Naturally the weather took front and center stage here and around the nation. Texas, known for doing things bigger, proved once again they know how to do B-I-G. Having family members living in both the Austin and Houston areas, I’ve been keeping my eyes peeled and the cell phone close by to stay in touch with family members. Despite one outdoor broken pipe, everyone is safe, dry and coping as best as they can. It’s time like these where one must take stock and be very, very grateful for the simple things in life that we all too often take for granted. Who knew heat, water and power would have such a major impact on ordinary life? As if COVID wasn’t enough.
Here in Colorado the deep freeze overspent its welcome too. It snowed about 4-5 inches Wednesday which actually ‘warmed’ things up into low double digits, practically a heat wave. Yesterday I walked a mile in steps alone shoveling snow from sidewalks as well as a suitable area in the dog run so the Ninja could pee without freezing her private parts. I was hoping the freshly shoveled space would incentivise both dogs to stay out of the wetter areas. Here’s what those efforts yielded.
Oh, Norman, you always make me smile. Normally when it has snowed, it’s quite the adventure to go out for a walk. Layers are key but even layers couldn’t combat the well-below zero temperatures so we weren’t able to walk outside beyond quick potty breaks for several days. It takes a while hitching up the entire crew to stay warm. Do you know how long it takes to put four pairs of snow boots on dogs and then dress myself for any kind of extended, warm walk?
Nature plans to be kinder but snow is expected to show up again later this weekend. Luckily the Polar Vortex isn’t expected to tag along and I hope everyone prays for the relief of those less fortunate who are still trying to get power, water, and heat restored.
We hope you have a weekend where you’ll be warm. We’ll be spending a lot of time contemplating a heartbreaking anniversary next week when Angel Sam unexpectedly departed the Ranch. Not a day goes by where I don’t think of him and cry at his loss. The Ranch hands have vowed to take good care of me and we urge everyone to take some time to reflect on the past week to find love and gratitude in their hearts. If you are able to help the disadvantaged, now would be a good time. Stay safe, warm and keep smiling my friends.
Live, love, bark! 🐾
Guud Greef Miss Monika! Iss like youss’ are suitin up fore Outer Space!! LadyMew takess fur efurr to get reddy. Shee has to put on 2 Tensor Knee bracess. Then shee has to get her jackit an ear muffss an mittss an mask. An shee has to make sure shee has shee putss a charcoal filtur inn her mask….an get what efurr shee needss like wallet an grocery bagss. Or THE walker if goin out alone.
It iss like a military manovurr mee can tell you!
Shee iss tryin not to bee too cranky butt THE noveltee of Winter iss wearin a bit thin 😉
Wee are SO-O reeleeved you all are doin well. Scarey weather inn Texas!
***purrss*** BellaDharma an ((huggiess)) LadyMew
Pee S; Pleese give Norman a **kiss** from mee
Boy I hear you. I walked over to the market a tad over a mile away Friday and forgot my wallet and had to walk back to get it. Grrr. With all the preparations needed for going out any more, I need to do a checklist to make sure I have everything! 🧐
EEKKK Miss Monika furgettin yore wallet musta REELLY bugged you…iss like when peepell furget their mask!!! LadyMew has a list!! Trust me~~shee needss it!!!! Mew mew mew….
My feet were definitely a bit unhappy with me but at least it wasn’t a bitter cold day. Lists are important, yet too often I frequently leave them on the fridge or counter. 😬
So does LadyMew an Aunty Mary-Ellen. When they wuud go shoppin inn groceree store without their listss they wuud suggest diffyrent itemss to each other as they mew each others’ likess an needss so well…
Mee watchess LadyMew now with her listss an makess sure shee takess it with her…I nudge it onto floor…purrty clevurr rite???
If the worst thing is that we haven’t been able to get out much for walks, yes, I am grateful. Having the basic necessities is far more important. I’m glad that your family is doing OK, and hope life can get back to normal for them soon. Whatever normal is? 🙂
Thank you. I have no clue what’s normal any more either.
