[My] Life in Wisconsin

Trains. Traffic. And Rimadyl.

Trains. Traffic. And Rimadyl.
Trains. Traffic. And Rimadyl. magnify
Along the frontage road...

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Good Afternoon all;
We, (Punk and I), are just back from a visit to the vet...

So many things happening. And of course more snow yesterday; and another 3-6" due tonight and/or tomorrow.

And yesterday morning had arrived so peacefully.
With a visit from the tree people who I had ordered a free load of mulch from. (All I had to do was ask)! They had come last week to trim the trees away from all the wires. Said they would come back with hardwood for me instead of the pine.

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About ½ empty...
Clean sawn chipped wood...
With a bunch of red cedar mixed in too!
What a bonus for me!! Red Cedar works great in Millys kennel!

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I had told Casey we would run into town so she could pick up her check, and that I could get a bag of birdseed too.
We left about 11.
Going to Suamico, it had begun to snow; yet the temps were just warm enough to make it treacherous. I took the backroads, not caring to put up with the speedy drivers on Highway 41/141...

A car pulled out in front of me... No big deal.
But this car kept drifting over the center line- once with a semi coming right at it.
Thinking this was a stupid fluke (we are all entitled to one?), I just kept watching...
Not a fluke.
This car was all over the road. Finally, after too many close calls, I told Casey to call it in. Turns out 'it' was a 'she' on her way to the grocery store... And very very inebriated too. We let the cops handle it all...

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We found out that Punkie hates the train noise too!

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By this time it had started hailing and sleeting. Casey did not care to go any further into town, and could get her check later... I needed to top off my tank, and we stopped at the Shell station. (Which is conveniently across the road from the Dollar store)... Convenient for us anyway, so we did a bit of shopping there...

Home again. We were only a few miles from home, but even 30 mph was pushing it. (Yes, I am very careful when Mother Nature and Old Man Winter combine like they have lately).

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This is what the last quarter of a mile looked like.
Yes, that is home.
But where's the road???
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After resting a bit and waiting for the snow to end, we did hear one snow plow come through. This is usually my cue to get out and plow the yard. But before I could even get out there, Miss Punk was making a fuss, out of her sound sleep.

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She felt warm- I checked what I could...
And then suddenly she has her snout pressed up against the LR window, listening and looking...
A few low growls/barks; ~I look too, to realize that the traffic is barely moving.

Since this is generally a very bad sign, I grabbed Casey and told her to get the cell phone and go out there with me... If someone is hurt- Oh I don't 'want' to see it, but we will do what we can anyway.

But not an accident, per se, just westbound traffic backed up from one direction to the other.
And this is what we saw blocking traffic...

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What you cannot really see is at the top of the hill.
Up there is a Lov-It semi who is spinning on the glare ice. Having lost his traction ~and is not going to make it over the crest of that hill anytime soon...

In the meanwhile, Lov-It Creamery truck Number Two, pictured, had already put his chains on. (Illegal in Wisconsin, but I am quite sure that no one was going to fault him for trying to be safe either).
Even with the chains on, his wheels just spun out under him...
These trucks are FULLY LOADED (think "weight"), and on their way to Bel Gioioso Cheese Factory...

Looking the other way all I could see were the many, many, headlights of the impatient cars behind. So I decided to call it in anyway.

Gee, how many times do we ever need to call the Sheriffs Dept twice in one day???
(And hopefully never again)...

The snowplow that had come through earlier had effectively scraped off what little traction the snow had provided to these vehicles. (WHY they weren't dumping salt on this hill STILL remains a mystery).

So when I called, I might have complained.

Loudly.

They said they would send an officer out.
(I don't need a freakin' squad car, I need the damned road salted)...
Blah. Blah. Blah.

As one car would turn around in my driveway the next would get close enough to speak with; and so I had bunches of cars just turn around in the driveway. Passing is NOT a 'real' option, save for the most stupid of drivers, (this IS a blind hill).
But having a horsehoe driveway sure helped the wiser ones to turn around.

After finally getting most of the traffic turned around to take another route, the sheriffs dept decides to show up. Traffic is pretty much cleared up by now... But those that are left are just spinning their own wheels.

