Merry Strawmas Again!

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Maverick

With the approach of snow and cold, it was time for Strawmas! Some of you might remember from last year that the dogs loved getting straw in their houses. Something about the feel, the warmth, the taste...it's magnificent. This experience was no exception.
As soon as I walked up to the yard with the straw poking everywhere, they went nuts. Of course, I started with Maverick, since he is the patriarch. He sat by his house, stamping his foot impatiently, as I arranged the straw. When I was done, I offered to give him a nice belly rub. I could see his dilemma: lay down and get pet or arrange straw. For once, he ignored my hand and went for the straw. Rolling, sniffing, and pushing commenced.
Fury was a little more nonchalant about the matter. She hasn't been sleeping in her house at all the past few months, even though she's tiny and it's a lot warmer. When I approached with the straw, she stayed in her sculpted hole without reaction until I was satisfied with the arrangement in her house. As soon as I walked away, she hopped up, dove into the straw, and stayed curled up in there for the rest of my time in the yard. She refused to come out, even for a goodbye kiss.

Fury

Alameda was her usual spazzy self. I carried the straw around in a big plastic bin, so I didn't have to worry about a huge bale. I thought it was safe to place the bin next to me while I arranged the straw, but Alameda had other plans. Right as I turned my back, she pounced on the bin of straw, knocking it everywhere. She dove headfirst into the escaped straw and starting flinging it back and forth. Alameda wasn't going to let this straw get the best of her! I just laughed and collected what I could from her attack, when all of a sudden, she attacked again! You would think I would have moved the bin out of her reach...
Spirit reacted with love instead of hate. Once I put a hand full of straw in her house, she moved right in. I tried to get her out, but she wouldn't move from her beloved house. Therefore, I had to pack the straw all around her. As I threw it in her house, she rolled and rolled, loving every moment. Eventually, she was only a face surrounded by a pile of gold.
Once again, the younger dogs, like Pismo, decided to take advantage of the fact that I was on my knees. All five of the puppies attempted to stand on my back, licking my ears, as I hurriedly tried to stuff their houses. They thought it was the best game in the world.

Lynx

These are only a few of the many wonderful reactions to Strawmas. Every one's is a little different, but it is certainly a holiday for the dogs. They'll spend the next few days rearranging everything and gnawing on straw. In a few months, I'll have to add another layer, as most of the original straw will be dragged out into the snow. I don't mind though, it's worth it to see them all so happy! Plus, it's unbelievably cute to see all their heads poking out of the straw when I walk up into the yard.

SNOW!

Sunlight's first snowstorm hit last night and another one appears to be on the way!
It started yesterday afternoon while I was still at work. I looked out my window to sunshine and calm trees, then just moments later I saw a flurry of snow come swirling out of the sky. Sweet sweet snow! Unfortunately, by the time I left work, nothing was sticking to the ground. I figured that it would stay that way since the ground is still so warm.
At home, it rained steadily through the afternoon. The temperature hovered right around 33 degrees, which made the dog yard a cold, muddy mess. Thankfully, after dark hit, the rain turned to snow. It snowed steadily through the night. Most of it seemed to disappear instantly into the warm earth, but a lucky few inches of flakes decided to stick around.

I always find friends!

This morning was breathtaking. Bright blue skies and everything sparkling white. I took a drive down my road, expecting the ranch to be beautiful. I was not disappointed. The snow had left a fluffy, pure white blanket over the farm land. Driving down my red dirt road, with the green pines, blue skies, and white snow was a wonderful start to the day. As I approached the ranch, I could see black cattle standing out as a stark contrast against the brilliant snow. Even better, I noticed six cowboys walking down the lane. I slowed down and watched as they turned off the road into the ranch land. As soon as they hit the fields, the horses broke into a gallop, with snow flying behind them. I sat mystified as the cowboys raced across the snow heading for the cattle. I fell deeply in love with every single on of them.

Arriving at work, I was happy to see that we got even more snow up here! It's starting to look like a ski area again! I've taken several breaks already to throw snowballs for a coworker's dog and generally just stand in the snow. It feels like home. I was hopeful and brought my Nordic skis up to the mountain today; if it doesn't melt super fast, maybe I can do a couple turns...