Lulu: “That’s some top notch work, Norman. I have never gotten to sign my name in the snow! And I can’t believe it’s coming up on a year already since Sam went to the bridge. I’ll be sending you lots of fluffy tail wags next week.”
Charlee: “And we Hipsters will send purrs!”
Thanks much guys! Norman is a remarkable artiste.
You’re right, it is pretty unfathomable to realize a year has passed. 💔
Glad to hear your family are doing okay – it’s a crazy thing to take for granted that our homes can keep us warm and safe.
Quite the artist, that Norman is!
And I cannot believe it’s been almost a year. Where the hell does the time go? Sending you extra hugs, my friend.
Thanks for all the well wishes, hugs and thoughts. 🥰
I’m glad that your family is relatively okay in TX. It’s really hard in an area that isn’t used to anything close to those temps.
It’s hard to believe it’s been a year already since Sam left us. You are in my thought. Sending you hugs and Tippy is sending you doggie kisses.
The storm and its aftermath has been mind boggling. Thanks for the doggie kisses-they are very much appreciated.
Sorry you have a sad-aversary coming……we feel that heartache when thinking of Angel Sammy too. They are FOREVER in our hearts. Sending you a hug……as for Norman, he is quite masterful at leaving pee-mail for anyone who wishes to read his YELLOW messages! Good job Norman!
Hugs, Teddy and Mom Pam
Thank you! Anyone who’s lost a pet understands the loss and grief you feel.
Norman continues to fill my heart with joy but his ‘bulletin’ board for leaving pee-mails needs to be large. LOL
Norman, you so like to paint my furiend! BOL!!! Ma is thankful that she doesn’t have to try and puts booties on my feets! That would be WWE, in the worst way!!!! 🤣 (or to any Gen Z’s out there 💀)
Ma was just thinkin’ abouts Sam the other day ~ I thinks it was a story on the TeeVees abouts a therapy doggie, and she thought of Sam 💖 {{{hugs}}} to you and sendin’ some AireZens
Kisses,
Ruby ♥
Your sweet AireZens are always cherished, thank you dear Ruby. Yes, Stormin’ Norman is quite the ar-tiste. I swear that boy has a bladder the size of an elephant!
My peep remembers that cold. It was in the 60s here today.
Better break out the puffy jackets. 😇
Oh, Norman, you are one of a kind! Thanks for the chuckle! I know you & Elsa will take good care of your Mom on that awful anniversary.
Monika, I also miss sweet Sam. He always made me smile from the inside out. Shadow’s 2nd anniversary of reuniting with Callie is next week, too…on the 25th. I miss her and Callie, and Radar, so much. While the tears don’t come as frequently any more – Ducky makes sure of it – I do still choke up. Sending you BIG, WARM, GENTLE HUGS.
They are such custodians of our heart. I can’t believe it’s been 2 years since sweet Shadow crossed the bridge. Thanks for the gentle hugs, they are much appreciated.
Send that photograph of Norman’s effort to David Hockney….he’ll make a pic worth millions from it. Sam is very much missed here too.
Thanks for the kind words about my Angel Sam. Hockney does tend to like yellow…good idea, Helen!
Banksy ain’t got nothing on Norman, tell you what. And this I believe to be true as well, Monika. To be thankful for having a warm house and food and water. We take it for granted sometimes, and then we get reminded we never should.
Hugs from our ranch to yours
Banksy…love it! Yeah this week really brought home the notion for appreciation of the simple things in life. Hugs and tail wags.
Have a great weekend Monika
And to you as well!
Sweet Sam, he is missed in the blogosphere, too. Stay warm and snug this weekend. (I think we need a photo of the dogs booted up! 🙂 )
I’ll try and post one. It’s quite the show getting them in those confounded things! 🤣
Oh Norman, you make me giggle too!!