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And it's just a slight grade there-
Just enough to NOT get moving once you have had to stop.

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Lov-It truck #2 had waited for the cars in front of his rig to turn around and get out of his way. He actually walked the hill, and salted his own way up. This, just as rig #1 had gotten his own truck moving.

By then it was time to plow my danged driveways. Wish I had gotten to that before all these cars had gone through it because they just compacted it and made my driveways little ice roads... Casey shoveled while I cleared the yard.
And Miss Punk, still not feeling well, was once again fast asleep...
By the cold air vent too.

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Not even really wanting to go out and play with Milly
while Casey and I shoveled and plowed

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She was still a slug this morning...

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Poor little puppy...

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A call to Dr. Spires was definitely in order, especially considering that hse has been eating less and drinking less than normal too.

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He checked her over front to back, and top to bottom. No fever. Her lungs were fine. Her eyes and ears checked out fine too. He asked to do some bloodwork to amke sure that it isn't her kidneys. Drew the blood and then worked her spine too. She didn't really flinch, just moving her head every now and then. Neck and back 'seemed' fine to him also.

While we waited for the bloodwork, she decided no more manipulations or exams. and hid under the chair...

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Sick. Hurt.
My Little Girl.

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Thankfully all of her bloodwork came back within normal ranges- her kidneys and liver are fine. Doc Spires told me to give her the Rimadyl because it is probably her spine from being hurt as a pup, arthritic now, and aggravated by this weird weather.
(She will be only 2 on March 27th).
So two pills every day, and to keep an eye on her. (Like I wouldn't)?
hehehe

I am beat right now and need a bit of a nap myself... Have to try to rest up a bit- Last I heard was that possibly another half foot of the white stuff will be here this evening. ~Just great...

Love to all! Be warm and safe.

XOXO
Anne
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PS

Hmmm... How about just one more little picture?

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This is NOT an optical illusion...
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Have a good one!

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posted first on my Y!360  ~Tuesday February 5, 2008 - 02:12pm (CST)

Winter In Wisconsin

Winter in Wisconsin
255 magnify
Squirrel or rabbit? You tell me...

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Good SuperBowl Sunday Morning to all;

No, I am not 'up' for the day. I believe that should come AFTER I sleep...
Just tired, but not enough to go to sleep yet. (So I thought I would write a blog and bore myself to The Land of Nod)!
hehehe

Life after snow... Is there?
What a weird winter already; but no, they are not all this strange.


Someone said it is "The Old Mans Winter". (A recall that only the old ones can remember it being like this)...
So, am I "old" then if I remember the deep snows?
The ones where car antennaes would all have the bright orange balls on them to show other cars that they were there?
Yup.
Old.

But I remember the fun we always had too.

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Odd when we were young(er), that the cold was never that bad either.


But Winter in Wisconsin is not for the squeamish, or for the vain.


It is not for anyone that cannot lift a shovel, an ice pick, or break a sweat.


It is not for anyone who can only wear one shirt or one pair of socks/pants at a time.


It is not for anyone that needs makeup applied to go somewhere in the bitter cold. (Makeup generally rubs off on your scarf; and looks downright scary~hysterical if that same scarf has been over your mouth while you breathe in the bitter cold).


It is not for anyone who has to be on a perfect schedule. (Old Man Winter and Mother Nature WILL set your schedule for you).


It is not for anyone who lacks a certain warped sense of humor. (I don't care WHO it is, it is funny when one loses their balance and falls down on the snow and ice). And should you happen to break something in the process, I promise you will still get up and move.


It is not for the thinned skinned among us. (Learn how to dress, learn how to drive, or don't complain about freezing half to death when you wind up in the ditch).

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Cnv1761........Cnv1760
Rear wheel drive.................... Front wheel drive

Cnv1765.........Cnv1768
Four wheel drive ................AND ............ Very VERY RICH!


It is not for anyone who will not wear animal fur, or leather, for warmth.

It is not for anyone that thinks any of the above only happens to someone else.

Simply put, Winter in Wisconsin will either make or break you.

