The cold has finally kicked in. With wind chill it was -3 degrees this morning when I took the dog out. She went naked. I went with two coats, polartec headband and knitted Pippi hat, gloves I found in an old box and ski pants. All was well except for my neck, which could have used a scarf.
Zoe was fine but wanted to get home asap. The weather has been so strange that it’s 50 degrees one day and 8 the next. She’s been blowing her coat for months and I just gently combed a lot of it out of her before I bathed her yesterday. Today, after 24 hours, is the comb-out.
I hope the snap in the really cold weather will allow her body to grow a new, warm undercoat for the season. It would also be helpful if I didn’t have to vacuum up her fur every day. Perhaps every other day would be a compromise.
There is lake movement, steam coming up from below and ice forming on the surface. In normal years I believe the ice may have already formed perhaps near enough for the ice fishers to be on it. Not this year. Witness Zoe’s coat.
Every year I bring scones or some treat, along with a six-pack of beer to a group of ice anglers I see first. Perhaps it’s the only way I’ll walk on water. Last year they landed a big fish moments after I gave them their other catch, and they tried to make me stay as a good luck charm but I demurred.
Happy New Year! We don’t celebrate it or even stay awake for it but are together and that’s celebration enough. Cheers, Dee
Cooking with Dee 