's been no thoughts of swimsuits lately. I seem to have developed a terrible case of sluggishness. I can't move easily from one point to another. Even wearing my most comfortable robe, I'm so slow that nothing at all is getting accomplished. It's as though some sort of an anchor is holding me down, preventing me from making any progress. What in the world could be holding me back?

Oh, yeah. Now I remember.

Snow-megeddon?

The only way to walk safely today is slowly...with eyes firmly fixed on the ground.

We've got a glaze of ice, with quite possibly more to come. Once the sleet and freezing rain moves out, the weather wizards have warned us of snow that could range up to a foot or more. They're saying it may be a storm for the record books.

Needless to say, this dire news sent people racing to grocery and home supply stores. By Sunday night, the shelves in most places were Old-Mother-Hubbard-bare, as evidenced by photos that were posted on television and social network sites. Food, candles, batteries, generators, ice melting chemicals...anything related to cold weather disaster preparedness quickly left the building.

Today my office closed at noon. That's a rare event and goes to show just how seriously the predictions are being taken. Sprung early from the office, my colleagues and I scurried and skidded to our cars. I think we all felt a bit like kids who'd just seen their school posted on the Closed Due to Weather List. Even scraping ice off car windows didn't dampen anyone's spirits.

It's still not clear exactly how this will all play out. Could we have a true wintry disaster or just another storm in the ongoing saga of our lively winter weather pattern? The next 24 hours should tell the story.

At home things are feeling cozy and relaxed. I'm cooking, getting a few loads of laundry done, and tapping out some words on the computer.

Like Scarlett O'Hara, I'll worry about the weather tomorrow.

(Another) Snow Day

Mr. Frog gives his weather forecast: "Ninety-nine percent sure we have snow."

All the signs are there.

Yes, even the front yard has been hit by Old Man Winter.

So, being a good Doggie Mom, I troop outside in my winter boots and heavy robe, sweeping a path for Indy. After all, he's got very short legs. Snow would be mighty cold on his belly. I huff and puff, actually working up a sweat to make things easier for Indy. But that's okay. Nothing's too good for my little guy.

Finally, a path into the grass has been prepared. I put away the broom and allow him to put his dainty paws into the arctic area of the backyard. Here's what happens:

Seriously. I guess he prefers a cold belly.

This is the biggest snow we've had in quite some time, at least nine inches. Every school in the county is closed. You'd think my office would take a hint and do the same. Visions of staying in my robe all day while I write a snow-inspired masterpiece dance in my head.

But no such luck. We're opening at noon, so I better not get too comfortable. I'll be at work later today.

That is, if I can get out of my driveway!

A Contest and a Chilldown

Here's a quick heads and tails up for Critter Alley readers. Cathy C. Hall is running a contest at her blog, Cathy C's Hall of Fame.

Cathy is a Southern writer with sass, class, and a great sense of humor. If you register as one of her new followers, you're eligible to win a Barnes and Noble gift card. And who wouldn't love to have that?

Meanwhile back at the home front, my personal pet therapists have been successful. I'm feeling much better, thank you, despite the glacial conditions under which I'm working. My office is located in an enormous cinder block building that's heated and cooled by some techno geek located, I believe, somewhere in a far distant country. We've been told that the building's thermostat is definitely set at a comfortable 67 degrees.

All you have to do is walk through our office to realize somebody's thermometer has malfunctioned. Each worker is decked out in coat, muffler, hat, and gloves. (It's not easy to type with gloves, believe me). I even keep an afghan tucked around my ankles. It looks like we're working in a square igloo rather than a cubicle. I don't look for any improvement soon, because the weather is due to drop back into even more frigid temps.

One thing is for sure, dressing like Nanuck of the North definitely saves on wardrobe money. No one notices that I now wear long johns and battery operated socks rather than pantsuits and dress jackets. H'mmm. Wonder if that's a violaton of the dress code?

Uh-huh...It's Cold

Here's our backyard winter wonderland, complete with a path carefully swept clear so Indy doesn't have to be snowbound while taking a potty break. Now is that service, or what?

This little bird made his way on to our screened porch, thanks to the opening left in the door for Indy's convenience. With the door propped open, our little guest soon flew back outside, much to the consternation of Bogey, who had been salivating over the thought of a feathery brunch treat. Plans foiled, he threw me a dirty look and stalked away. It's undoubtedly a lucky thing that I couldn't read his mind.

Brrrrr. All I can say is somebody wasn't looking at the calendar. It's not officially winter yet, but you wouldn't know it by the view or the temperature. The wind is whipping us unmercifully with a truly icy blast that stings any body part not abundantly covered. These are the kind of days that make me happy for the excess fat I've been carrying around. Skinny people may look good, but they chill much more quickly without the extra insulation. Ha! I knew eating all those desserts at Thanksgiving had a worthy purpose.