Mostly, it makes us a bit different than most.
Stronger.
More determined.
More capable of survival.
(Survival of the fittest to get to live 'til Spring).
AND, I really believe that we breathe through our ears at times...

I believe it makes us much more thankful when we do see Spring; even knowing that Spring is just a season of 90 or so days... just like all the rest of the seasons.

I believe that when the birds return from their Southern vacations we enjoy them more.

I believe that when the last few snows threaten to overwhelm us, that no matter how deep it is, it only lasts a little while. (Contrary to having the snow fly real early in Fall, and you KNOW it will be a long winter)...

Winter in Wisconsin teaches you that you can have fun shoveling; (as long as someone doesn't dump a shovelful down your neck)...

Winter in Wisconsin teaches you how to kick back, relax, and watch a good movie.

Winter in Wisconsin teaches you how to make a real good pot of soup, (and generally with ingredients you didn't know you even had)!

Winter in Wisconsin teaches you to look UNDER the snow for buried treasure...

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Cuz you never know what you might find...

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It teaches you to walk around the frozen anthills!

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Winter in Wisconsin... Sometimes only a month or two...
Sometimes twice that long.

But only during Winter in Wisconsin can you find something so innocent...

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That makes you laugh so very hard!!!

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Hope you're smiling now!
Have a wunnaful day!

XOXO
Anne

 

oroginally posted to my Y! 369 Sunday February 3, 2008 - 03:33am (CST)

Life on The Ice Lane...

Life on The Ice Lane...
264 magnify
Is this really necessary for McDonalds to put up this sign?
In Wisconsin??
In Winter???

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Good Morning Everyone!
(And it really IS)!

Casey took me in late yesterday afternoon for my head. And that injection has worked in record time! Yes, I did fall into my little coma, but usually wake still to a 'residual' headache. Today, almost none! So happy for that.

I had to bring Miss Berta to the doctor the other day.

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All is well with her.

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The roads were still quite nasty- Ice everywhere yet. Because of the temps, salt would not melt that ice either. Hoping that with the milder temps (and maybe even a bit of sunshine) that the roads will be made a bit better...

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Highway 41/141

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But even that was much better than the road by me...

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Thank goodness I have that second driveway because I'd slid right on past the first one when I came home that day...
hehehe
Happens at least once a year to me.

If you look closely at the picture above, you can see that my pine trees cast shadow on the road out front. This roadway is NEVER safe til the end of the winter temps. Throughout the years many MANY cars have gone into the ditch out front because of those pines...

Some of you have written to ask how Casey is... I spoke to her regular doctor the next day- He said to leave her on one of the anitbiotics, the ciproflaxin (sp). Incidentally, he also has never heard of such a reaction from the combination of the ciproflaxin and the sulfameth...

... Can you say "SUDDEN~ONSET~DEMENTIA" ... ???

Arriving at the hospital that night, even the triage nurse got an explanation of Casey making breakfast. (This diatribe came after she'd asked Casey why she was there).
Too funny.

Now that this has passed for Casey, many of the things that had come out of Caseys mouth that night were/are downright hysterical.
***Like when she'd wanted a warm blanket....
At that point, she'd seemed quite lucid. So when she pressed the nurse call button to ask for the blankets neither Greg nor myself thought anything about it.

 

Two little seconds later the nurse speaks, "May I help you?"

Casey says, "Yes. Would you please tell our waitress to bring our drinks out, we have been waiting for a long time."

...Insert a pregnant pause here...

The nurse replies, "I'll be right in."

Then, when she comes in no one speaks, save for that nurse...

Looking straight at Casey, she asks, "Would you like a warm blanket?"

*** HOLY CRAP!
**WHAT?!?! 
*How DID she know???

Greg and I had a very hard time-
Moments of fear, moments of laughter, (and many moments of everything inbetween too).
Happy that we had that very compassionate (and even perhaps psychic), nurse.

I'd better close for now. It is snowing (again).
Of course it is...

Too many weird things this week around here...

My garbage gets picked up on Wednesdays, (unless there is a holiday, then it comes a day late).
So without thinking on Wednesday, I take my little dumpster down to the end of the driveway.

