My #RecipeForMoments (Awesome Moments) in the Snow With One's Dog (Hint: No Pajamas!)

It seems to hardly ever snow here in Central Virginia anymore. But this time it was coming--the weatherman said it was coming! A 100% chance, and based on his sage computer model predictions, all the local school systems had announced a snow day, even before the first flake had drifted from the sky.

But, while 80%* of my household's humans were ecstatic, 100% of the furry residents were oblivious, including Jon Farleigh and Dewi. (It hardly seems fair, does it? Being deprived of the anticipation leading up to the season's first major snow event?)

At first it (the dogs not knowing) made me sad, but then--as the green blot of frozen precipitation on the radar inched closer to my side of town--I'd decided that I could handle being excited enough for all three of us. And, so it was. Like on Christmas Eve with my kids--except in January, and with fur-children who'd never even heard of Santa Claus--I went to work, planning the best backyard snow adventure my dogs had ever seen.

Some of you might remember that last year--when I decided to photograph a big snow adventure with the dogs--it had been so impulsive, that I hadn't even thought to change out of my pajamas. And that despite having remembered to grab a coat and my camera, the lengths to which I went to get shots from the dogs' point of view (read: squatting so low that my flannel-covered backside hovered mere inches from a blanket of packed ice) left me hurried to get back inside, lest the numbness in my bottom half topple me over into a scantily clad heap in the snow. It wasn't pretty, nor was I proud for having squelched the dogs' unbridled wintry bliss.

Thank goodness for hindsight, though, because this time? I WAS READY! Not only would I dress in appropriate clothing for a romp in the snow at corgi level, but I would wear a waterproof barrier over my bum, so I could plant it directly in the white stuff: a GIANT TRASH BAG with arm and neck holes!

My #RecipeForMoments = snow, 1 Jon Farleigh, 1 Dewi, 1 appropriately dressed, doting human, 1 good camera, 1 giant trash bag, altered with arm and neck holes

And, friends, that is how I got all these beautiful shots of my furry babies--running around (almost) like they'd expired and gone to heaven (for it to have been fully heavenly, I'd have needed to make it rain bacon).

To whoever is viewing Dewi's gorgeous face on Wednesday, February 12 (publishing day):
IT'S HIS 4TH BIRTHDAY! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SWEET DEWI! ☺

Oh, what fun, indeed! (Jingle bells, optional.)

That'll do, mom. That'll do.
(25 points for wintertime human x animal bonding!)

*My poor husband doesn't get snow days from work, and was, therefore, not so ecstatic as the rest of the humans. 

Do you have a #RecipeForMoments with your dog(s)?

(♥)

Our story is part of the #RecipeForMoments blog hop hosted by BlogPaws. Link up below to share your story of the bond you and your pet share. What do you think your pet feels in your special moments? Five random U.S. winners who link up their blog post will win a Nature's Recipe® lightweight collar camera to capture special moments from their pet's point of view. See BlogPaws for official rules and details.

This post is sponsored by Nature's Recipe® on behalf of the BlogPaws Blogger Network. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Nature's Recipe For Moments on behalf of Nature's Recipe, but The Chronicles of Cardigan only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Nature's Recipe is not responsible for the content of this article.

How My Itchy Ear Canals Prove that I Really Like You

It snowed at my house last night. That is a BIG deal for a few reasons:

• It's late winter in my part of Virginia and this is our first measurable snowfall. (Measurable = it at least skims the end of a ruler that's resting flush with the earth.)
• Youngest Child's faith in Old Man Winter is restored.
• I need closure on winter before I am emotionally ready for spring, and in my mind, winter is not complete without at least one snowfall. (I'm strange.)
• I can now participate in the upcoming spring season, without regret. 
• There was tremendous photo opportunity during Jon Farleigh and Dewi's snow romp this morning.

The beginnings of a snow romp. Picture quality: Meh.

So now that I've cleared that up for you, allow me to drill that last bullet point down a little deeper.

About a split second after I snapped that picture up there (despite the blinding glare from the snow), I saw the "light" (shining on my bad camera angle) and decided that (in order to get the best shots of the dogs - with which to impart cheer on my awesome readers) I'd have to get down on their level (in the snow) to take them. 

Same shot as above, different angle. Picture quality: Relatively, not bad.

Unfortunately, I was still wearing my paper-thin flannel pajama pants. 

But being the lazy determined person I am, I decided (not to risk losing the shots in order to go inside and put on some jeans, but) to just squat down as low as possible (without toppling over on my practically exposed a**). 

I'm pretty sure I made the right call.

And I didn't even topple over.

