Sunday Walk~

 Early sunshine & temps in the low teens, made way for cloud cover & temperatures climbing into the 20's.  On the way to Silver City, the car thermometer read 19.  Luckily, there wasn't much wind.

Mari Jo, Nika in front & Gracie

Mari Jo took over both leashes so I could take a photo.  It was So cold; my fingers were frozen before I had my gloves off.  Our one warm day yesterday, up to 40, just couldn't hold on for another.  We're back to the up/down cycle of cold to bitter cold.  With just over a week left in January & February on the way, the winter doldrums or cabin fever are in full swing.

Creek frozen solid~

I appreciate having such a good friend to share these winter walks with!  If I lived closer, we'd do it more often.  Instead, Nika & I walk the woods most days.  Today, we kept moving to keep warm!  The trail surface was rock hard but won't be if things warm up again.

Each week since Butch left - I've progressed - at least somewhat.  The first?  I don't want to talk about.  I cleaned whether things needed cleaning or not.  I organized, again whether it was needed or not.  Anything to take my mind off being lonely. The second, I was lucky!  The weather cooperated & I enjoyed three days of bike riding!  This week, I felt more like I'd found my stride.  I've completed a couple small projects & have plenty more lined up to do.

The cold trail, heading north~

Nika thinks she's found her stride too!  At least when it comes to keeping me on a schedule.  She wakes me promptly each morning with little grunting sounds.  She must have an internal alarm for breakfast time!  She spends most mornings outside, waiting for her daily barks at the mailman! Then, there's her lunch snack, after I have my lunch.  (Little chopped bits of my apple & a couple crackers.)  

Mid-afternoon is her attention time.  I sit out with her, if it's anywhere near warm & we watch the sunset over the hill.  The longest wait is always for her dinner.  5:30 p.m. just can't come fast enough! :-)

Nika~

Doris & I have kept each other motivated to go to the Y.  We try for three afternoons a week but settle for two if we're not in the mood.  Working out has never been fun for me, but I sure feel better when I'm done.  My leg is holding up to my old workout of 30-min. for two-miles on rolling hills.

Butch calls in the evenings.  I put him on speaker, have the fireplace going & the two of us kick back in the living room.  The minute he mentions her name, she'll look up at the phone.  I'm not the only one missing him!

It always feels so good to get out & move! 

Weekend Wabash Walk~

 The weatherman was wrong...  The partly sunny day with temperatures up to forty, didn't happen.  Instead, the morning was overcast, gray & fog started moving in.  Even so, our high of 32 felt almost warm, after days & days of the bitter cold.  

Nika & Gracie~

Mari Jo had invited Nika & I over for our first dog walk of the year.  Everyone is trying to avoid cabin fever.  A couple weeks ahead of our first walk last winter, today, I could walk!  I've been going back to the Y with Doris.  When my ninety-year old friend says she'll go if I go; I go! Indoor exercise is better than no exercise.

North from Silver City~

The portion of the trail that's concrete, was dry.  Not too much farther, it was snow covered in the sheltered areas.  We both would have appreciated the sunshine we enjoyed last year!

More wind damage~

It's crazy to see the damage done to this tree from the windstorm...  There's not much of anything holding those big limbs up in the air.  Definitely a place we hurried to get past!

Gracie & Nika~

These two remembered each other but aren't exactly friends.  Both would like to dominate, but neither will submit.  Instead, they each take a side of the trail & try to ignore the other :-) Mari Jo noticed the change in Nika, since Butch has been gone.  She does miss him.  When he calls in the evening, I sit in the living room, as though he were here.  I put the phone on speaker while she lays between our chairs to listen.

Creek - frozen solid

The creek is frozen solid, as is ours at home.  The little amount of snow we received a week ago today, is still on the ground.  If the weatherman is right next week, we'll have a couple fifty-degree days to melt it off.

Nika on the limestone~

The limestone was frozen solid.  Mari Jo explained it will now go into a freeze/thaw cycle.  If there's too much thaw, it will be too soft to ride.  We're holding our breath, hoping it will be rideable on those upcoming warmer days.  If not, I plan to head up to Lake Manawa & at least get in a few miles there.  I haven't had Smokey out on a smooth surface yet.