It didn't get taken.
????

(Oh yeah, it was Martin Luther King day on Monday)...
... Oops, I'd forgotten about MLK...

I leave it out there for Thursday then.

Once more it didn't get taken away.
????

So finally, yesterday morning I roll it back up the driveway. It'll keep til next week.

Murphys Law strikes ~and the damned truck comes through yesterday!
????

Must have been 2 days late because of the holiday, then the snows and ice.

So today I will at least bring my recycles in to Suamico.
And the way it is snowing, methinks I'd better do that soon.
The site closes at one o'clock.
Besides, it is high time for me to get off my backside.

Have a great weekend!

XOXO
Anne

 

Originally posted on my Y! 360 Saturday February 2, 2008 - 09:57am (CST)

Another Long Night

Another Long Night...
Another Long Night... magnify
Punk thought she would show you how we all feel today...

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Good Morning all;

So tired, having spent until after 3AM at the Emergency Room with Casey...

Last week, she was being treated for a UTI, (which for some reason unknown to the medical profession always preceeds another bout of pancreatitis for her).

She had to go back in (to the clinic) yesterday because the sulfa drug she was given last week had not taken care of this UTI. Cultures showed that she had three different types of bacteria in her urine. The doctor put her on ciproflaxin (sp) along with another dose of the sulfa.

By 7pm she barely knew her name, and was talking about too many weird things. By nine she was no better, and by ten she was worse. So, in the dark of night, on the ice, and in the bitter cold we went to the hospital.
(This all, in additon to a very UNwilling CaseyFace)...

The ER doc had never seen anything like it, but did tell us no more of either of those pills for Casey. Oddly enough. they had redid the urinalysis, and there was absolutely NO bacteria anywhere in her sample.

WTH???

I have to bring Roberta to the doctor this morning for an ultrasound. Hopefully Casey will sleep through my absence. I will bring her back to the clinic this afternoon; or as soon as is humanly possible after Berta's appointment.

...God, I hate these days.

XOXO
Anne

 
Thursday January 31, 2008 - 09:17am (CST)

Allergic to Snow?

Allergic to Snow?
Allergic to Snow? magnify
My left hand...
Am watching it to see what happens now.

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Good Morning All;

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I do believe that Wisconsin is closed.

I shoveled and plowed last night to get rid of at least the top layer of everything. And of course by this morning you cannot even tell. Still, it will help lessen what I have to do today, or maybe tomorrow; (not too sure I want to be outside for any length of time today).
Wind Chill Warnings are out, but maybe those will improve too.

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Click for Suamico, Wisconsin Forecast

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Before this all hit yesterday, I went into town to get a few supplies.
First a stop at Petco for the pups here.
A few bags of dogfood; (with my apologies to my birds, I forgot their seed feed)...

Miss Punk had never seen parakeets before...

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...and was very happy just to watch them for a long time.

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But the storm was coming and we had to move on.

Next stop, WalMart.
Now, I don't know how you kids are when you go to Wally World, but I always have to buy a little something for myself when I'm there.
(Take yesterday, I bought some toilet paper, and some detergent; a few spices, and more Safe~T~Step for outside the door).
hehehe

Miss Punk had to stay in the car while I was doing that shopping. After 10 minutes in the store, people were coming in soaking wet! No biggie, it was only rain. A mad dash around the store to get everything on my list, and I was going to be headed for home soon, beating the snow and ice!

But of course it didn't work out that way.
Coming outside, it was no longer raining, but dropping little marbles from the skies.
(I could have been killed for cryin' out loud)!!

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Well CRAP, this is not rain.
AND, it has frozen on my windows just like that!
The temps had dropped THAT fast.
(Punk was NOT amused by the sound that made either).

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And as I pulled out of the space I was in, this is what I saw...

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Ruh~Roh...
OK, so I have driven in winter before.
So I should be able to drive on little frozen marbles.
hehehe
Just really SLOW going.

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Stop at Shell.
Fill the gas tank to the top, add a bottle of Heet.
Fill the Cub Cadets gas can, (add ½ bottle of Heet).
Stop at CVS.
Pick up a prescription.
And finally head'r home.

