What a crazy winter it has been already! By late November we had several feet of snow on the ground and I had my snowshoes out. Once we had some trails packed down I could put them away, though walking could still be a bit difficult with each additional bit of snow on top. By December we were getting some very cold temperatures, and we had to delay some of our morning walks so it could warm up enough that Luke’s paws wouldn’t get too cold in the snow (we actually had to turn around and come back home one time that it was just too cold for him).
Just when we were psyching ourselves up to settle in for a long, cold winter, it started to warm up. By Christmas we had barely any snow left on the ground! Melting and rain left icy areas, though luckily there was enough bare ground that walking could be easier. I did have to put my Yak Traks* (affiliate link) on my boots, however, since traction could be tricky in some places. We got a light snow on Christmas Eve, just enough to call it a white one, and we were back to walking on mostly bare ground again. Until the next rainstorm, a big one, which left behind an icy mess and walking was even a bit difficult for Luke here and there. We shortened our walks because I was a bit worried about him slipping on one of his bad knees. We did OK though. On New Year’s eve morning we woke up to a red sunrise that did not bode well for that evening.
Hopefully everyone that was headed out for New Year’s eve took warning. We got a combination of snow, freezing rain, and rain. Ironically that made the walking a bit better. There was just enough snow in there to make a slightly crunchy crust on top where Luke could keep traction and I could sink in just enough to get some as well.
The best came by just yesterday when we woke up to two fresh inches of snow on the ground, which made walking much, much easier. Now we are just hoping that Mother Nature will accept the fact that it is winter, and just keep giving us snow.
It makes walking so much easier, and no one has any use for the ice stuff! After years of up and down New England winters, we’ve learned when it is best to just let the snow sit on the ground. Plowing it away just leads us back to ice! The only downside is that the chickens and guinea hens are not happy about losing their bare ground. However, on that morning where walking on the crust was good? A fox decided that made it easy for him to walk right into our yard and visit the chicken coop/run. Luckily it was early enough in the morning that they were still safely inside their fence, and Mr. Fox couldn’t get to them. I chased him away, but now they are confined until we’re sure he has moved on.
Another good thing about that fresh snow? We’ll be able to check for tracks to see if he is still coming around. If there’s no sign of him after a few days, we’ll start letting them back out again under close supervision. We hope perhaps Mr. Fox was just passing through and will move on since the birds were inaccessible. Maybe the Dadz will even shovel or plow some areas down to bare ground, and they’ll be very happy again. They don’t like walking in snow anyway, so they’d probably only venture as far as the garage and barn if they could come out.
Luke and I are certainly happy that walking has become easier again, and that they are predicting another storm next week, which will hopefully be coming in the form of more snow! Maybe I’ll be getting my snowshoes back out again. The only thing we know for sure? Mother Nature will probably keep us guessing all winter long!
Thank you to our friends at Living, Laughing & Barking in Our Backyard for hosting the Nature Friday hop! Please visit other blogs through the links below to enjoy more of nature’s beauty.
Our winter has been crazy, too, as in we really haven’t had a winter. Only one light snow and warmer than usual temps and tons of rain!
Oh my gosh, that ice is crazy. I agree that ice is so scary both for walking and driving – very dangerous.
Thankfully we keep getting a little bit of snow here and there, so the ice is well covered now. But it would only take a couple of warmer days to bring it back! It seems we might be headed into a cold spell though; I just hope it’s not too cold to walk!
That snow is pretty, but all the ice makes me happy to live where all we have to deal with is rain.
I can only imagine how nice that must be, especially if you have more moderate temperatures. My biggest complain is constantly having to change our walking schedule because it’s either too cold or too hot at certain times of the day!
Yep, the crazy weather patterns haven’t changed back to normal yet! I was thinking it was last year after a bitter cold Dec and maybe early Jan, that the weird weather began.
I can’t remember one winter to the next – they all seem crazy lately!!