Sunlight Mountain Resort

Taking Advantage of the Sun

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It's been beautiful in Colorado the past few days! After a few weeks of bitter temperatures, the sun decided to help us out a little. It's still fairly chilly in the evening (perfect for sleeping), but now the days are very warm. The shade is still quite cool, but as son as you get into the sun, it's incredibly nice. I was even able to spend the day yesterday just lying in the sun in a t-shirt and shorts. While this doesn't bode well for the snow fall, it does mean that I can spend more time with the dogs before I freeze. Hopefully, it'll be nice for another month and then we get a big dump of snow.

Luma

Anyway, the dogs are relaxing in the sun and loving it. Instead of tucking into their barrels, they stretch out in their perfectly sculpted spaces. I say "perfectly sculpted" because most of the dogs have taken to digging, pushing, scratching, and rolling to create earthen beds throughout their individual spots. Naturally, this makes sense; why would you endure a hard flat surface when you can create a hole molded to your body. The puppies haven't quite gotten the art of comfort down. Instead, they tend to just dig for the hell of it. No finesse. No care. The older dogs take their time and work steadily. With the older dogs, a huge hole never just appears one day; it is a slow process with little scratches and adjustments each day. Luma is a master of comfort. She seems to have a different whole for different positions. If she wants to lie on her side, there's a relatively flat spot that she has transformed into a molding of her body. If she wants to curl into a ball, a deep, narrow hole awaits. Luma has even made a spot next to her friend Sasha so the two of them can lay next to each other with their backs rested upon an embankment. So much work just so Luma can be comfortable and lazy.
With the temperatures starting to plummet, it seems that the dogs are trying to soak up as much sun as possible. They're even willing to leave these beautiful holes in order to lie in the warmth. Usually, everyone stays alert and awake when I'm in the yard, just in case I offer a run. Osiris and a few others have decided that sleeping in the sun is a much better way to spend their time. Our biggest dog will stretch the entire length of his body out, only moving if the shadows start to overtake him. I'm sure this will come in handy when the only warmth in the winter will come from the sun's rays.

"Stop looking at your shadow!"

Meanwhile, I just noticed some of the younger dogs fascinated by their shadows. The dogs are so used to me now that instead of constantly following my movements with their eyes, they're becoming entranced by other things. Yesterday morning, the sun was especially bright out in the dog yard. The morning light was leaving extremely crisp shadows and Zion was having the hardest time figuring it out. He would walk into the light and spot his shadow next to him. Freeze. Not a tail twitch, not a head shake, not even a lift of a paw. He just stared down this apparent black dog rising from the earth. Finally, after a few intense moments, Zion would assume nothing was going to happen and shake himself out. Freeze. Not a tail twitch, not a head shake, not even a lift of a paw. This happened several times as I watched. Zion would have a quick moment of uncertainty, followed by intense scrutinizing, then he would give up; only to see his shadow move once more! Blast! Eventually, Zion gave up on trying to figure out who this strange entity was. He took a few swipes with his paws before deciding it wasn't worth it. Thankfully, by that time, I had already been forced to sit on Attla's barrel because I was laughing so hard. Zion did not seem to be offended by my laughter, only confused as to the source of it.

Myself, as well as the dogs, will be taking advantage of these last few rays. No frozen water, no frozen lead lines, and no frozen hands. It's only a matter of time before we'll be racing through the snow; alas freezing, but with a stupid grin on everyone's face. 

The Complexities of Watering

At night, for the past week or so, the dog's water pans have frozen. This begins the complicated version of feeding. Before, when the water remained a liquid, the dogs could get their food either on the ground or mixed in with their water. It all depends on the dog. For instance, Colfax never drinks enough on his own, so I mix the food in his water so he is forced to hydrate; on the other hand, it can be argued that Kobuk drinks an abundance of water, so he doesn't need any encouraging. 

Kayenta: "Is that food you have in your bucket?!"

