1.10.2011

January 10, 2011

White Dog was not at all interested in running at the Park this morning; Steve kissed her in gratitude since the temperature was a mere 12 degrees. They took the extra time to make a nice hot oatmeal breakfast for all of us and steaming coffee for me.

Nuka napped all day under the computer desk, in front of the heating vent, her senior bones appreciating the blowing warmth.

The day's high was only to be 25 degrees F, terribly cold for where we live. The effects of these unusually cold past two months are obvious in the wilted cacti and burst pipes throughout town. At the shelter where Michael volunteers, they spent much of Saturday breaking ice in the water bowls of dogs and cats which are housed in unheated "stables."

Quinn seems to find the cold invigorating and comes back in doing zoomies to warm up. Both TOWD and WD have developed a shorter prebed walk route for the really cold nights. We are so glad that Puff has decided that being a house dog isn't so bad; when she first came to us she had spent the last several years as an all year round outdoor dog in Kansas. She seemed afraid of being inside and for weeks tried to find a nesting spot in the yard instead of sleeping indoors.

This weather has made us all more interested in cuddling...and in eating heartier foods. Everyone has enjoyed the increase in comfort food from my childhood traditions...meatloaf with mashed potatoes, paprikash, hunter stew, chicken goulash with dumplings, and thick dense soups, but we fear when things warm up we will be working extra hard to remove the additional insulation we are now packing around our waists to fight the cold.

All of this, Khyra, and no snow to show for it!

7 comments:

Teddy Bear said...

It's in the 20's in northern CA right now too. And you said it so well...all this and no snow to show for it.:( We're so glad that Puff is taking a liking to the indoors.:)

Love,
Teddy Bear

Brian's Home Blog said...

It is just plain old burr cold here in the south...not above freezing yet. Y'all keep plenty warm!!!

Amy & the house of cats said...

We are sorry it is so cold there now - we get that here of course, but even our cold came early. It is great that Puff is comfortable indoors now - it just sounds too cold for anyone out there! And the heartier foods sound so tasty too! We hope that things warm up there soon!

Remington said...

Winter time is so much fun to play in the snow but the best is cuddling! Meatloaf and mashed potatoes! Yummy! I am going to write it on my menu request. Thank you, my friend!

KB said...

Seems to be freezing everywhere but it's toughest on those not used to it. I hope that it warms up for you soon!

Sagira said...

Brr...sounds pretty cold there. Okay..you are making us hungry over here. hehe

Kari in Alaska said...

those poor animals in their unheated stables

Kari
http://dogisgodinreverse.com/