01.28.2026. It really snowed a lot!

 It snowed for over 15 hours on Sunday and let us with 18 inches of snow to shovel. And then it snowed again on Monday, and we ended up with 4 more inches! There is now no place to move the snow in preparation for the next storm. It had been snowing much lesser amount over the previous week, so I have been out there multiple times preparing for the big storm. We did have a week's notice. I had to shovel all of previous snows wide and far to make room for this recent delivery. We were lucky - it was light and fluffy and caused us no problems. We had power the entire time. That means we had heat and water! A very big deal as it was still in the single digits temperatures. Now 2 degrees in the morning seems like the new normal!

As per our routine, Gunnarr goes out at night before bedtime. So Sunday night I bundled him up in his wool coat and let him out on the porch. He looked at the deep snow and wanted to come back inside the house. Since we would only be repeating this scenario after midnight, I bundled up myself and shoveled  him a path. Yes, the snow was taller than he is tall.

The next morning was no different. Neither Gunnarr nor Shorty were too excited about venturing in the snow. I was a bit surprised as we usually depend on Shorty to make a path. So now I had to shovel paths for them and begin clearing paths around the car and a path to the oil tank. And I had to shovel the upper part of the driveway and a bit of the driveway outside of the gate. So I did not take many pictures as I had no time or energy to clear a path to the main yard. 

The car was the major challenge, and I cleared it a little at a time. Fortunately, I did not have to go to the office on Monday. 

Not sure where to put all of the snow. After a while the snowbanks are so tall I cannot reach over them!

Birdbath. 

Even after clearing a nice path for all of us, they are not too eager to jump off the porch. But as I cleared more of the driveway and kitchen porch, they are moving about a bit more freely. If you noticed in this picture, the car is moved to outside the gate. It was easier to clean it off there as I have more room for the snow. Twenty inches on the car is a bit of a challenge!

Even though it is too high for them to play, Shorty likes to stick his nose into the snowbanks.

As an aside, while I am typing, all of the pictures in my study started shaking on the wall. I think we might have had a small earthquake. Will need to check on that. It lasted only a few noticeable seconds, so I don't think the house is having an issue like settling. And the roof is still intact!

Gunnarr is wearing my favorite coat for him. He is standing in the spot where the car was.

I finally shoved a path from the kitchen door and porch to the driveway. As you can see, the paths are only the width of a shovel. No sense overdoing it I guess. We are supposed to receive more snow on Sunday again, and if the snowbanks are too tall, I will never be able to clear a path of any size.  And I am sticking with that rationale for not clearing a wider path!

Shorty is peering at me from behind the snowbank. I'll try on another day to get them through their gate to play in the yard. I don't keep them out too long as it was just 2 degrees when I was out there with them. It will get warmer and we will have more chances to run in the snow.

What is the reward for being good outside in the bitter cold? Treats! Gunnarr and Shorty are enjoying their
treat in their own special places.

After a treat, it is nap time!

It is still not the same without Fionnegan. I noticed that Shorty does not chase Gunnarr, probably because he is getting older and probably because it was Fionn he chased since he was smaller.

                                            

Hope you all are safe and warm during this snowstorm. Now I need to check to see if the shaking of the house indeed was a small earthquake.

Until next time.........................

01.25.2026 Preparing for a Big Storm

 All week we have been alerted to a major storm across the country, not just New England. It is advertised as the first major snowstorm in years. Admittedly, we have had relatively little snow these past several years, so I have been remiss in how thorough I shovel. The idea of one to two feet had me outside shoveling wide and far to make room for more snow!

It has been bitter cold - down to 0 degrees Fahrenheit in the mornings. Heavy clothes are the fashion now for all of us. There is no real relief in sight from the cold for today, so the boys and I are preparing for a "long winter's night"! There are a lot of preparation chores to be completed - gas in the car, car moved to inside the gate, water in all of the water bottles and buckets in case of a power outage, nonperishable food for all of us, batteries for flashlights and battery-operated candles. I think we are ready. We even filled up the bird feeders and hung two packages of suet so our feathered friends and a squirrel or two will be able to have some food. 

A handsome blue jay. They can be aggressive towards the smaller birds, but today they are all at the feeders together.

A bit shy, as soon as he realized the camera was in the doorway he was off.

It is hard to have the dogs go outside in this bitter cold weather. It is just as hard for me to go out there and pick up after them! But we must, so we do!

Gunnarr and Shorty are all bundled up in a sweater and wool overcoats. A bit hesitant to move off the porch, they do run after a little encouragement.

 

Gunnarr gets colder first but he didn't seem to mind today. Maybe he is just getting used to the cold weather. Shorty on the other hand does not seem to mind the cold weather, but of course he is wearing a thick fur coat!

