January 1, 2011

White Dog huddled closer against my legs, pushing into the folds of the comforter as the New Year dawned frigid and uninviting. Puff, our pre-light farm girl, didn't even make her usual venture outside to watch sunbreak. Nuka, curled like a sled dog, tail over nose, had nested her blankets into a mound on her bed and was dug into the deep warmth. Steve and I clung to each other for warmth, twined together with blankets pulled over our heads. Michael generally sleeps with so many blankets that he can never tell variations in the house temp so he slept comfortably and long.

Only The Mighty Quinn, the Nordic outdoorsdog from LA (wait a minute!)...braved the unnatural temperatures to stand stoutly on the deck making clouds with his breath and then trotting at an invigorating pace to take care of business. He even laid under the tree a while taking in the thrill of the chill and when he came in, he radiated cold. It was in the teens, Fahrenheit.

This afternoon, none of the White Dog Army seemed very interested in going to the Park and Steve was grateful despite his heavy leather jacket. Although it was sunny, the day's high was 23 degrees F! Our average temperature for January 1 is 46!

Instead, we all stayed inside and made ham stock for bean soup, and wrote Thank You notes, and spent LOTS of time cuddling under blankies and staring wistfully out of windows that fogged from warm puppy breath. We also snacked, thinking it wise to fuel the system to produce more internal heat...and thinking maybe a little more protective fat might not be a bad thing in these times of Global Climate Change.

Tonight the "experts" are predicting a record setting low of 3 degrees. Our poor furnace groans at the idea of that much work. Steve is feeling very self satisfied about our decision several years ago to add exterior insulation to our nearly 100 year old house. And I am VERY glad that we finally found a compromise with TOWD, AWD, SAWD that allows us to gate the hallway near their room at night so that Puff, the once Kansas outdoor dog, sleeps inside.

We thought it was MARCH that came in like a lion...Happy 2011!