Snow Dog

It’s been a snowy winter. RailGuy and Pookie the corgi are dedicated walkers, but the deep snow has limited their trail choices. Today, the weather was mild and calm and we decided to take Pookie out for a walk along the St. Lawrence River, where trails had been cleared through the park. We all enjoyed the change of scenery.

With her thick coat, Pookie is rarely put off by cold temperatures and even loves a romp in the snow.

While we stuck to the trails, Pookie had fun burrowing and rolling in the frosty, fluffy flakes.

It’s nice to see one of us is still enjoying winter! The rest of us are ready for spring.

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Nightowls

RailGuy is an Early-to-bed-Early-to-Rise kind of guy. As the evening hour enters into double digits, he starts to nod off and is ready to retire. I, on the other hand, am more of a night owl. I enjoy the stillness of the house late at night when the day is done. I often sit up and read far later than is sensible.

I don’t sit alone. As soon as RailGuy relinquishes his chair, it is taken over by the cats. That’s Tonka on the left, with his dear friend and companion Capone nestled in beside him. Arthur holds down the chairback position. Pookie the corgi curls into the chair to the right. She keeps an eye out for any sign that I might be getting up and heading for bed, the moment when she receives her midnight treat.

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First Snow Blanket 2012

I woke up on Monday morning to a blanket of snow glistening in the sun. It took me by surprise, probably because I dozed through the evening weather report the night before. It was also a bit surprising because, up until the weekend, we had been enjoying a stretch of beautiful mild days, Indian Summer.

The corgis were quite delighted with the change in the landscape, and set about galloping to and fro. Remy and Pookie (whose name has been officially upgraded to the less sissified Macy) are the grandogs, visiting for the week. They’re sturdy little dogs, really more big dogs on short legs, and their thick coats keep them warm regardless of how cold the weather is.

We went down to the barn together to feed the horses. Well, me and Remy went down to the barn. Pookie takes a dim view of these large creatures and prefers to wait at the house. Teddy was glad to see us. Like any strapping young fellow, he loves his food and if patient waiting fails to bring me, he calls to me in his mournful donkey voice, “I’m hungry! Come feed me!”

Older and more rotund, Louis isn’t as concerned about breakfast but once it arrives, he joins the others.

Here’s Czarina, with the morning sun lighting up the red highlights in her chestnut coat.

Once the horses were fed, the dogs and I took a little stroll down the laneway. Just on Sunday, the snowplowing contractor stopped by to mount orange marker posts along the roadway. I don’t know if he is paid by the job or by the season. If the former, I imagine he is hoping for a snowy winter. I’m hoping for enough snow to protect my garden from temperature shifts.

Here’s the cornfield nest door, looking like a choppy sea of white waves. The sun felt warm and the air was still and quiet, but the thermometer read -5 C and the snow didn’t melt away.

And here’s the car. Winter means snowbrushes and ice scrapers for northern drivers but this little dusting of snow was easily brushed away. Hopefully, it will be a few weeks before we have anything more bothersome to contend with.

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Another Summer in the Garden

In spite of a paucity of attention from the head gardener this spring, the garden is looking beautiful. The late June garden is dominated by the Giant Fleeceflower (Persicaria polymorpha). This is its third year, and it has now achieved impressive dimensions. It’s over 6 feet tall and about the same wide. The white plumes are at their most eye-catching in the morning and the evening, when backlit by the low sun. Persicaria polymorpha is well-behaved, not given to sprawling onto its neighbours nor intent on invading garden spaces farther afield. If you have enough space, it is highly recommended.

This spring, I dug out an additional couple of feet around one edge of the persicaria bed in order to improve the flow of the pathway sight line. Railguy has been very helpful in other garden expansion work and was primarily responsible for clearing out a section of overgrown shade garden and installing a pathway.

The garden angel looks quite at home in her new location. She holds a shallow dish where insects can find water without risk of drowning.

Railguy has also been working on redefining and clearing out the overgrown east border garden. This weekend, the corgis were visiting, and Remy took an active interest in the digging process. He attempts to catch each clod as it is tossed out of the garden.

Pookie takes the sensible position that gardens should be restful places where one can refresh one’s soul.

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