 

 

We have new neighbors and so Gunnarr and Shorty often greet them whenever they are also outside. Fences make good neighbors, so they do not have to worry about a direct visit, just a greeting.

A quick pose on the porch. 

They both are good sports for the camera.

My precious and spirited Fionnegan would have loved playing in the snow with them. And he looked so cute in his winter outfits, even if I had to chase him around the house to get him dressed! Both Gunnarr and Shorty still miss him so very much. And so do I. Not a day goes by when I do not think about him and the fun times we had and the joy he brought to our household. He is forever in our hearts.

Until next time, please stay safe and warm. And I hope you may weather this storm without any troubles..........

01.01.2026. HAPPY NEW YEAR 2026!!!!!!!!!!

Before we know it, the calendar year has changed once again!

Drove out to Winthrop to watch the firework display over the Boston Harbor. I also did this last year and have an unobstructed if not far distance view for the display. I love fireworks so I am happy to drive to see them. And I have a parking space readily avail there, so it is worth the midnight journey. 

It was a cold and windy night but everyone was in good spirits. There were fewer people there this year, most likely the wind off the harbor sent a chill through most people. 

Boston skyline, Boston Harbor and Logan airport. There was a lot of airplane activity, they must have had a true birds eye view of the firework display.

Gunnarr and Shorty enjoying an early morning New Year's Day romp in the fresh snow. It is a cold morning but they both enjoy running and playing in the fluffy snow.

My sweeties. Would be lost without them!

Gunnarr has the best sense of smell. He can smell a treat, a gopher or deer better than any of them.

Snow tastes good!

Remembering our little lost but not forgotten Fionnegan. They were quite the pack. It is really good to see Shorty and Gunnarr establishing a very close bond now that Fionn is gone. This is taken on 01/01/2025.

Wishing you all a very Happy and Healthy New Year 2026!

Until next time.............

This is one of my all-time favorite birds - the blue footed booby. It was the Bing wallpaper for today 01/01/2026, taken by screenshot. 

12.30.2025. Let it Snow!!!!!!!!!!

We had a white Christmas, just like in the song. It was a wonderful day with lots of presents for my boys (thank you Auntie Diane) and me. I cooked and baked and lights and candles were lit in every room. Christmas music played and we all sang. The house was festive inside and out! We made up for the less than ideal situation last year when the house was under construction and there were minimal decorations.

A festive wreath on the front door - we'll wait to see if our Carolina wren or the house finch makes a nest here again. I will remove the bow and decorations before Spring but leave the wreath if it is still in good condition.

The roses from my birthday remained in excellent condition and added a nice touch to the living room.

  

One of my favorite ornaments. This one was from our family Christmas tree when I was a girl. I have carried it with me for many years and many moves.

An early morning romp in the snow. Both Gunnarr and Shorty had fun. Gunnarr ran all around the yard at top speed and so I went with him as he ran all around the fence, up and down the slopes and boulders. Shorty walked the yard, too, but very carefully. He has had a few sprains, so I think he is very aware of slipping.  There was a lot of white fluffy snow so they both had a good time.

Gunnarr sniffs at just about every inch of the yard, searching for those underground critters. There is at least one in the yard based on the mounds and tunnels we have. 

Shorty loves rolling in the snow. 

   

Gunnarr seems to get cold a lot sooner than Shorty. When he was done running and sniffing all along the fence, he ran back to the porch. He also willingly went back inside the house, so I know he must
have been a bit chilled, even wearing his gorgeous winter coat.

He is also a handsome dog. Look at those eyes.

Shorty loves the camera and is always ready for a close-up!

Running at lightning speed early in the morning.

Christmas morning unwrapping presents. There are more such pictures on Shorty's blog.

Outside lights with Shorty and Gunnarr.

We also run around outside late at night too!

Morning at the crack of dawn. Lights still shining!

We are very much enjoying our Christmas week. And yes, this nativity scene is well away from dog or children access!

And yes, we are missing my spirited Fionnegan very much. He loved to explore even as a puppy. He loved climbing snowbanks but always making certain I was close-by him. He was about 10 weeks old in this photograph.

Every morning while brushing Fionnegan's and Gunnarr's teeth I would ask them if they dreamt of puppy dog angels. Now I explain to Gunnarr that Fionn is with the angels and that he is a puppy dog angel. Gunnarr and Shorty at times still search for Fionnegan.

Gunnarr and Shorty are napping so very close to each other next to Fionnegan's bed. They have a new and stronger bond and are just precious together. Now they are never far apart.

Hoping you all are enjoying happy holidays. And may a special angel always keep you safe. This one has been my tree top angel since the early 1980s. 

Until next time..........................