Snack attack

I've found a new human snack I like - raisins.  They're a bit like rabbit droppings but not as earthy and a lot sweeter.  My human prefers that I eat them instead of rabbit droppings so I guess it's a win win situation for me.

Grass

I walked on grass today for the first time in over two weeks.  Ah it was lovely, so soft and warm - well actually it was wet and muddy but it felt so good after weeks of snow and ice.

Here are a couple of then and now shots.

Where's the fence gone?

Hey look, they put the fence back....

Dig out + 7

It's been 7 days since the last snowflake fell and the dig out continues.  Diggers and lorries have been hard at work removing snow from the streets and most of the pavements are clear.  There's the odd householder who is too lazy to clear their sidewalk so I save my pee for outside their property.   It's a valuable service I provide, although I am in danger of serious dehydration on some routes.

Ice is the biggest problem now; not under foot as I use 4 paw drive when it gets slippy, it's the stuff that is falling from the roofs.  Some of the icicles are over 2 feet long: if one of those fell off it could skewer me like a suckling pig.

The salt is really starting to hurt my paws.  It gets between my toes and itches like mad, so then I start licking them and they get all red and sore.  My human has started washing them after my walk which at first was a bit odd but now I'm really enjoying a soak and foot massage after pounding the streets.

I'm very disappointed by the lack of snowmen, woman or children.  The only one I have seen is the one in the picture below.  Nobody seems to play out.  The only people I see are a handful of other dogs and their humans and even then it's only the hardy breeds like me that are out.  All the little yappie things must do their stuff indoors when it's cold or wet because you never see them out when the weather is bad.

Normality

Some semblance of normality is returning to my life.  My human is back at work meaning I can get on with my day in peace.... sleeeeeeep!  There is still loads of snow around although people are starting to dig out - I even saw a sidewalk this morning.  It's really dangerous getting around, most of the sidewalks still haven't be cleared so I have to walk in the road a lot.  There are huge piles of snow at junctions and most of the roads are still only single lane so I have to be really careful I don't get squished by some nutter in an SUV.  I  have to keep away from buildings as huge chunks of snow keep sliding off.  I tell you, if I'm in the path of a roof avalanche I'll look like the abominable snowdog.  Lorries loaded with snow have been passing my apartment all day.  I think they are taking it to Vancouver so the olympic athletes have something to ski on.

For the record: official snowfall for 'Snowmageddon' and 'Snowmageddon II' was 48 inches!  And there may be more on the way.... brilliant!

Snowmageddon II

Can you believe it, we've had another 14 inches of snow today - that's a total of 44 inches since Friday. It is now officially the snowiest winter in DC history. It's ace!!! I love it. I managed to get out this morning for a quickie but I've been confined to barracks for the rest of the day and I am sooooooooo bored. It should be great having my human here all day but she's working and doesn't want to play. She wouldn't take me out as the government were advising people to stay indoors as it was so dangerous. It cleared up a bit at 4 so we ventured out. I wish I could get off the lead and go for a proper run in the stuff. The square across the street from us reminds me of being at the seaside, the drifting snow looks like sand dunes, I begged to go for a run through it but she wouldn't let me off.

Still not sure what is going on with the videos so you'll have to make do with photos for now.

Video problems

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Blizzard

It's a good job I'm a hardy dog and my human loves me enough to take me out in this. To be honest I didn't really enjoy this morning's walk but when nature calls one has to answer it. She's at home again today so no rest for me. Come to think of it it's about time she was at her computer working hard.

Snow joke

It's snowing again - yippeeeee!!!! We are supposed to get another 10 or so inches by tomorrow night. I hope they don't bring that blinking snow blower out again though. They woke me up this morning with their noise. Don't they realise I need my beauty sleep? Talking of which I haven't been able to get much these last few days as my human has been working at home. When she's at work I spend most of my day asleep on her bed. When she's working at home I have to check up on her every hour or so just to make sure she's working hard, earning money to keep me in the lifestyle I'm accustomed to. I can't have her slacking off.

Get out there

Ok it was nice when it was coming down but now the dig out has begun I'm starting to loose interest. It's also getting really difficult to get around. It's freezing out there, literally. The salted roads and sidewalks are sheets of ice. There is so much snow the only way I can get around is either in the road or where the sidewalk has been cleared but they are as slippery as an eel. I look like I'm break-dancing when I try to walk, and as for cocking my leg, well forget it. I need all paws on the floor for stability.

We tried to get out in the country in the car this afternoon, after she'd dug it out of course. The 4x4 was struggling for grip on the main roads which were little more than sheets of ice. If it wasn't for the other cars on the road it would have been brilliant fun but most of the drivers that were out were complete idiots.

The Day After

I went out early this morning. It's a beautiful day but really, really cold. Navigating is a bit tricky at times, I walk down a dug out path only to find a 10 foot wall of snow at the other end. I got through to my favourite walk which has been partly cleared. Outside of the trench is still far too deep for my little legs. Unofficial estimates are of 30 inches: my human isn't very tall and the snow comes to the top of her thigh. My estimate is... it's deep, real deep.

We are going to the country this afternoon for a run in the snow.

The storm is over

Hours of snow: 28
Accumulation: at least 28 inches
Conditions: Damn it's cold out there.  Stopped snowing.
Walking difficulty: 4 - very icy where the snow has been partially cleared but way too deep to walk where it hasn't.
Peeing difficulty: 2 - operation splash and dash in full operation - it's blinking cold
Four paw drive: Intermittent use and traction control required at times.
Number of times the plow has been passed: 5 - I can almost see the tarmac.
Excitability factor: 7 - it's too cold to enjoy myself
Traffic level: the cars came out as soon as the snow stopped.
Number of snowmen: I can just see the head of one
Number of fallen trees: 5
Observations: Temperatures are falling rapidly so my human started to clear the car.  It took her 40 minutes to dig it out using a floor mop and an ice scraper.  

Winter storm walk: number 4

Hours of snow: 26
Accumulation: about 28 inches - nearer 4 feet in the drifts
Conditions: Strong wind, moderate snow fall
Walking difficulty: 9 - haven't seen a plow for hours
Peeing difficulty: 7 - plenty of yellow snow around.
Four paw drive: Permanent 4 paw drive, traction and stability control in full use.
Number of times the plow has been passed: I haven't seen one for hours
Excitability factor: 8 - the novelty is wearing off a bit and my paws are cold
Traffic level: skiers and walkers only.
Number of snowmen: 0 - all the kids are helping clear the snow
Number of fallen trees: 5
Observations:  Still snowing but not as bad as earlier.  More humans out enjoying the historic event and taking photos