Naptime
I’m working this week, but a lighter than normal schedule. I felt like a nap, so took one … with company.
Archive for ‘December, 2015’
Our Christmas
On Christmas Eve Day, Auggie kept an eye out for Santa and the reindeer…
Despite his vigilance, there was no sighting.
Meanwhile, I made a Meyer Lemon Danish for my Christmas breakfast.
We had a wonderful snowfall on Monday night. Tuesday, I overdid the snow clearing and snow shoeing and paid for it! I spent a good part of Christmas Eve Day recuperating.
Neighbors Mel and Jesse invited me to stay at their home if I needed extra care – so thoughtful, but I stayed at my own home snugged up with Bear and Auggie watching a PBS mystery series. Neighbors Mike and Nancy checked on me and brought a beautiful Christmas bouquet AND as it had snowed another 6 inches, Mike said he would clear my drive with the backhoe. I have great neighbors!
Christmas morning, I felt 100% and enjoyed my Danish with the gift bouquet on the table.
After a lazy morning, we all headed out – me on snowshoes, although I took it VERY easy :) !!
My best attempt at a Christmas family photo was pretty much a fail all around … neither Bear nor Auggie wanted to participate and I didn’t get my smile on in time for the timed photo. Maybe next year!
But, we enjoyed the snow and being outside.
The chairs might be a little grumpy.
I reminded them that it is not as bad as last year!
Our Christmas.
He will bring us Goodness and Light
Photo Credit: Judy Cockrell
A star, a star, dancing in the night…
… He will bring us Goodness and Light!
A Blessed and Merry Christmas to all from Bear, Auggie and Me!
Do you hear what I hear?
Said the night wind to the little lamb,
Do you see what I see
Way up in the sky, little lamb,
Do you see what I see
A star, a star, dancing in the night
With a tail as big as a kite
With a tail as big as a kiteSaid the little lamb to the shepherd boy
Do you hear what I hear
Ringing through the sky, shepherd boy,
Do you hear what I hear
A song, a song, high above the trees
With a voice as big as the sea
With a voice as big as the seaSaid the shepherd boy to the mighty king,
Do you know what I know
In your palace wall, mighty king,
Do you know what I know
A Child, a Child shivers in the cold
Let us bring Him silver and gold
Let us bring Him silver and goldSaid the king to the people everywhere,
Listen to what I say
Pray for peace, people everywhere!
Listen to what I say
The Child, the Child, sleeping in the night
He will bring us goodness and light
He will bring us goodness and light
Do you Hear What I Hear credit/copyright: Songwriters: BERNARD, FELIX / SMITH, RICHARD B.
© Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., REGENT MUSIC CORPORATION
For non-commercial use only.
Cat tracks
Today, Sunday, was sunny and clear. Late yesterday afternoon we had snow, rain, a wintry mix and then some snow. It cooled to just below freezing overnight.
About 9:15, Bear, Auggie and I went out to play and walk in the woods … I was on snowshoes. I kept up a workout pace on my circuit of game trails while Bear and Auggie explored. As I got near home, I suddenly spotted some huge tracks. Feline, not canine.
A big cat.
I went inside for my camera and measuring tape. The tracks are almost 4 inches x 4 inches.
The snow was perfect for capturing tracks. I’ve seen mountain lion tracks before, but wasn’t positive about these. There was no tail drag which I’ve seen with previous sightings. When a mountain lion is walking casually, their long and heavy trail drags in the snow leaving a drag mark between the tracks.
These are Bear’s tracks, i.e. canine: a more oblong shape with nail prints. Bear’s tracks are not quite 3 inches long and a bit over 2 inches wide.
They looked small in comparison to the cat tracks.
After looking at my “Animal Tracks of the Rockies” book and measuring “straddle” … and realizing that the tracks were hind on top of fore print… maybe these were Canada Lynx tracks. The straddle and size of the tracks and no tail drag more closely matches the Lynx information.
So.
Still, a big cat.
And that’s how far away from the motorhome, garage and house the tracks are. The cat walked nearly a diagonal of the property from the state land to the adjacent property near the road. It is the first time I’ve seen big cat tracks on my property.
Fascinating! Yes, a bit scary, but the cats are nocturnal and unless sick or injured, deer are their food. Typically the cats want to avoid us as much as we want to avoid them. Bear and I do walk after sunset and before sunrise – several times a day – in the winter. We are both lighted – Bear wears his search and rescue lighted vest and I carry a large flash. I believe that makes us look strange and not prey-like, plus larger than we are and we are not small. So far, we live in harmony and that’s what I think about when we walk in the dark.
I played, too!
New snowshoes, new snow!
The ‘shoes are the first I found with bindings like my favorite pair that bit the dust several years ago…and I patched, but the patch didn’t hold and they were 10 years old. I’ve limped along on my even older snowshoes that I bought used nearly 20 years ago, but came across this brand and did not hesitate.
I bought 2 pair: 1 short for light snow or packed trail and 1 long for deep snow. The bindings work great: easy on, easy off. I had a great time on the short ‘shoes, in the woods on the game trails.
*** The “old” ‘shoes:
Snow Play
We woke up Wednesday to 4 inches of new snow. I sat and watched the light come up and wondered what Bear and Auggie would think of the return of snow…
Snow Play.