Snow Dog or Leaf Dog?

     A husky is quite at home in snow but at this time of year Nikki must make do with a leafy carpet instead. He has been known to scratch the leaves away, and sometimes the grass, to make an earthen bed in which to recline, but on this day he just stretched out and appeared content enough to rest atop, or rather, among all of the scraps of autumn.

Sharing a Cool One

    Newest little neighbor, Makayla, and nosey husky, Nikki, have had a cautious relationship even with a fence between them. (Children, and some adults, are quick to ask if he is a wolf, or if he bites - we forget that his looks may be intimidating because his nature is so sweet.) Anyway, on a recent warm day, Nikki was interested in Makayla's drink and I explained to her how to share it with him by drawing water into the straw and then ejecting it. Whether he was really thirsty or just enjoyed the game is debatable, but Makayla got quite a kick out of the exchange and of her new-found friendship with Nikki.

Golfcart Escape

     Pop, the golfer, thoroughly enjoyed this personalized Father's Day card. I took a stock image and inserted playful photos of Pop's faithful and devoted companions, Nikki and Miss Molly. Since the two are partners in crime anyway, they were perfect foils for operating the runaway golf cart. In this portayal, the husky, as usual, thinks he is in charge but it is the feline with a guileless grin who contrives the entire caper.

Ol' Blue Eye Brown Eye

     Nikki is glad the bottle rockets and firecrackers are used up and swept away. Not his favorite holiday, he spent most of the evening quivering in the shower. So today he is tired and content to nap on the back porch step, where he can open an eye occasionally to survey the yard and gardens for intruding birds, squirrels and rabbits. (The step is also a sort of launching pad because, with his bad legs, it is easier for him to rise quickly from there rather than from lying prone on the ground.) The question is, however, which eye to use - the blue one or the brown one?

Husky in Hiding

     Sometimes I think Nikki is opposed to photography. When the camera is aimed in his direction, or I ask him to sit or stay, he gets an exasperated look on his face. On this particular sunny morning the inference seemed to be, "If I can't see you, you can't see me!"

Snow Blanket

     The recent snow presented so many opportunities for interesting photographs. Obviously changing a viewpoint or depth of field sometimes makes all the difference between a good shot and a great one, but the snowfall changes an ordinary backyard into a wonderland.

Nikki is comfortable and thinks nothing of napping in the powdery stuff; the flakes that cover him confirm the notion of  a "blanket of snow".

The BIG Snow of 2011

      There are many parts of the world where snow is a common occurrence, where even lots and lots of snow is unremarkable, but here in my corner of the world anything more than an inch or two is uncommon and outrageously compromising. Schools close, offices are shuttered, streets become 'dangerous' and the public are urged to delay any travel plans. Yesterday we measured ten inches in the front yard so obviously it wasn't just a snow storm it was a snow outrage - St. Louis area residents had to struggle mightily.

     Nikki and I preferred to enjoy rather than battle. After shoveling and a little photography, we played tag and had a game of "catch the snowball midair". By then my fingers were positively numb so I had to bid my snowdog good-bye while I escaped indoors for some dry clothes and a cup of hot chocolate. He, of course, would have no part of absconding the outdoors so his parting look was quite wistful.

Season of the Soup

     The temperature dipped into single digits overnight and is struggling even now at lunchtime to rise much over twenty degrees. So glad that last night we had homemade soup and there are leftovers for lunch today. Great northern beans and ham, with carrots, celery and onions, spiced with a bay leaf, a spoonful of brown sugar and a dash of chipotle - all very filling and very warm (for the soul and for the hands if it is served in a large mug under the watchful eye of a husky!)

"Peace on Earth" (or "A Siberian Husky Won't Find It Hard to Sleep Tonight")

"And in despair I bowed my head:
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men."

     The old ballad, "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" is a lovely song with very strong words. I looked up the lyrics after thinking that peace in my little part of the earth arrived last night, the day after the holiday, when I sat down in the quiet and the dark, the rest of the house asleep - no television or music, no games or electronics, and only the lights of the Christmas tree to soften the edges of the darkness. It WAS a moment of sublime peace. Nikki agreed silently.

Happy Day for a Husky

     The forecast was correct and the snowfall (or should I say snow whirl - the wind is wicked!) has begun. Nikita doesn't jump for joy, he simply wallows in the shallow drifts, happy as a pig in a mud pit. Enjoying his quiet revery, he begrudges a smile for the camera.

Leafy Days

     Raking leaves is considered a chore, but I take into account the fact that it's a reason to be outside enjoying the fresh air and a it's good way to burn a few calories. If a child or a dog is present, it can even be fun because leaf piles are irresistible!

*****

Pet Door

     Nikki, the husky, has always enjoyed free access to the screened porch through his own small entrance. It was equipped with a piece of hanging screen that kept mosquitoes out but a dog could easily push through. However,  little Miss Molly, the indoor cat, spent quite a bit of time on the porch this summer and we had to block the door with a piece of plywood  because it was an escape hatch for her. It was a bother to keep moving that plywood every time Nik wanted in or Molly wanted out, and she actually got adept at pushing it aside so an alternative had to be found and that was obviously a door with a latch, and, obviously it had to be custom made. So I measured and cut a smooth piece of  ash, painted it to match and attached it with two hinges. A small peg of ash, anchored with a screw and a plastic bolt, acts as a latch to hold the door closed and is easily turned to allow it to open. Now everyone is happy almost all the time.