The roads quickly went from 'bad'...

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...to 'worse'...

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This is the abandoned road in front of my place...
The side of the road being all ice.
(The road was not much better either).
No plows.
No salt.
The rain too quickly freezing on the roadways, and then a layer of snow.

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In one county last night, Green Lake (I think), not too far away, the police had said all roads were impassable. They had pulled the snowplows off the road when the wind kicked up because the snowplow drivers could not see where they were going.

And, as stated above, no salt.
The salt does not work when it is so bitter cold; and they mix a bit with sand around the intersections. People, (those either brave/stupid enough to face these elements) either slow down appropriately early at the intersections, or simply hit the ditch.
Hmmm... I am wondering if that gal that had put her car in the ditch here now has proper winter stuff in her car???

I heard one plow go through here about an hour and a half ago, and ½ an hour later to come back through too. So at least the road has been plowed. A bit.

But we were home in one piece, and after unloading the acr and getting it in the garage, it was time to get outside and clear the doorways and the concrete. I did the driveways and the kennel too.

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(Milly hates when I plow it out).
AND, I had to argue with her to get her inside last night too.
This morning though, she was in no hurry to get out!
hehehe

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With all the snow blowing around I inhaled so many flakes that I swear I almost drowned!

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OK. So it's pretty.
And that's all I'm going to say about that.

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Having the TV on all morning, it seems that everything is closed. Nothing delayed either. And it's not only in NE Wisconsin, but all over the state.

I would like to go to sleep til Spring if you don't mind.

Sadly, I think Caseys fish will be asleep a LOT longer than that.

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And I am NOT about to be checking for a pulse or doing any CPR.
Sorry, "Squishy" RIP
Sorry, Casey...

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Oh, and about my hand. I got bit by something in the woods the other day.
I have NO idea what 'got' me either. I did pick up some Benadryl. Will take it if the swelling doesn't go down...
Now, WHERE THE HECK DO BUGS COME FROM IN THE WINTER????
(
I'll bet one of them bit Squishy too)!

Be Safe today, no matter where you are; especially all of you who are somehow fighting this ridiculous winter!

Love to all!

XOXO
Anne

 
Wednesday January 30, 2008 - 08:39am (CST)

This Just In...

This Just In...

Good Afternoon Everyone;
Hopefully for YOU it is...

As I was making supper, I thought I would just come and check my email, (and of course my beloved blog).

Hindsight being what it is, I should have left the damn email alone.

I shall copy one, verbatim, for you...

~~~~~~~~~

An arctic cold front early Tuesday will drop temps 20~30 degrees in a just a few hours!

The sharp cool down will quickly ice over roads as accumulating snow develops.

West and northwest winds gusting to 45 mph may cause near blizzard conditions, and dangerous wind chills Tuesday Night.

~~~~~~~~~

Why am I neither surprised NOR amused?

~sigh...

When I was in high school I wanted to run away... But never did.
>insert another 'sigh' here<
Wonder if I would have ended up in a warmer place?
Hmm ~Or maybe with a man who loves to shovel (and keep me warm).
...One whom I never would feel the need to shoot either... hehehe

XOXO
Me

 
Monday January 28, 2008 - 04:52pm (CST)

Come Laugh with Me...

Come Laugh with Me...
Come Laugh with Me... magnify
The snow is melting to form some beautiful stalagtites in the back...

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Good Morning all!
As I type it is currently 35° (above zero)!!! Heading into the 40's too.
Un~Freakin~believable! But we'll take it!

Miss Milly, The Punk, and I all went back to the woods yesterday. And even though it was in the upper 20's, I dressed for the snow too... Hat. Two pair of gloves. Snow pants. Two pair of socks (which I still have on)...
And a camera of course...

The snow is so deep still.
My dogs became little "Tiggers" with springs on their feet; and I assumed the 'Snow March' gait. Even with that, and the snow pants tucked where they should be, that darned snow did find its way into my boots at times. But that's ok because the hazy sun was shining on my face!