In fact, it wan't until about 129 shots later, when Jon Farleigh decided to lie down in a muddy puddle of slush and eat (most likely deer poop), that I noticed my butt was numb and I was decidedly light-headed (which is what happens when one squats down in snow with one's butt on a lower plane than one's knees, until the blood flow is completely cut off from one's brain).

Jon Farleigh (left): Having a deer popsicle
Me (behind the camera): Realizing my rear is a popsicle

So I decided it was time to take the dogs back inside the house.

And I wished (nearly as hard as one might wish for a gas station when one is driving on fumes) that my knees were 10 years younger and actually capable of hoisting my ice-chest-of-a-butt back into the upright position - so I could walk (and not crawl - with my not-waterproof camera - in my pajama pants - through the frozen slush - to my patio - where I could grab hold of a concrete wall and drag myself upright) back into my house.

The next few seconds (or minutes, I don't really know) are a blur, but somehow I managed to remember from my one physics class (or the hazardous weather section of online defensive driving school that I might have just completed) that the best way to dislodge a car (analogous to my butt, of course) from a snow bank is to "rock" it back and forth. So I planted one gloved hand in the snow for balance and proceeded to swing my frozen butt like a pendulum until its sheer momentum caused my rubbery legs to unfurl behind it. I was so elated to be standing again that I didn't even care that I'd half-mooned the driver of a passing service van.

And then I fetched the dogs and we went inside to get warm.

A little while later, as I sat down at the computer to upload all the photos I'd just taken, I became overly aware of the blood circulating in my previously frozen extremities. You know...like when a limb gets all tingly after it's fallen asleep?

And the insides of my ears were oddly itchy.

But aren't these pictures lovely? 

You know I like you, right?

:)

'Til tomorrow, friends!

Warm Fuzzy on Ice and Just Plain Jubilation

This is Elliot of Virginia, the practical English Bulldog. :)

Photo credit is due to Elliot's owner (whose name I do not know), who apparently caught him making good use of discarded cooler ice on his driveway.  :)

Would your dog try this? :)

(I think Jon Farleigh would.)

*****

And now for the JUBILATION!

My blog friend Jenny at Of Pit Bulls & Patience has some wonderful news today concerning Sinatra, the adorable, former waif pit bull, who is in temporary shelter housing.

My name is Sinatra and I will melt your heart.
(Photo courtesy of Of Pit Bulls & Patience)

If you do nothing else today, go HERE and see what a sweet, energetic dog - who's been confined to the metal and concrete walls of a shelter - with limited human contact - and little hope of redemption - looks like when he finally gets busted free. :)
Oh, happy day!

*****

The Cardigans will return tomorrow. :)

For every loss, there are at least three reasons to celebrate (warning: extremely cute puppy photos)

First, I want to say thanks again for all the thoughts and kind words you've been sending my way. I almost didn't post anything about Charlie yesterday, but something told me that I'd be a dumb *ss not to share with the community who at least doesn't think I'm a whack job for going on so about my furry dependants. (I'm fine, by the way, if you think I'm a whack job for other reasons.) :)

*****

Disclaimer (sort of): I have no proof, scientific or otherwise, that there are at least three reasons to celebrate for every loss, as I have not experienced every loss. But, I'd like to believe that there are.  :)

Here is one:

This is my fluffy boy Jon Farleigh at approximately 16 weeks. Yes, he is standing in a pool of ICE, on a steamer of a day last year. Five seconds after I got this shot, he dropped to his belly. It was at that moment that I determined he would probably be fine living on frozen tundra. (Sadly for him, however, I would not.)

Here is a second reason to celebrate:

This is Jon Farleigh's handsome dad, Sam. He turned into a teenager (13) this past Tuesday, May 31. What a ladies' man. :)

Sam's having a proper birthday party/family reunion this coming Sunday and we can't wait to be a part of it! Of course, there will be pictures. :)

And a third reason to celebrate:

(Yes, I know I already used puppy JF. My memory isn't that bad, yet.)

This is The Hubby holding JF who was 10 weeks old.  The Hubby will have a birthday on Sunday, June 5. He will turn the same age as me, and I will rub it in for two months, until I am once again a year closer than him to qualifying for the "Senior Citizen Early Bird Special" at several local dining establishments.

The Hubby loves the critters almost as much as I do. What's that Hubby? Oh sorry, I meant to say that The Hubby is less verbose about them in public forums...and might think I'm a little off... Oh, darn it, I just want to say that without his money support and kindred soft spot for animals, I wouldn't have numbers one and two to celebrate. (And, for that matter, there would be no Dewi, Tigger, Eva or Lulabelle either.)  So, Happy (early) Birthday, Kind/Understanding/Generous Other Half!

*****

I can still think of a bunch of other things to celebrate, but I'll save that for my own private thought party (smile), except for one thing -
ALL OF YOU!

Have a wonderful weekend!