With the frozen water, I'll have to start shifting over to the winter feeding ritual. In the morning, the dogs will receive a  wonderful slushy! About 30 pounds of food will be mixed with an equal amount of H2O; this turns the food into a puffed up, disgusting-looking, mixture. The dogs love it. It goes down fast and easy. If they're lucky, I'll mix in a little dried meat or vegetables in the buckets as well. They always make a bee line for the meat and usually leave the lettuce for last...figures. After feeding, everyone gets a few inches of water in their pans. Last year, if I knew it was going to be well below freezing all day, I just added more water to the food mixture. Otherwise, when I came out at night, all the pans would be a frozen mess with a whole lot of wasted water.

Pismo's always ready for feeding time

With training starting next week, I'll have to make sure to keep the water receptacles clear. The dogs are going to need water at every break and a pan full when they're done running. Each metal container holds enough water to take care of the dogs for 1 week. However, the colder it gets, the more likely it is to get a few inches of ice built up. It's a major pain to hack through a few inches of ice first thing in the morning. Once the ice gets too thick and that is no longer an option, I'll have to start carrying buckets from the house. Not only will I be working on my cardiovascular with running dogs up and down hills, but I'll be toning my arms with bucket after bucket. At least I won't have to worry about freezing!

Snow is in the air...

It hasn't officially hit home, but it's coming! Ski areas all across CO keep posting photos of fresh powder. Each morning when I drive to work, I expect to see the ski area peaked with white. Unfortunately, not yet. The leaves have all fallen up at Sunlight and each days seems to get a little chillier. It's only a matter of time, which means I need to quell this impatience.
The entire weekend was cold, wet, and dark. The temperature hovered right on the edge of freezing. Another month and it'll probably be well below freezing...one can only hope! On these splendidly disgusting days, I managed to do nothing. And what a glorious nothing it was too! I brought Sculpin in to join in the nothing; we had a great time watching movies and eating ice cream. I did manage to host a dinner Friday night. It has become tradition (apparently) to now have some friends over for a big dinner. This time around I made fresh fettuccine and angel hair pasta with either an alfredo sauce or a butternut squash sauce. Put a salad on the side, brownies for dessert and we were all set! Each week, I want to make something big and delicious. It's a great way to finish my week and fulfill my passion for cooking. I'm thinking possibly an Elk Stew for this Friday?
With cooking, cuddling dogs, and spending time with friends, I'll manage to hold out for the snow. Less than two months until Sunlight opens and then the real fun starts. Until then, I'm working hard in the marketing department and getting guest services ready for the season. I just can't wait for this winter to begin. Between being a manager at Sunlight and getting to really dive into dog sledding, it's going to be perfect! 

Evil Cat

The cat has been more evil than usual lately. I'm still not sure if the dead chipmunks and birds left on my doorway are tokens of affection or symbols of the fear I should feel toward this feline.
It'll start with the whole bird. I'll walk out the front door to almost step on the poor little blue bird. Not yet maimed, just an innocent little gift. If I'm rushing to the dog yard and don't dispose of it immediately, I'll come back with the wings strewn across the welcome mat. A little later, only the head will remain. Then just feathers.
She's taken to taunting the dogs as well. She'll saunter into view and sit; near enough that they can see her tail twitch, but far enough away that they can't get a bite in. She makes sure to circuit the yard, so every dog has a chance to grow frantic. One of these days, somebody is going to get loose and then the cat won't be so smug...  
I wish she wouldn't bother the dogs or kill baby rabbits, but I can't complain too much. She does take care of the mouse problem; even if that means I have to deal with her staring in the window looking for them. Sometimes, I think she's looking at me like I'm a mouse...

Grand Adventures!

Well I've had a whirlwind few weeks. For 6 days, my Dad and I went adventuring in Bryce Canyon, Zion, Grand Canyon, and Mesa Verde National Parks. I could never pick which park I like the most as each one was extremely unique!