Our first challenge, (besides that darned snow), was to cross the snowmobile trail without getting run over by the "beelers".

Not that Milly cared...

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She was busy trying to dig out some wild 'mowisses.'
While Miss Punk remained back by me, watching.
Growling at the machines that went through.
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A nice group of 'beelers' too.
Staying on the trail;
slowing when others came from the opposite direction...
Trust me, it is not always this calm on this trail.
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In the past, I have had many grievances with the Snowbirds Snowmobile Club. The people have not stayed on the trails, and they have come way too close to my home.
But the worst part is when I get the end of the driveway cleared out, and those idiots come up the ditch; "jump" the drifts that get built up and break them over the top of my cleared driveway. That, and using the wide open fields as their own raceway of sorts. Like a damned demolition derby- figure 8's, I have waited many times to have to call an ambulance... Lucky that I have never had that particular problem.
Lucky for them...

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Anyway, after waiting a bit yesterday, we crossed that trail during a lull in the traffic.
And continued on.
As we got a bit closer to the woods, I heard a chainsaw. (At least that was my first thought)...

Punk immediately begins to growl.
Following the direction of her head, and where her growl was aimed at, I see a 4~wheeler, and a snowmobile, coming out of the woods. (They stopped when they saw us there)...

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The OLD trail went through the woods; there is still the $30K, and now useless bridge back there. But that is all CLOSED off.
(Guess some people just can't read and comprehend).

Such must have been the case with these two...

Their motors were very quiet as they must have been wondering what to do, and whether I was "friend or foe?"

I took that quiet opportunity and yelled, "That's NOT the trail."

...With this statement, Punk had changed from the throaty growl to a mean sounding bark or two. (Man, I LOVE this dog)!!!

I stood my ground as I clicked off a few more pictures.

Punk stood her ground too. hehehe

After a bit, they made the somewhat intelligent choice of turning around...

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...and taking that silly chainsaw motor back the way they'd come.

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We continued on.
(Miss Milly had LONG since disappeared into the woods).
But I knew where I would find her... down by the river.

It amazed me to see through the trees that there is still open water on the river, given the harsh temperatures that we have had.

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But true to form, Milly was down there.
I told Miss Punk to 'go get Mama~Milly'.
As she began her descent, Milly let out a really weird bark.
Punk stopped, turned around, and came right back to me. Miss Milly was on her way up to us.

As she got closer, I heard that damned chainsaw again...

And a few seconds later I heard the "crack"...

Followed by the "splash"

hehehe! "Idiots"...

We listened from up top the ridge...
Two. No, three voices. (Two had been on the 4~wheeler).
Gathering from what I overheard, it was a dad and his two sons.

I hear a second 'splash'...
And overhear 'dad' telling a kid to "gun it when I lift your back end".
...Then "kneel dammit".

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The 4~Wheeler only half on the bank/ice...
The snowmobile was half in the river!
Sorry, picture is the best I could do under the circumstances...

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Whatever they were doing wasn't working.

Dad soaking wet by now, kid about ready to cry...

Just imagining it all, I leaned against a little tree; laughing so hard that as my shoulders shook, the tree dropped snow on me.

Once again the motors and the voices were very quiet.

Another golden opportunity for me.

'hehehe'

"Ummm"...
"Nope.That ain't the trail either"...

Somebody says something back. Not sure what is was, as BOTH dogs now had taken up the dark menacing warning barking that they do. (Good). But I quieted the beasts for a few seconds, and then asked to those idiots if they had any idea what trespassing laws were for?

Quiet once again. And I hear "go now".

The snowmobile was out of the water.
I see it disappear around the corner, heading west. And can only guess that those three were completely soaked from the waist down. Sure must have been damned cold then to be speeding away; even if it was +29 degrees!

And as I laughed I got more snow on my head...

Yup. Still laughing!

And am hoping you are too!

Best three hours I ever spent in the woods. (Well, almost)!!!

And somewhere, there are three 'boys' who have hopefully learned their lesson.
(And who, by now, may have even thawed out)!

XOXO
Anne

 
Monday January 28, 2008 - 09:37am (CST)