snow business

 After the warm weather, the rain moved in.

Just a few fall remnants left...

Then a decidedly chillier weather system...I was worried that it might miss us.

But we got three inches!  All right, three inches isn't much.  But it was enough to transform this...

...into this!

I love snow...almost as much as Pepita does.

 

She has a double coat and doesn't seem to feel the cold at all.  She's always begging to go back outside. And I can't blame her...it's gorgeous out there!

 

So pretty!  I seem to remember having constant snow in this area as a kid...I remember sledding, making snow ice cream, ice bowls or other frozen shapes, and much missed school because of weather conditions.  We don't get nearly as much snow now so I'm going to enjoy every minute of it!  

Pepita too.

Have a great week!

sleeping with the enemy

 The warm weather continues to confound.  The grass remains green...and growing.

Flowers are still blooming...

...but I don't dare pick them, since there are still a few bees, wasps, and flies around.

Spiders too!  A week away from December!

crab spider on garden gate

Perennials are LOVING this warm/cool cycle.  My perennial garden is full of green...coral bells, mint, lemon balm, coneflowers, lambs ear...so strange.

Still some pretty leaves, too.

We're still seeing plenty on our trail cams.  Big bucks...

Sleepy does...

...and active coyotes.

The cats are missing the big players but keep an eye on the birds, at least, through every window.

Most of the time.  They need a lot of rest...wherever.

The Barnacle on a pile of clean laundry

Even near (but not too close to) a worn enemy (Calliope), in a surprising show of holiday spirit!

Pepita keeps an eye on everything.

With so many drizzly days, we haven't made it to the park as often...so she gets to hang out in the barnyard.

Silently judging me for not throwing the ball.

She's quite the character, although she has quite a bit of down time too, just like the cats.  She'll be a year old at the beginning of April - she won't be a puppy for much longer!

she almost made it to the bed before collapsing

I'm looking forward to more fun with them all!  :)  They're all so fun, with their own unique personalities...I can't imagine my life without pets.  

Have a great week! 

'snow more snow!

It's amazing how quickly things can change.  In the span of a week, our favorite hiking trail changed dramatically!

Our little bit of snow...

...quickly melted as we returned to bright blue skies and warmer temperatures.

Still, I could see rapid changes in the leaves.  In only three days, the red leached out of these oak leaves.

A benefit to 70 degree temperatures in November is finding new plants!  This is an herb known as shaggy or gallant soldier, from the Latin Galinsoga (strangely, the genus itself was named after Spanish physician Ignacio Galinsoga, who was not a botanist, but someone who was famous for his anti-corset views).  

Wild ginger has also been sprouting!

I've been seeing caterpillars again...

But sadly, these extreme temperature fluctuations are too much for our local praying mantises. I know I complain about them, but it's kind of sad to see them splayed about like this.

I do like the opportunity to get a closer look at their wings.  Their veining is so much like fall leaves.

With this latest temperature drop (73 to 29 degrees in a single day, the latter being overnight temp), I'm afraid we've seen the last of the red leaves...

...and berries.

We're working outside while we still can!

I mean, Todd is.  ;)

Have a great week!