Atop the Rim at Bryce Canyon

Hoodoos

The first stop was Bryce Canyon National Park. Driving along, through the desert and then flat farmland, I was not expecting the beautiful site that awaited us. Bryce Amphitheater is a gigantic bowl filled with red sandstone sculptures called hoodoos. The structures can range from the height of a human to ten stories high. Over time, water and erosion sculpted them from the earth, creating this incredible collection at Bryce. Our first evening was spent walking the rim of the amphitheater, looking down into the unknown depths. On our second day in Bryce, we hiked down into the amphitheater. At sunrise, the red rock is a fiery sea with the fingers of the hoodoos reaching up to the sky. It was impressive to see the gigantic sculptures and their defiance of gravity. For a few hours, Dad and I strolled through the maze of Navajo Loop and Queen's Garden. I would love more time in the bowl to get lost amongst the towers, to camp out under their shadow. Someday...
The next stop was at Zion National Park. While we were able to experience quite a bit of the park, I enjoyed our hike into The Narrows the most. The Narrows is an extremely popular hike, but only for those that don't have a problem with cold water (I honestly don't know how I talked Dad into it...). At the very end of Zion Canyon a paved path deposits visitors at a pretty picnic spot. For those wishing to venture further into the Canyon, they must endure the chilly waters of the Virgin River. Since the Canyon becomes so narrow at this point, there is no room for a nice walkway; instead, hikers must slog through 45 degree water into the depths of the Canyon. Thankfully, in most places the water barely reached to our knees. We wound through the canyon as the walls got higher and the pathway narrower. The going was steady and slow as we picked our path up the river; at least the water was clear and the bottom mostly sandy. At one point, we diverted into a side canyon, where you could touch each canyon wall with arms outstretched as they soared 1,000 feet above our heads. Zion seems packed with interesting hiking opportunities. Another one that I'll have to explore further...

The Narrows

Grand Canyon!

I had a friend to enjoy the view...

The third destination was Grand Canyon National Park. I wasn't as excited about the GC as I was about the other parks. I went into it thinking, "Big deal, it's a big canyon. Been there, done that". WRONG! I understand the hype. The Grand Canyon is breathtaking. A wide expanse of rock layers and greenery, so large that even looking at it, the mind has difficulty grasping it's enormity. Dad and I were able to hike into the Canyon to Cedar Ridge Point. It was certainly an odd experience for me to hike down first in order to come back up! The views were well worth the heat and the massive intake of water. We even got to watch as the pack mules hiked out on the switchbacks. Another big surprise of the GC? There are deer and elk everywhere. I mean gigantic bull elk that get a little peeved when a pretty young woman decides to get a little too close to capture a photo. Oops.  At least I got the shot...

Lesson learned: Don't get in a 
rutting elk's face

Our final stop was Mesa Verde National Park. This was completely unlike the other parks. Where Bryce, Zion, and the Grand Canyon were all focused on the beauty in nature, Mesa Verde showcased the beauty in human creation. This area in Southwest Colorado has the largest number of cliff dwellings in the world. The Puebloans lived in these defensive structures from A.D 600- 1300. The old sandstone buildings are inspiring. As an anthropologist, I have a deep respect for the people that decided to perch their homes amongst the cliffs and endure such a harsh environment. There's a good chance I'll be applying for a job as a Park Ranger there next year...

Cliff Palace

The National Parks Tour just wet my appetite. Not only do I need to return to these treasures to explore further;  I am adamant about adventuring into the other jewels of this country. There are plenty to keep me occupied!

Vancouver!

Even after all of this, my vacation wasn't over. As soon as I got home from these unbelievable places, I hopped on an airplane and went to visit my big brother in Vancouver, BC. I went to Vancouver with the intent to look at Graduate Schools. Not only did I find my dream school, I got to eat Phnom Penh too! For those that don't know, Vancouver has a very rich Asian culture; one of Sam's favorite restaurants serves Cambodian food and one of the dishes is dream worthy. Every member in my family speaks of it as something highly revered. And so, along with falling in love with the University of British Columbia, I got to enjoy wonderful food and quality time with the big brother. Oh, and I spoiled my old friend Bella. Don't tell, but I might have let her sleep in my room...sorry Sam!

Bella Coola