Pine Grosbeaks

 Male pine grosbeak being carefully watched by a chickadee!

Another male P.G....they are so beautiful to have come to the feeders in the winter.

Beautiful Early Morning!

 I was about 2 mins. late to get an even more gorgeous colour in the sky just before sunrise this morning.  It was really amazing.  Of course, this is a warning for bad weather following.  Was supposed to be a lot of freezing rain, but it luckily missed us today.

 Behind the house, after the big snowfall, the forest is very pretty.  I like the unusual tree limbs with the snow on them.

Going down the driveway, some loaded with snow trees.  Hard to believe that tomorrow is going to be heavy rain.  The snow will be gone from the trees and everything on the ground will be slush...yuck!

Kira's Deep Snow Searches

 The ball I had today was quite heavy and sure gets lost down in the deep new snow.  Doesn't matter, I don't think Kira would ever quit unless she was pulled off.

 And her tail never stops wagging, just like Blast when he's searching.

 She finally went back around and through trees to find the ball (you can barely see her here) where it landed hidden in the trees.

 Happy girl...."what now, mom?"  I had taken the ball so we could go for a bit of a walk.

After our short walk, we played a few fetches over the top of the plowed snow.  She was just flying over this, coming and going, having a great time.
I can't imagine the mess we'll have here tomorrow and the next day.  After 20cm snow yesterday, we are now under a heavy rainfall warning for overnight and tomorrow, with temps. rising to plus 7 C. by morning.  This is the craziest winter I can remember. 

The Princess Has Control!

Trust is above the carrying-ons of "the boys" climbing the plowed snow and watches for any bad behaviour.  We had 20 cm of snow yesterday, so there was lots to play in, and on, today.

Blast usually claims the highest mound for himself.

 Blast beat Tank to the ball and Tank comes out from behind the top of the snow.  They made a path down behind the mound.

 Out in the front field, just Tank and Blast were running through this.  Trust finds it a little too deep and hard going now.

 You need a fair bit of speed to keep moving through the snow when it's heavy and deep.

 Tank took a bit of a header here coming towards the packed snow alongside the driveway.

Blast is semi-lying in the snow.  He just loves this weather.  He was playing his "you can't see me" game, until I told him I could!!!

Birthday Girl Trust

Now, doesn't this just look like a Tracking Champion?!! ha.ha. Trust turned twelve years old today.  We usually have a 'dog birthday party' complete with matching party hats and iced carrot muffins.

I decided Trust would much rather have some time with a chewie.  I let her have it for about 20 mins. so she didn't have time to eat it.

She didn't even seem to notice her birthday hat was on the whole time.
Happy Birthday Trust...you're so very special to us.

Might as well do a search with Kira!

I've thrown a ball out into the mainly clear area above and it is well buried down in the snow.  Kira did a lot of running circles in the area, concentrating more to the left of where the ball was.  Once she ruled out most places, she slowed down a little and found it quite readily.

When she located it, she had to shove her nose/face way down in and then dig it out.  It's in her mouth now.

So a few easy throws down a path and she was happy.  Although she probably would have liked to carry on...I was frozen and called it quits.  A little fun for her though.

Friday night/Saturday Snowstorms

Tank, Blast, Trust and I are about halfway down the driveway before the snowplow fellow shows up.  It continued to snow, but the temps. have been terrible along with the windchill......nearly -30.  Our walks were very limited due to the cold and getting through the snow.

Blast is perhaps looking fondly to the area that actually had grass a couple of days ago, after a major melt and rain.  Weather has just been so crazy, you never know what to plan for.  Feel sorry for the birds with the changes, it must be hard on them and other wildlife.

Trust is ready to go back in!  She turns twelve years old tomorrow!  Party time!!!