I Feel Like A Superhero!

Those of you born after say, 1980, and those more technologically gifted than myself will likely find this incredibly amusing, but I have just CREATED MY VERY FIRST BLOGGER SLIDESHOW!!!!!! It only took about two years to tackle, and a larger part of this day than I am willing to admit, but I did it! Or, well...I think I did. Maybe I better not start dancing on the table until after I hit "Publish" and check it out.

Lucy went crazy with a new catnip toy yesterday, and I had fun recording her antics. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. :-)

"Will You Be Mine?"

"Or better yet, give us a treat?"

Happy Valentines Day everyone, from 

Lucky, Katie, Lady, and Lucy!

The Joy Of A Gravel Road

Katie would rather walk down the gravel road outside the back door than go for a hike in the mountains. Not sure what that's all about. When I ask "Who wants to go for a walk?" and we head out the back door, Lady and Lucky run up the ramp into the back of the truck. Katie stands in the driveway staring longingly up the driveway. I have to pat the ramp and coax... "C'mon Miss Katie, let's go! Come on!"

Truth be told, all the dogs love walking down our road. It seems pretty boring to me, I'd rather go somewhere. But it no doubt gives them a chance to check out who or what has been trespassing on "their" road.

Just to the left of the above photo, across the little creek ravine, there's a house where two scary dogs live. They are allowed to run loose, and they sometimes make it over to our side of the road. The house went up for sale a few weeks ago, which was the highlight of my year so far. I am praying for a quick sale! And new neighbors who either don't own dogs, have friendly dogs, or who keep them confined to their property.

I often wonder what they smell on these walks. Wouldn't it be fun to have a dog's nose for 24 hours? Seems like I read somewhere that dogs can tell not only what critter or dog has passed by, but the sex, health, and mood of the passerby - all from the scent left behind. I am so glad Lucky still has his sense of smell. He's had cataracts for years, although it's hard to tell how much they impair his vision. However over the past year he's become quite deaf. I have to tap him to get his attention, and hand movements are necessary to communicate with him. He doesn't seem disturbed by this at all, and it hasn't impacted his desire to go for walks or truck rides, something for which I am quite grateful. When Jessie began losing her hearing and sight, she also lost her desire to leave the house, except for the briefest of outings.

At the top of the hill, where we turn around, there's another dog. And Katie does not trust this dog for one second, despite the fact that it has not moved during the nine months we have lived here. 

You never know, today might be the day when it decides to take some sort of action. 

Can't be too careful. Once Katie has sniffed the area thoroughly and decided things are safe for another day, we head on our way. Back down the gravel road, to home.

Snowy Sunday

Forty years later, I still remember like it was yesterday. Sleepy and hopeful, scarcely daring to breathe as I would raise on my knees to peek out the blinds, only to see...no snow. Time, and time, and time again this moment of delirious hope was shattered by the crushing disappointment of yet another false alarm. The dark pavement and green grass would stare back at me, boring and ordinary, saying "Hurry up. Get ready for school." For years, I harbored the deepest of resentments against Atlanta meteorologists. I also fervently believed (and still do) that some sort of invisible bubble exists over the city, protecting it from every winter weather system crossing the area. Is it any wonder I ended up in Duluth Minnesota for grad school?

Western North Carolina is a happy medium. You don't have to deal with -20 degree mornings, yet there's enough cold weather to justify hot cocoa and mittens. This morning when I let the dogs out, I was surprised by a white landscape swirling with tiny snowflakes. The snow thrilled me and the dogs both. They came racing back into the house, frisky and excited and shaking the snow from their coats. After morning treats for dogs and cat, I started some coffee brewing and walked around opening all the curtains so I could watch the snow.

We've  yet to have a decent snow this  year. And last year there was no winter at all. So this morning's little snowfall was a welcome sight. It's been bitterly cold this week, Friday's wind chill around 10 degrees all day. We've all been staying warm as best we can...

The other interesting thing about living in this part of the country is that you can take photos of snow, icy streams, and daffodils all in the same weekend!

Stay warm ya'll!