Archive for ‘February 3rd, 2011’

What Karl likes

In response to my Peace post, Margaret commented: “Beautiful white snow! Does Karl just like sitting out in it?”

He does, actually.

If you’ve ever felt a northern breed dog, you would understand completely.

Karl has an undercoat of thick gray fur that I believe rivals the most dense down comforter. His topcoat is thick and so silky that one shake sends snow or rain flying. No moisture from snow or rain penetrates the top layer. In the Summer when I try to cool him off with the hose, I have to work to get cool water through both coats and to his skin.

The dual coats of the northern breeds are reputed to be good to 40 below zero. Thankfully, we have not had to put that to the test!

Karl’s first choice, in the daytime, is to be outside. I accomodate as much as possible, but sometimes I need for him to be inside.

And sometimes, when I insist on inside and he’d rather be outside…

…he chooses a chair.

Or sometimes the sunroom rug.

Oh boy!

Bob has his spots…

This is one spot unused by everyone…

What Karl likes.

Ann from Montana…that would be me

Hoo-rah!!!

The Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond, was one of the first blogs I read and one that I still read regularly and especially her add-on Tasty Kitchen. Her photography section gave me motivation to step up my own photography and I learned a lot from her posts and tutorials. The tutorials were my introduction to Photoshop: my digital darkroom. Ree shares bits of her life with her husband and their 4 children on a working cattle ranch. In the last year she has published a cookbook, a children’s book and just released – her own love story and how she came to be “Pioneer Woman”. Although I’ve read the serial posts which the book expands on, I am just now enjoying the book: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels: a Love Story. If the stars align and the weather is ok, I will go to the Charlie Russell Art Show in Great Falls, Montana this March where she is to be for a book signing. I have the Kindle version of the book and don’t need her signature but hope to meet her and say in person how much I enjoy all that she shares.

I love to cook and good knives are a cook’s most used tool. I am thrilled that I won this set and look forward to years of good cooking with them, but the real thrill for me was seeing “Ann from Montana” on The Pioneer Woman blog. Ann from Montana…that would be me :)!