And here I thought our weather was like a yo-yo. Hopefully Mother Nature will calm down and behave like a proper winter. Have a great weekend!
She is so temperamental!!
This is too precious! and your pups little snowcoat is adorable
Thank you!!
We hope Mr. Fox stays away so the chickens will be safe. We have had lots of rain this winter so the yard is muddy and it keeps ping ponging between HOT and COLD. We really wish it would decide on one and stay put for awhile as this Hot Cold Hot Cold has given Mommy a sore throat.
Poor dogs haven’t gotten to go walking in ages because of the Rain.
That’s too bad! Rain is so useless, and those up and down temperatures always make people sick. Hope your Mom’s throat gets better soon.
I for one love winter, now I don’t care much for the heat bill, but as far as the snow, and the cold and the other things the season provides, it’s wonderful to me.
Agreed…though I suppose if you didn’t have a heat bill, you’d have an AC one instead. Unless you find that perfect place to live where the temperatures are always comfortable!! 🙂
I hope Mr. Fox stays away. Have a great weekend.
Thank you! He did make another appearance (everyone is fine)…story tomorrow.
Snow is definitely better than ice 🙂
No doubt about it!!
TW has those Yak Traks things but hasn’t needed them in about 6 years. Lately the snow falls one days and is gone a day later not that she minds. The Farmer’s Almanac predicts a warmer than normal winter with rain rather than snow altho Pop says the Polar Vortex is coming back.
We hope Pop is right! Though we don’t need the really cold temperatures. It can be snowy and still stay right around 30 degrees. That would work. 🙂
“Mom, just take the picture already so we can walk and play ball and …”
I’m not good at dealing with winter … I’m thankful we haven’t seen that much snow!
Luke is pretty patient with the photo taking. But that’s probably only because of the treats in my pocket. I try not to linger too much in the winter, since his fanny probably gets cold sitting in the snow. 🙂
We haven’t gotten any real snow yet this winter…and we hope it holds off until after we move. 🙂
Many years ago, we moved from Massachusetts to NH in February. It snowed the morning of our drive – we were not impressed! I hope it holds off for you!
What a topsy turvy winter so far! It is making for some beautiful photos!
At least we’ve got that, right? 🙂
I have so much respect for you being able to handle that weather! I’m definitely a winter weinie! LOL!
Thank you! I’m a weinie when it comes to driving in it though. The older I get the more I hate doing so, and avoid it as much as I can.
Our Little Bit hated snow. We took her up once to see her reaction and she didn’t like it one bit. So we stayed out of the mountains in the winter after that. She wouldn’t even go potty in the snow.
Luke is a handsome mandog.
Have a woof woof day and weekend, Luke. My best to your peeps. ♥
Thank you! We think he looks striking in his red coat, colors are so pretty on him. 🙂
All of our dogs have loved snow, but probably because they were all raised in New England. Luke is probably the least fan of it, but he was born in Alabama! His first winter with us, he didn’t know what to think!
I agree completely about ice being the worst. Like you, I prefer the snow. I’m sorry that the birds don’t like it 🙁
That New Year’s Eve sunrise was gorgeous! Thanks for sharing it!
We don’t have the open skies like you do for beautiful sunrise shots, but at least we get a little bit. We had a pretty sunset last night too. I always miss our old house because we had wonderful views of the setting sun there; though no view at all of sunrise.
Our fall and winter and mostly been like Monsoon Season so far, yuck. Good thing all that rain isn’t snow here!
Oh boy, you’d be buried for sure!!
We had a great cold fall with snow, but now it is awful. 40 degrees for a few days now. Everything is ice and it is way too warm. Not what we want at all. Hopefully it will get cold and snowy soon because this is no fun. It’s like March right now, a real mess. Glad the fox didn’t get your chickens.
It’s been staying in the 30’s mostly here, and we’ve even gotten a little snow. But mostly it’s been mixed in with rain or sleet, so still not ideal, but at least we can still walk on it without worry of falling, for the most part anyway!