It's Meeelting!!!

Without much of a thought, I carefully--and routinely--made my way across the unavoidable, treacherous ice on our driveway to what my niece calls the Kidney Bean, aka our maroon minivan. I was heading out for a meeting and then for some shopping while out in town, escaping what would otherwise have been a day spent in solitude.

Three hours later, pulling back into the driveway, I noticed not only was the ice gone, but the majority of the water from it melting had also evaporated!!! A jubilant victory song spontaneously broke forth in my head: "Ding! Dong! The ice is gone! Which old ice? The driveway's ice! Ding! Dong! The driveway's ice is gone!" Ha! Winter is being defeated!!!

We had reached temps in the high 30's, today, and tomorrow we'll be expecting temps in the low 40's! Spring is on it's way!!! --LKR

Dawn's Early Light

I cannot tell you how strongly I dislike the dark days of winter, nor of how totally thrilled I was at 6:58 this morning to actually see the dawn of a new day!!!

It's amazing what a difference a day makes. Yesterday at this very same time, it was still pitch black out. (We're out in the country and thankfully don't have any of those pesky street lights!) My children normally drag themselves out of bed...and out to the bus stop all before the crack of dawn. What fun--or how safe--is that?

I'm not a morning person, but actually beginning to see light earlier in the morning does make it easier to to get up and at 'em! --LKR

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow???

We woke up, and the kids ran out into this to wait for the bus, this morning!!! It's only October 12th, and we've already had snow twice in the past two days!!! Thankfully this will melt--once the snow stops flying--before the day is over! --LKR

Snow!!!

Most of this white stuff had melted by the time I got this picture, but here's what we woke up to this morning. I am so not ready for snow or winter! It's 29F as of 9am... . --LKR

Taking a (Much Needed) Break!

It's much warmer outside, today, but I'm still glad to have not set foot through the front door all day!!! Luxury--the kids can take Mister Poochie out during the day instead of me! In the summer, it's a pleasure; in the winter, it's a chore!!!

I've been taking breaks off of working on uploading last-minute photos and putting pages together for my daughter's elementary school's yearbook, and doing some relaxing embroidery, instead. Oh, and blogging this! Our first deadline is February 2nd, but it's better to get it done earlier. Less stress!!!

I've been on the volunteer yearbook staff for five wonderful years, now, and love it! Sadly, this is my last year, as my baby will be graduating 5th grade and entering the middle school scene. I'm really going to miss the kids, staff, and the great group of volunteers who help put together this wonderful book of memories! I'm just hoping someone will step in as the new adviser. We already have a wonderful photographer who stepped in last year to help me with the (fun and rewarding!) work load! Thanks, Anne!!! --LKR

Pumpkin Transportation

I don't ever remember raising pumpkins that actually survived to produce anything significant, but this year was different.  This is a picture of our remaining crop.  It's hard to believe that on just one vine, we had 12 bright orange gourds!  

We had a total of three vines, but none were purposely planted.  Last winter, I had thrown a rather large pumpkin out in the yard for the squirrels to consume, which they did.  When the vines started growing in the spring, we were pleasantly surprised!

One large pumpkin rot, two became food and shelter to presumably local rodents, and three smaller ones disappeared without a trace.

Yup, that's what I was doing--transporting five rather large pumpkins from the farthest point in our yard to our front door.  Now that's what I call VIP--Very Important Pumpkin--service!  --LKR

Autumn in August???

Four years ago to the day, we moved into our home in Eau Claire, Wisconsin from Villa Park, Illinois. That first night was so cold, my hubby and I ventured downstairs to sleep in front of the gas fireplace! (The kids were asleep or we would have invited them to join us!)

Once again, it feels like an early fall is upon us. Another autumn in August? It wouldn't seem fair after having such a long winter to have endured, this year! --LKR

Here We Go Again!!!

The gusty winds are howling, and the presence of snow mixed with rain and sleet is threatening the very nature of spring! NOAA Weather Radio has cautioned it's listeners to make sure we're all still prepared for winter conditions.

Last night, possible blizzards were being predicted for the Duluth area. Closer to home, they're now saying we could get up to 5" of snow on Friday!!! While that remains to be seen, fellow cheeseheads are heeding the warning and have cancilled soccer games that were scheduled for Saturday.

I'm no where near as seasoned as the cheddarheads living up here in the north their whole lives, so I'll follow suit. I'd like to tell myself this is all a bad dream, or maybe click my heels together and whisper, "there's no place like home," but the cold sharp winds encountered when I brought poochie in was a rude awakening.

My kids ran all the way home from the bus stop after school. "It's hailing and snowing, and it hurts when it hits you!" they shrieked. And to think, my son almost left the house this morning wearing shorts!!! --LKR

Hunger Strike???