The two miles went too fast, except we were both feeling the dry cold.  I stopped by Tobey Jacks on my way home & picked up a tenderloin to go.  The smell made me hungry all the way home!

Winter's Arrival~

 The first day of winter, was grand!  Sunshine, mid-50's & the snow from our first storm was finally melting off.  I was ready to try a walking stick in my right hand, Nika's leash in my left.

Winter flower bed~

Nika started by trying to pull me off my feet.  After some coaxing & figuring out our progress would be slow, she would take a couple steps, then wait for me to catch up!

21st. Nika by the creek~

She was just so excited for us to be going into the woods on a walk - it was fun for me too.  We made it all the way out to the Lowlands.

Looking east along Tinkle Branch~

Since she was good enough to wait for me, if she found something interesting, I would wait for her.  Holes - of course - are always interesting!

Anything down there?

I was really hoping she wouldn't scare something out!  I may still get her a retractable leash for our walks at home.  Yesterday, was another great day.  Temperatures topped out at 56°.  I put on my boots & spent the morning hobbling around the place.  A little organizing in the shed & the tack room of the horse trailer, now home to shovels & rakes.

22nd, Nika surveys her domain~

I had PT in the early afternoon.  I didn't want to take a piece out of the already too short days.  Once I was there & warmed up - I received more good news.  The bottom of my knee is now at zero!  My flexibility measured 109 cm - up four more from the 17th.  I was oh, so close to making a rotation on the bike...

12:30 p.m. today~

This morning we were 51°!  The wind picked up & with it the temperature plummeted & snow started just after noon.  Now, at 3:30 p.m. we're a whopping 19° with winds gusting to over 40mph.  I have no idea what the wind chill is, but when I went out to blow the snow off the porch, my hands were frozen in seconds!  

COLD!

Now - it's COLD!  I've been out blowing snow off the deck & porch three times so far - but with the wind coming from every direction - it's a hopeless cause!  Sub-zero is our forecast for tonight into tomorrow!  

Winter Walk~

It's been so Sunny!  So very nice!  We've been experiencing a streak of seven consecutive days of temperatures above 40 this month!  Today, though - it cooled down into the 30's.  With the wind gusting to 20+mph, the feels like temperature was in the teens.

The water tower we see from home~

Nika has been wanting to get out for a walk.  Today, I decided to walk to my friend Doris's house.  She has kindly agreed to watch Nika while Butch & I are away in June.  Nika was also invited to spend some evenings & days while I'm gone this summer & Butch is working.

I was surprised how at ease Nika was, she laid down & yawned while we were there.  Of course Doris had to show her where the cookies were kept too!  Her big immaculate & well fenced backyard will be perfect!

On the way back, we took the big hill!  It's quite a climb to one of the highest points around town.  I still can't get over how huge the deciduous trees grow here.  I think these are Oaks, but I'm not yet familiar enough with them to know for sure.

View to the east~

The hill drops off on all sides. In days of old - there are stories of the speeds kids with sleds or bikes, reached on the way down!

The way we'd come up~

I'd been to the Y earlier in the day. I've been dedicated to three-days a week for almost a year now. Two plus miles on the Elliptical in 30 minutes, with half of that time at a 30% grade.  Now, the hill I used to feel on the way up, was much easier!

We start down Elm~

At the bottom of this very long hill, is the Home Place. There's yet another drop in our backyard to the creek. I was walking in my riding boots, thinking since I used to do all my walking along side Farah, I might as well keep wearing them.

Back home~

The sun was just ready to set over the ridge behind us when we reached home.  Once the sun is down, it doesn't take long for the temperatures to drop!   Our nighttime lows have been running temperatures that are usually daytime highs this time of year!  The weatherman tells us that we have one more day to enjoy before the bottom drops out.  The last weeks of the month we drop back to our average, with nights in the teens...

Now, can I influence the Washington weather out of the rain & into the sun?!