Mid-December Thaw

At our house today, it was warm. Bright. Sunny.

Drippy!

Both the critters were pleased to get out into the sunshine.

Luna wasn’t sure she really wanted to walk in the snow.

Mind you, she has boots. And a sweater. And a quilted vest. 

But will she wear them? Hardly. 

If she sees me coming with any of them, she runs and hides on the couch. 

Which is really the dumbest thing I’ve ever seen her do. 

She lives on the couch. Like I wouldn’t find her there? 

I think she just panics and races to the safest spot she can think of.

Still, Luna was quite the trouper. 

She went about halfway to the back fence 

and probably would have gone farther, 

but I heard some piteous crying and turned back.

Millie had started to follow us but 

had blundered into some colder, deeper snow 

on the shaded north side of the house. 

Can you tell she’s not liking it?

Gathering herself...

Check out those front paws—she’s gonna jump!

Well, that didn’t really take her very far.

Gathering herself again...

Another try...

Better!

Where’d she go?

Ah...back in the sunshine!

Millie: Best spot in the yard. 

You wanna walk to the back fence? 

Knock yourself out. 

I'll be here when you get back.

Crow on Monday, Snow on Wednesday

It turned cold here in Central Oregon this week.

On Monday, about the only birds I saw were crows, cawing and flying overhead.

I’ve always thought they were ugly on the ground, but they sure do have a lovely shape in flight.

Did anyone else get Cricket magazine as a kid?

Do you remember Ugly Bird?

Wasn’t Ugly Bird a crow?

Maybe that’s where some of my dislike comes from.

Well, that and their ugly cry.

It snowed yesterday, and I don’t think the temperature ever got up to freezing at our house today. 

(I realize it was much colder in parts of Idaho, Montana, and other states, but this is pretty cold for us.)

I didn’t think either Millie or Luna would venture out with me today.

Millie barely made it off the steps.

 And who can blame her? It was a pleasant spot there in the sun.

Luna headed out across the yard with me, but I was maybe a third of the way to the back fence 

when I realized she wasn’t with me. I turned and spotted her sitting on the snow...

basking in the sun.

Yup, she loves that sunshine.

But the cold snow under her rump sent her limping for the warm house. 

Of course, I had to follow. 

There was a cup of tea calling my name.

Aggression versus Sunshine

(Today was cold and mostly gloomy, so by way of antidote, I bring you a conversation I had with Mollie a couple of weeks ago.)

*****

Goodness! What sharp claws you have, Mollie-Cat!

The better to shred you with, my dear!

(Or shred the love seat at least.)

Right after my nap...

my nap in the warm, lovely sunshine...zzzzzzzz...