Thanks to our FFF host Aunty-Yam and our Nature Friday host Rosy for organizing these events.
Thanks to the storms we have been talking about all week (because what is more Canadian than weather talk), we had a white Christmas that Lady went for a snowshoe in, all by herself.
Enjoy walking with her (because someone should since we didn't get to):
Post storm peace outside,
alone I leave my foot prints
white, crispy it dazzles
While we were trapped at home, I did my best to care for my Lady.
First, I made sure to supervisor her very carefully when she was eating. I didn't want her to choke.
Then, when I was sleeping, I kept a paw on her, just to make sure she was safe in the storm.
Then Callie and her kids (and one time her Lady) kept coming over to get water. They don't have water on their generator hook up. We know from experience, no water is hard. All the people in and out for short times was stressful.
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| Happy because she is stealing my water. |
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| Lady making bathroom BLTs |
I am glad it is over and hope winter settles. This is just to much for an old pup!
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| I am not looking |
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| I can't even |
Like 250 000 000 of our North American friends, we had some pretty terrible weather between the 23rd and 25th of December. On the 23rd, we had rain, freezing rain, snow, sleet and terrible winds. The temperature went from a not bad 4C/40F to -15C/5F in a few hours. The 24th and morning of the 25th was more snow and blowing snow and it was colder. Plus we had winds of over 100km/60miles per hour. Leading up the storm, all the things were closed on the 23rd. They really tried to get people to stay home. It was so bad at times they had to close roads, stop snow removal, remove people fixing the hydro etc. People were stranded on trains and buses. There were a lot of accidents as people ventured out. We just stayed home.
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| My baby was a bit nervous with the storm. |
The storm took our our power at 6:16 am on the 23rd. It came back on the 24th just before 6 pm. We were without it for almost 36 hours. It's return is big thanks to the Hydro team but also to Callie's Lady, who when it came back for like 2 minutes and went out again, reported the outage immediately. She also went out and talked to the crew and gave them some pop and baked goods. There was a tree on the line somewhere near us they had to remove. We send our heartfelt thanks to the Hydro crews who yet again, had to be out in terrible weather, and away from their families at the holidays.
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| Someone hates the power being out |
The worst part of the storm and the continued blowing winds in our part of the world, was we postponed any family gathering for Christmas. Grammie, the Big Guy, Uncle Chris and Emma were suppose to come up. In the end, we all stayed safe in our homes. None of us thought we should risk driving just because it was Christmas.
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| Man saw this tree come down the morning of the 23rd in our front yard |
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| It split another tree in half |
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| Another tree fell on the road - Lady and Man cut the top off and moved it. At the end of the road a tree fell and blocked the road, but someone else moved it. |
I, Hailey Bug, did a good job in the storm. Other than peeing under one of the trees one night, I adjusted to all the changes and routines. In fact, I rather like the bed by the fire and vote we keep it there. Phod on the other hand, did not like the change in routine, and refused to sleep by the warm fire and insisted on sleeping in the cold bedroom alone.
Lady and Man had a pretty good set up by the fire. With all our power outages (including 99 hours last May, they have a system). Our bed, a table for games. The TV is there as well. With enough heat and lights and internet to keep us comfortable enough. When the heat came on, our living space was about 16C/60F - so not bad. Parts of the house we had closed off were 10C/50F. That was too cold.
Hope all of you who were effected also stayed safe!
Last week - Thursday night into Friday - the snow came and came and came. We ended up with something like 35cm or 13 inches. Lady and Man got the snowblower back the day before the storm, only to find out that it had been put together incorrectly and didn't work. Man made it passable and Sunday Lady spent a good hour shovelling.
Enjoy a walk in the yard and Callie's Sugar Shack.
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| Our Backyard Friday morning |
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| Our backyard Friday at lunch |
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| Snow fever! |
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| The sugar bush - Saturday morning |
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| If Lady puts the leash down to make you pose, take advantage! |
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| Side yard Sunday morning - see the deer tracks? |
Hailey's Letter:
Dear Santa,
I have sometimes tried to be a good girl this year. It is hard when you are a strong independent dog to always listen to the people. I have not really run away. I may have peed on the carpet or dog bed, but unlike the mice I did not chew the dishwasher hose 2 times or the Man's wiper fluid hose. I have been less anxious and am doing my best to age gracefully.
For Christmas I would like:
-my sight back so I don't trip as often - it is embarrassing
-more trust from Lady so I can be free more
-the hat tax to be outlawed
-treats and belly rubs whenever I want them
Your very good girl, Hailey Bug
Dear Pals,
On Saturday night we were left alone for 87 million hours, and the power went off for 30 minutes of this (Lady came to check on us), so the peeps could go to a party next door.
While they were having all the fun, a huge mouse came in and peed and pooped on the floor. This big mouse would feel bad except the people came home smelling like other animals and we found pictures to show what horrible traitors they are.
First up, a less than impressed Ash. She and her brother Cinder (not pictured because he knew to hide) may be 9 weeks now.
Lady says to say there were lots of people there - adults, kids - and they were very. nice but the pets were her favourite!
We hope Santa brings them coal for this display.
A very unhappy Lee and Phod