Q: How do you tell if a snake is sleeping? A: You can't! They sleep with their eyes open!

Actually, if the scaled creature is all curled up and looks comfy and cozy, chances are he is asleep. However, when they are "lounging" over rocks and branches, your guess is as good as mine!

Our little fox snake still has his wild instincts and goes into semi-hibernation from fall to spring. This is the second season of winter we've had Jake, so I was familiar with it. Early on, he gets rather urgent in his slitherings, more than likely looking for a suitable place to do some serious snoozing.

My real quandary is this: How often do I feed him? I feel like an awful mother when he rejects food I've offered. So, he's not hungry, but I still worry--did he eat enough the last time I fed him??? Well, he obviously thinks so, but you know us moms. You can imagine the scenario:

"What?! You're going to be sleeping for how long, and that's all you ate?! Eat! Here's a fuzzy! If you don't eat that, I'll get you a smaller-sized portion. Oh, here's a pinkie for you anyway, just in case! Now, eat! Pleeeeese eat?"

A very knowledgeable man from a local pet shop came to my rescue, telling me I had an ideal situation. He wished domesticated snakes wouldn't loose that God-given instinct. "They eat less, and as a result, grow slower so you don't have to buy them a larger home as often," Jim told me.

Actually, I wouldn't mind that, but at least I now know for certain that eating even a little about once a month or so is normal. It's always nice to have something other than "huntches" to go on, you know? Especially when you have a critter whose well-being depends upon you!

There are choices. Jake can be kept warmer with a light added to make him think it's not wintertime. He can be kept the way he is, thinking he's in a warmer state like Kentucky or Kansas. Or, his quarters could be made darker and cooler to sleep away the winter blues and blahs.

Which would you choose? --LKR

"Early" Morning Frozen Tundra Scenes

Okay, this post is for those of you who wanted to see early morning pictures of our snow. Admit it, you're one of them! Just don't get your hopes up, too high--it was -2F at around 9am and I was not too keen on trudging through foot high virgin snow to get to areas that would have been of more interest!

Yup, this is me. I'm more than a little fuzzy, flat, and dark in the mornings, especially during the winter months.


Yes, it's what you think. One of my dearest cherubs decided to help unfreeze Poochies' chain--last night!!! The dreaded back-up plan: find leash and walk dog though yard--Ugh!

So, Poochie and I romped--if you could even call it that!--in an un-trampled section of snow for maybe, oh, I'd say two minutes before he flopped onto his side, stretching his frozen little toesies up out of the freezing snow.

No, he's not a wimp, but it's funny to see a big, "tough" German Shepherd doing that! (Fifi the Toy Poodle would get immediate sympathy. But laughter comes first with the larger dogs!)

Don't let this picture fool you--the town piled most of the snow in our driveway, just like they do with yours!

I'll end with a sunnier shot!

Think Spring!
(I've had enough winter. How 'bout you?)

--LKR

White Fluffy Fun Stuff

Hi, It's me, Mister Poochie!

Alpha took my siblings to his mom's for the day, he did. They're going to help set up her Christmas tree. I want one of my very own, I do, so I don't have to go out on those really cold days and nights to water things.

Mom hasn't put any of the pretty stuff I knock around and down with my tail of cedar, she hasn't, because they celebrated Thanksgiving late, they did. Alpha was 13 hours away from home with his mom, he was, and Mom didn't want anyone to feel they missed out on what she calls a very important Christian Holiday.

But she's told me she's going to do it soon, she said, because of the long northern winters. And the cold. And that white fluffy fun stuff you all call snow. Mom sometimes refers to it as yet another four letter word, she does. I don't think she likes the white fluffy fun stuff, but I do, I do!

As a puppy, I used to run free and play in it with my puppy pals Cosmo and Cinnamon. Old timers like Louie and my older brother Charlie sometimes joined in, although Charlie would flop over, he would, sometimes.

I started getting in trouble when I began chasing cars up and down the road, I did. I also became known as "Puppy Thug" when I started stealing gloves, mittens, hats, and scarves off of my siblings, the neighborhood young ones, and people Mom always refers to as "leave it joggers". She sure knows how to spoil fun, she does!

So now I go out on my chain, and bark bark bark. I bark at the neighbor's rooster I hear in the distance. I also get a conversation going with my puppy pals. I bark at cars, bikes, and the lone skier as he goes up the big hill. And when the wind is blowing just right and I can hear them, I bark at the cows that are out grazing in their big fenced-in yard a mile away. I'd love to go play with them, I would, but Mom's never gotten me a play date, she hasn't.

Well, the white fluffy fun stuff is flying, and I need to go water something, I do. If we had an indoor tree, this wouldn't be a problem, now, would it?! --Mister Poochie