Opening day

One hundred ninety-nine years ago today a novel called Pride and Prejudice written "by a lady" was published. 

But today is about the park inspired by Jasper, the Jack Russell terrier who needed a place to run.

This morning the entry path looked like this--

and the park looked like this.

Then people and dogs began checking in and getting their KDOG stickers.

They listened to speeches (some more interested than others.)

They waited.

The mayor cut the ribbon and everyone started filing in.

There would be four Airedales today plus that Wolfhound on the right.

People and dogs spread out, waiting for the signal to unleash.

And they're off!

                                      The Airedales found each other. That's Miro in the middle. Being an elderly lady of much dignity and less enthusiasm about strangers, Alanis stayed home today.

Where's Miro?

Waiting for the next trip to the park.

Dog park opening day

Today's the official opening for the first Kirkland off-leash dog park, called Jasper's Dog Park after the Jack Russell terrier who inspired the effort to begin work on the park. Photos coming later!

Not the fun kind of snow

More than a quarter million people lost power during this week's snow and ice storms, mostly due to ice-covered trees and branches falling on power lines. It'll be days before all get their power back. I feel lucky not to be among them, especially given the number of trees around my house.

 I took these photos today after the thaw started. That dark brown line at the bottom is my six-foot fence. Evergreen branches are designed to bend downwards under a load of snow. Then the snow slides off, unless it turns to ice. As temperatures fluctuated all week and we were bombarded with snow and balls of freezing rain, the layers of snow and ice alternated.

Those horizontal branches are the bamboo that normally stands straight. 

Little chicken house on the prairie. Several times I dug pathways to get there without my boots' filling with snow.

Private freeway.

Private potty corner.

And in the middle of the storm--

--one hibiscus blossom on my eleven-and-a-half year old plant, named The Death Plant because it was given to me when my husband died. 

Verbless Vendsday

Not a day for chickens.

A day for dogs.

Some dogs.

And then...

Winter doldrums

News casts and newspapers  were quite excited about a first winter snowfall this weekend, but all that's happening is rain and dark skies. There's only one thing to do.

We're being threatened with grooming, so we plan to stay as inert as possible.

Mom opened the door to the chicken pen but the chickens wouldn't go out to the yard because even the bugs will be napping. The girls stayed inside the hutch that they use as a day lounge. (They lack artistic sensibilities.)

Maewest stayed in the mini-barn.

Nobody wants to go outside today.

So what happened less than an hour later?

That's not snow so much as freezing rain and hail, so slick that a neighbor could barely get up the slight incline from our road to the main road.

We'll see if the slop turns into something dogs can play in.

Workout

When you are doing calisthenics at home and a dog licks your bare feet and you collapse in laughter, does that count as part of the workout?