Snow! Snow!

 ...and more snow???

These shots are from Monday before we got snow...
Charlie and I went looking for some cool tree roots. 

This is a cottonwood tree in the creek bottom...
this tree is ancient and its roots extend 40 feet
or more along the creek.

I think this is an oak tree. It lives in the

dry run where I found the cars.
Charlie is investigating the area
under the roots.

Another grand cottonwood that
is ancient.
This one sits on the fence line
between my neighbor to the 
west and I.
The drop down to the creek here 
is about 20 feet.

This is one of my favorite spots to go to.

Next stop was further west where Charlie and I sat to watch the trout swimming back and 

forth.

It is the black dot on the terrain map is where we stopped to

watch the trout.

The elevation change between my house and the creek is

about 150 feet.

The distance is about 1/4 of a mile. I'm often asked if the creek

would ever flood our property. No it won't.

I should compile photos of this spot

over the years.

It is another 'spot' that I almost frequent every day.

The changes over the past 20 years are amazing.

Hmmm, sounds like a cool project for a subzero day!

Another curiosity. This was a
deer stand built in the meadow
in 2003. The cattle left the land
in 2005 and the forest
has reclaimed the area.

This is in the meadow east of our land.

I find it a shame that people just left their crap laying there.

This is what we woke up to on Tuesday morning.

The mules are currently eating hay out of the feeders and also browsing and digging for grass in the summer pasture. They seem to love searching in the deep snow for delightful tidbits under the snow.

The next shot is off our driveway. It is much cleaner looking this year than it was last year. Driveway maintenance is really important when your driveway is a long hill.

The hill rises 200 feet to the ridge where our mailbox is located.

We were plowed out by yesterday late morning. I'm really happy that the same guy who did the work on the driveway will also plow it for us. He knows this driveway better than anyone else.

Hubby did it for years and so did one of the former neighbors before he moved away.

When I was working odd shifts, I'd park on the ridge during a snowstorm so I could get to work. Sometimes I'd stay in town with my MIL overnight so I could be close to a plowed highway.

Everyone deals with winter in different ways. 

Charlie and I love it.

44 second video of Charlie enjoying snow and mousing!

Today, Thursday I head to town for a meeting with our Financial Advisor and an Estate Attorney to go over a few things. It is never too early to keep your ducks in a row.

We have a Winter Storm Warning just issued for tonight through Saturday. I've polished up my snow shoes and pulled my x-country skis out. We'll be ready for action.

This weekend we are expecting blowing snow and much colder temps. I am bringing out my skunk hat and my goggles. Looks like winter has finally arrived and will be making a Big Statement.

This and That

Well, a bit more fun with Sven the little goat.

Basil who is my neighbor's dog, greets Sven. She stayed by him while I bottle fed him and then she wanted to play.
He wasn't quite sure what he should do. A couple of times he tried to hide from her.

When I took them outside for some fresh air, Sven did go potty and Basil supervised. She was a good host and as you can tell, she loves having her picture taken....

Here she is cuddling with Sven and I after coming in from outside.

We had a short session of play and then Sven was tired. After all, he is only two days old.

Soon I will bring Charlie to a bottle feeding and see how they get along. I want Charlie to understand that goats are not to be chased. He likes to chase ALL things except the mules.

Gearing up for our next storm. Need to push some snow back further. My duties don't seem to end this winter.

PT went okay. Not much they can do for Rich. But Aric did suggest a few exercises to help him maintain some leg strength to assist him in getting up and down from his chair [he doesn't do recliners]. He also gave him a compression sleeve for the knee.

Other than seeking a visit from our local ortho guy there isn't much else to do. Though we will see Aric in another two weeks to see how it is going with the little light exercises and the adjusted chain.

Now to find a slightly higher chair for him to sit in. It was suggested to put nail 2X4's to some legs to give it some elevation. We shall see.

Should I?

Wakey Wakey...
to yet
another significant snowfall...

The front open pasture with the bale ring ... view off the porch before I started chores...

The mules. They were moving around to the different hay piles and later, took snow baths.

At 11:30 I walked up the driveway to the neighbor's house to bottle feed Sven. So named because they have a white goat named Elsa. The movie Frozen, seems to have a pattern here this January and February.

Sven is doing wonderfully. I am in current negotiations with the neighbors...well...actually with trying to approach my husband about keeping Sven to do the weed clean up work that Little Richard won't do.

Besides. I think pulling a kid goat and holding him and clearing his airways...and being the first thing he smells in life...may have done something to me..and to him.
Just call it silly, but I feel a special thump in my heart when I see him.

He is small now, but will be a full sized Lamancha [goat with the itty bitty ears]. As he is a male, they will whether him and sell him. They have offered to let me have him for free.

Could you say no?

I've raised goats before and know what a pain in the ___ they can be. And I also know how fun they can be, as well as useful.

Hmmm.

PT appt for Rich today. Our driveway is plowed, but I'll have to do some clean up work later today.
And prepare for the next 6 inch snow fall predicted to come in tomorrow evening through Wednesday.

18" of snow since last week. Well. I guess I could go enjoy a snowshoe adventure this afternoon? Or ski?
Make snow fun while the snow lasts...

Sven.
Hmmmmm.....

Edit....
I don't know if Rich knows that he just agreed to let Sven come and live here or not. I sort of was vague and indicated that Sven would be excellent for clean up of weeds with Lil' Richard. Lil' Richard doesn't it noxious weeds, but Sven will.

Yes to Sven.