Sending hugs your way, I still think of Dory every day too. Thankfully I can smile through the tears as I remember all the wonderful years we spent together. I hope your memories bring some smiles too.
Oh yes, lots of memories, smiles and tears.
We have a good friend living in the Houston area. He said some frozen pipes, but all else is well. Xena said thanks Norman for helping her spell his name in pee mail. She is going to try to write Norman was here on our next walk. I say good luck with that, little girl with the little bladder.
I can’t believe it’s been a year. I totally understand about the crying every day thing. After 4 1/2 years, I think I’ve got it down to about once a week. Loving thoughts your way. Amy
Many thanks, Amy-very much appreciate the kind thoughts. I remember when Lexi crossed the bridge. I felt your anguish back then. All dogs are special but some really touch your soul.
Hope your friend is able to get to 100%. It’s just crazy down there.
Oooh Norman’s pic cracks me up!
Glad your family and friends are OK in Texas it is awful what so many from there are dealing with! I have a blogger friend from Texas whose water and power have been erractic.
He’s quite the ‘artist.’
😄
Yum! Lemon sno-cones! So kind of you to offer.
Erm…where Norman is concerned, you definitely want to avoid the yellow snow! 💛
Looks like he has a bladder the size of Denver.
That’s not much of an exaggeration. Trust me! I’ve never seen a dog ‘off load’ like he can.
Hugs all around!
Awww, look at those booties. Wishing you loving kindness as you remember Sam.
Thank you. 🙏🏼
You had it rough for a while there. We have been seeing all the rescued turtles on the news here in the UK. Amazing effort! Stay warm x
It’s heartwarming to see so many working miracles on those endangered turtles. Gives me some hope that maybe we can fix this mess.
Norman, even I, Benji can’t outdo you in the pee-mail department! BOL!
Hugs to your Mom as you remember your dear Sam.
I had to smile at that pile of boots!! I don’t think our hooligans would tolerate them at all, though I do have them…
Texas sure has way too many big troubles right now:(
Stay warm and safe!
Putting on boots on uncooperative dogs can wear you out. I learned not to put my coat on before they were all bundled up otherwise I’d be way too overheated.
Norman really can produce rivers of Picasso work 😆
I love that photo of Norman’s spot. Dogs can always make me laugh. Your post about the walk reminds me when my wife and I used to go for winter walks in Illinois when the fields were covered in snow. My wife is not big on snow, but I really appreciate those times because I can’t do that anymore. Even with the cold weather we are having, it doesn’t snow here but about every ten years, so when you can get into the snow, you take that opportunity!
Even as I age I don’t mind the snow per se, but that bitter hellish cold…now that’s another story. Thanks for dropping by-we 💙 visitors.
I’m dreading those anniversaries too 🙁 (((hugs))) no boots for Levi yet (maybe never, not sure how patient he would be with us putting them on)……he and I have been taking half hour walks at least once a day, (not when it was sub zero but teens and 20s yes!)
Good for you! You’re developing a great bond with your sweet pupster that’ll help if you ever have to go the boot route. They’re mostly to keep ice balls from forming in these two hairy beasts. 🤣
Thanks for the hugs. I know you can understand how Monday will be tough.
Those anniversaries are always tough. I hope the pups take good care of you on the anniversary of sweet Sam’s death.
Thanks, they know I’m not my usual self and keep giving me lots of attention and are doing their best to distract me. Yeah, Sam was one in a million and his absence is felt every day.
Prayers for all those affect adversely by the horrible cold.
I miss Angel Sam too. I so enjoyed his visits to comfort those in need. He was a precious soul.
Have a fabulous day and weekend. Scritches to the pups and a smooch to Norman. ♥
He was really special and know he brought tons of smiles to all he came in contact with. Thank you for those kind words. We hope you have a pawsome weekend! ❤️
I fear this thought to out of power and water… and yes… as if we are not in trouble enough with da covid…. nice marking of the snow norman ;O)
He’s a regular Picasso, isn’t he? Stay safe this weekend.