But still I am concerned. Could the weather be a sign that we're in for a rough time this winter? Or is it simply a little taste of Siberia sent to remind us of how lucky we usually are in the Midwest?

Only time will tell. Meanwhile I'm going to turn on the heating pad and snuggle under the covers while I think warm thoughts. Hope you can do the same!

Have A Cuppa Hot Chocolate

Image courtesy Christmas Stocking Images

Baby, it's cold outside!

Sub-freezing temperatures have given us consecutive frosty days and frigid nights. These are the days that prompt us to bundle up in so many layers that, like Ralphie's little brother, we almost can't put our arms down.

When I stand in my warm house and peek out the window, admittedly it looks pretty. The morning swirls of ice on roofs and on the standing grass suggest the potential winter wonderland that is just around the corner.

Of course, the real eye-opener is when I go outside.

No leisurely strolls for me. I race from building to car and back again with my breath puffing in smoky clouds around my head. These are the days I forego the calories that can be burned by parking in a space at the end of the lot. I'm definitely a winter wimp.

With Indy's short-short haircut, he's not enjoying a visit outside, either. I push him out the door to do his business, and when he comes back inside he's shaking harder than a second hand washing machine. I brought out his lovely black sweater. Hey, he doesn't wear it for looks. He wears it for warmth.

This icy weather poses a whole new set of problems for pups. Check out this ASPCA link on cold weather tips as a reminder on how to keep your pet safe.  And thanks to my friend, Marty, for the suggestion on posting holiday safety tips for pets. This Pet Education link can help you keep the holidays happy for all.

Stay warm!

Cold Enough for You?

Some of the backyard gang

Our weather remains frigid with no relief in sight. Consequently, the small lake behind our house is almost completely frozen over, iced like a giant sheet cake with a white frosting of snow.

A large contingent of geese have made a home on the lake, with varying degrees of enthusiasm from neighbors. I enjoy seeing them and hearing the persistent honk-honk as they majestically fly over the house. But in fairness, they're not hanging out in my yard. Control of geese is an ongoing problem due to their destruction of vegetation and messy potty habits. In fact, Border Collies have become a key element in helping geese decide it's time to move along to another home.

No such effort (yet) has occurred here, so I continue to enjoy watching them, amazed as they stand on ice and swim in a small open area of literal ice water for hours and hours. It doesn't seem to bother them a bit. How do they do it?

According to the Geesepeace website, both geese and ducks have a special gland called the preen gland at the base of their tails where oil is produced to keep feathers water resistant. Under their outer feathers, they also have a downy layer that traps warm air against their skin and keeps the birds warm even in the coldest climate.

It's fascinating how "Mother Nature" provides. And with a forecast of more polar days to come, while dashing from car to building and back, I may soon be wishing for my own foolproof ability to stay warm!

Wintry Weather

We had a surprise white Christmas this year. Though the weather forecasters predicted rain, we were instead treated to a fine, light snow on Christmas Day. It made for some slick spots on roads and contributed to a few accidents, but all in all we were lucky. The snow sparkled prettily, but didn't bring any festivities to a screeching halt.

Indy is pictured above wearing his warm sweater, a hand me down from the very first Schnauzer I ever owned. I don't dress Indy to make him look adorable (even though, of course, he is). Since he's an older gentleman now, the sweater helps keep his joints from getting stiff in the cold. In fact, just after I took this photo, a blast of icy wind blew snow in his face, so he ran for the door at the speed of light with his legs slipping and sliding every which way. But now he's warm and dry, cozied up by my feet as I type these words.

The snow is still falling and makes me shiver to watch it. Ahhh, winter. I think it's time to snuggle under a warm blanket with a cup of hot cocoa and good book. Lucky me, I got several new ones for Christmas!

May this find you enjoying similar comforts!

The Weather Outside is Frightful

This morning I found a few patches of snow outside. Temperatures have been below the average in recent days, and frigid enough to make you shiver even under the recommended layers of clothing.

Our church's heating system went belly up yesterday, so the faithful huddled inside looking like Eskimos in coats, scarves, hats and gloves. I told the pastor that the place was so cold I came in with teardrop earrings and left with snowflakes!

Indy's fur is clipped very short, so on days like these he's not a fan of outside time. Guess I need to haul out his doggie sweater!

Brrrrrrr!

Today is a bitterly cold January day. In fact, we're told that this is the coldest day we've experienced in a decade. We won't get out of single digits so the wind chill is well below zero. On a day like this it sounds good just to snuggle under the covers in a warm house. Then I look at my critters and realize how lucky we all are.

Some pets live their lives outdoors. It's hard to imagine how they survive severely cold temperatures with little in the way of shelter, frozen water, and food that may or may not be provided to supply the extra calories burned producing body heat. Our local newscasters are good about mentioning what should be obvious. Please be kind...bring your pets inside!

We all stay a bit warmer with company. Just ask Indy!