I was not looking forward to our first snow this year. Not because I don’t like snow; I hate driving in it but I love walking in it, especially when there is enough to use snowshoes. I also loved to go outside and play ball with the dogs in it. However, I don’t have a ball playing dog anymore (Luke will chase a ball about once and then run away with it to chew on it), and I knew this year’s first snow was just going to remind me of how much I miss our beagle Cricket. Cricket loved the snow, and fresh snow on the ground often made her act just like a puppy. Playing ball in the snow was so much fun for all of us. Luke likes the snow, but I think his excitement for it was more about playing with his sisters.
Our first snow this year, last Tuesday, wasn’t a huge storm. We woke up to a couple of inches, but it was already turning to rain by the time I got up. It was cold, wet, and raw, so we didn’t even go for a walk that day. We are expecting another, bigger, storm today, so we should be able to get out in it, and I’ll see how Luke does. Maybe he’ll want to chase the ball in the snow, but without his sister to compete with, I’ll be surprised. I miss both of our girls so much and I thought it would be fun to look back on first snows from previous years. Almost every year since I started this blog, I wrote a post about our first snow. It was interesting to see the dates that it fell year to year. We’ll start furthest back and work up to the present.
12/5/12 – “We Want Snow”
While I didn’t write about our first snow that year, I did post an old photo of that current crew from the past in the snow. We were still waiting for snow then. I don’t remember when the first one came, but I had hand surgery that December so we probably didn’t get to play in the first one. I’m sure the Dadz covered for me though.
11/10/13 – “Black & White Sunday – First Snow“
We had lost Moses that previous summer so it was just the two girls playing in the snow. That day they were up early, so I was throwing the ball and taking photos from up on our deck. We did have our beagle Kobi then too, but Kobi had no interest in playing ball! I’m sure he was cozy in front of the wood stove.
12/5/14 – “FitDog Friday – First Snow of the Season“
The first snow that year had come on Thanksgiving Eve. Luke was almost a year old by then and keeping up with his sisters playing. However, that next day was the first time his knee popped out from his luxating patella, and he couldn’t play in the snow for most of the month of December!
12/29/15 – “Belated Christmas Gift“
The first snow came late that year! Even at 11 years old, Cricket was quite excited and insisted on playing first thing that morning. It was quite cold out though and they didn’t last long, though I’m sure we played again later.
11/22/16 – “First Snow of the Season!“
Cricket had been diagnosed with arthritis by that year, and I lamented that she was not excited about the first snow, and didn’t want to play. However, Luke and Sheba filled in for her and I got some fun video and photos of them playing.
That snow didn’t last, and Cricket was back to her old self when we got our first big storm on:
12/15/16 – “Thankful Thursday – Snow“
The crew always played better when they had their “Team Captain”. That’s what I was most thankful for, that Cricket was back in action leading the pack.
12/11/17 – “First Snow Fun!”
Our first winter without Sheba, that year Cricket, Luke, and I took a walk in the snow first and then came back to play ball. By then, Cricket had an enlarged heart along with her arthritis, but she still wanted to play. We just had to keep the times shorter.
That was also our first winter with the birds and it was fun to see their reaction to the snow – they were not impressed!
This year when I opened the coop, no one went out either. Eventually the younger chickens got brave, but it was especially surprising that the guinea hens mostly stayed in the coop. Eventually they did venture out, but they are not pleased with our especially cold November either. Maybe if we had more sunshine like in last year’s photo they’d be braver.
We’ll see how they do with the big storm and hopefully get more photos. Luke and I have still been walking but it’s been SO cold that taking photos is nearly impossible. Even though we may not be playing ball anymore (though goodness knows I’ll keep trying), we will still be walking as much as we can, and will hopefully have lots of photos of Luke in his red coat against the snow! It’s going to take me a while to get used to this new normal, I just miss Cricket’s joy in the snow so much, and I know I will all winter long. However, Luke will cheer me up on our walks together, and when we’re snuggling in front of the warm wood stove afterwards.
The first snow is always the best one of the season, for both uprights and their pups. After months of shoveling and ice balls in the paws, it begins to lose its allure.
You’ve certainly got that right!! This year it’s so cold already we can’t even enjoy it right now. Hopefully we have Indian Summer coming or something. LOL
Awe what a lovely trip down memory lane! I know what you mean this time of year makes me kind of sad. Ginger loved Christmas sooo much. She would get so excited as soon as the decor went up and would be the first one up on Christmas morning. Tilda is my Christmas girl now but it’s not quite the same and Matt could care less 😉 I hope you and Luke make some fun memories this year in the snow.
xoxo,
Bell Fur Zoo Mama
Thank you. I think we’ll find some fun, but the last couple days have been too cold to even go out there!
Luke gets excited about Christmas (he likes to help open gifts!), so at least we have that this year.
I’m so grateful we have photos to remind us of good times, and fond memories.
That is the best thing about having a blog, it makes us take a lot more photos!
I’m sorry snow is a little bittersweet this year for you! I hope Luke helps you with appreciating snow in new ways this year (I know he will because he’s the very best boy!). Stay warm out there!
We are having such cold weather here!! We couldn’t even walk yesterday because it was below zero wind chills. Anything below about 20 degrees, and Luke’s paws get cold.
Great flash back photos. ❤️Cricket
Thank you!! I sure miss her spunk!
I know how yearly events bring out the changes that have happened in the past year. It is so hard when you miss a dog like Cricket. But I bet that you and Luke will find new ways to delight in the snow. His red coat against the white snow will be pretty!
We already have a foot of snow on the ground, and we’ve had some nice walks. We walked in the snowstorm the other morning, and he did seem especially happy!
Aw, such sweet memories of the past! It was good to see Sheba and Cricket again! I was looking at some pix of Callie earlier, remembering how much she and Shadow loved playing in the snow together. Shadow still likes the snow – and playing a little bit with Ducky – but it’s not the same joyous abandon. Of course, at 14, I can’t really expect her to be as comfortable in the snow as she used to be.
It’s so nice that at 14 she still wants to play in the snow at all! Maybe this year she’ll do even better. ♥
Fun snowy flashback photos. We had 6 inches, but by morning it was only a few because of the rain. We like to snowshoe too 🙂 It is the one outdoor activity that I enjoy.
I can’t believe we already have enough snow for snowshoeing this year! We are going to have a couple warmer days and maybe some rain though, so it may not last.
What a fun Flashback. I have to admit that I got misty-eyed seeing Moses, Sheba, and Cricket. It was good to see them again though. Aren’t Goldens just the most majestic looking dogs? I sure miss my Tucker Bear. ♥
I know how much you must miss your Tucker too. I agree, they are so majestic looking. Moses was so good at striking some beautiful poses!
Awww, this is super sweet. My Jack used to love snow so much I used to call him Jack Frost. Thank you for giving some of the first smiles this week, as Jack crossed over the Rainbow Bridge on Monday. These photos really made me smile as I remember his snow antics.
Angie, I am so sorry for your loss of Jack. We are glad we could bring you some smiles, as will all of your memories of Jack in time (I love how you called him Jack Frost!). Cricket has been gone since March, and I still waffle between smiles and tears. ♥
Those were fun snow pics but we’d be fine without any snow here!
You should see our world today….totally white!
I’m with your berds..better we stay inside… how about buying them boots ?
28 pairs of bird boots, I don’t think so! LOL
It would be boring to be an only dog, but on the other paw, you do get all the attention. Hopefully winter walks will be fun for you and your mom.
We had our first one in a snowstorm this morning, and Luke was pretty excited about it!
I always hope we’re making the right decision, in thinking that getting all the attention is what Luke really wants most. But I know he misses his siblings too.
Your pups are so special and you know just how to share them so that we fall in love with them too. I’ll miss the pictures of Cricket proudly walking through the snow with her ball 🙂
Thank you, Katherine! That means so much to me. xxoo