Sunday 23 February 2014

Pride Cometh Before the Snowfall


Hello Everyone!
Just TWO days ago, I was secretly laughing up my long sleeves and acting very smug because Here in Southwestern Canada, specifically Vancouver's Lower Mainland where I live, there was NO SNOW.  "Yes, it was too bad for you guys" I thought.  Everywhere here was green and growing.  There were even signs of an early Spring just around the corner.  Robins were hopping about and singing and tulip bulbs were bursting forth from the ground in my garden by at least 2 inches not to mention some of the creeping plants  which were also beginning to leaf out.... all well ahead of time.  "Ooooooo, ( I rubbed my hands together with secret glee)  winter was almost over and were are soooo lucky to be living here on the west coast", which the rest of Canada has dubbed "Lotus Land" because of its year long mild and temperate climate.  "Not like the rest of Canada buried under and having to dig themselves out!"  And "Oh how I love living here!" heeheehee

                                                                              ***
                                                                           but  alas

                                                        ..... as I said, that was 2 days ago. (sigh)
                                                And here is what comes of being too full of  PRIDE                        
                                                                    
                                                               From NO SNOW to now                                   
                           LOTS and LOTS!!!!  :(                           
The view of my front garden to the right

and the view to the left

My front steps are buried under there somewhere
  BUT at my back door, Max Maxwell and Sadie Bear
 my Snow loving dogs are LOVIN IT
 And it is still coming down hard and heavy.

***
 a lesson learned


I hope
elizabeth

58 comments:

  1. I know exactly what you mean. I recently made that same comment. No snow here. Today, I'm snowed in with a good 8-10" of snow. Had to cancel our Miniature Club meeting. Now I will use my day to "garfield"...yes I shall use it as a "verb", but first a couple more tweaks to my website.
    Stay warm and hope that it all goes away by next weekend for our trip to the Seattle Dollhouse Show. Can't wait.
    fats

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    1. Hi Fats! I wondered it the Miniature Club meeting would be cancelled or not because of this Freak Snowfall. So Sad because I know that you had been greatly looking forward to your club get-together. However, I think that "garfielding " will be an excellent way to help pass the time by being both pro-active and pro-ductive. :)) Perhaps I should "arthur" along with you, cause my poor doll's house has been greatly suffering from Pinterest Neglect. :(

      elizaabeth

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  2. what a marvellous landscape (brrr )

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    Replies
    1. Hi Claude! Yes the landscape IS Marvelous, IF you only having to look at it but Not if you have to shovel it;
      which unfortunately, I Do have to do! :(

      elizabeth

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  3. Oh Elizabeth, that is too funny! It looks like the soft, fluffy kind of snow, so it should be okay. At least you don't have ice! We seem to have had endless snow, followed by thick layers of ice and freezing temperatures.
    I love Max and Sadie! (Your fur babies are adorably cute!) They might as well enjoy the snow as it will all be gone soon. Spring is just around the corner I hope!

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    Replies
    1. Hi Isabelle! Well, it SHOULD be funny and I was laughing yesterday early morning when it all started. "Oh, how pretty, but it won't last!" and for a brief period it looked like it was melting as soon as it fell. But now I have stopped laughing. It is like a blizzard. Steady and strong it comes down and down and down with no end in sight.
      You can well imagine that my poor dogs with their short little legs cannot get very far for their "walkies" before their fur has velcroed up huge snowballs that turn into ice balls on their fur. ><
      ahhhh .... snow ...... :(

      elizabeth

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  4. So I have not to be happy for early. Here in Denmark we have no winter, rather spring, fine spring flowers find their way up. Today I made ​​spring cleaning. I hope we continue and early spring.
    You are so welcome to keep all the snow. It looks so great whit you.

    Hugs
    Wyrna

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    Replies
    1. Hey Wyrna! Take a lesson from me and don't be so quick to count your blessings! hhaahahah Remember that it was a "Faux Spring" here too, not that long ago. Best to be cautious and EXPECT the snow just so it doesn't take you by surprise and later make you eat your words. :(
      just a word to the wise....
      from me
      a repentant

      elizabeth

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  5. It was clearly all your fault Elizabeth! :D It's done nothing but be 100 percent cloudy and rainy here in Ireland, for months, which, is perfectly normal. :D I realised the other day actually, that my miniature hyacinth look oddly tall and gangly compared to other peoples, that is because I copied our real life tall and gangly light starved ones :D Your dogs are lovely :)

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    Replies
    1. Hi Sarah! Funny for days!!! A super tall hyacinth..... hahahhaha .... Yes it was my fault because I was way too smug and optimistic when I saw the beginnings of the tulips and the bit o' green on some of the perennials. Now I will have to be extra careful where I step (and hopefully not crush them) when I have to go outside to WHACK WHACK WHACK the HEAVY snow off of all the shrubbery so that it doesn't break the branches or avalanche on the poor postman as he bravely makes his rounds tomorrow to deliver to me my outrageous heating bills. :0
      hmmm..... on second thought,... maybe I could just leave everything as it is..... ?

      elizabeth

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  6. It looks beautiful...but....I agree it's only fun for the dogs :o

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  7. Hi Lisa! The "BEAUTY" of it is when it first falls.... but as soon as the exhaust from the cars and snowplows etc., start turning it black and ugly and as soon as it rains and turns it into huge slush puddles or as soon as you have to drive it in and the guy in front doesn't know how to and that is nearly EVERYBODY here in Greater Vancouver Including me; THEN it is no longer so Beautiful! :(
    But the dogs love it.
    yes.... the Dogs love it :/

    elizabeth

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  8. Las fotos son idílicas. Aunque la vida diaria debe ser difícíl....

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    Replies
    1. Hi Isabelle! You know, I took the photos before I HAD to go out and clear the snow away, so the pictures do look 'idyllic'. Now I have just come back inside and outside the snow is all churned up and not very pretty to look at anymore. Too bad :(
      But at least now the job is Done and just MAYBE I will work on the Arthur's (Never Ending!!!!) kitchen stairs once again. :((

      elizabeth

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  9. Dear Repentant, lesson learned eh? You are a laugh dear lady :) I don't know much about snow but I know a lot about heat and, speaking personally, I'd rather have cold ;) Swap you?

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  10. Heeheehee
    Well perhaps I spoke more hopefully rather than sincerely, Susan. But having personally gone through my share of Intense Hot Flashes during the height of several sweltering summers, I find that I also know a lot about heat so perhaps this weather IS Better! :/
    (Thanks for reminding me Susan,cause I am humbly 'Repentant' now )

    ..... seriously! :D

    elizabeth


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  11. Hi Elizabeth! I will try not to sound smug over here.... Never say never! Just when you think it is safe.... that is when it comes! Snow has been hitting us regularly this winter... and we had so much piled up that the three days we have just had in the 40's and 50's with rain on top.... didn't even get rid of half of it! *Sigh* Not pretty around here! Not a glimmer of green in sight. And the cold is about to return for the next few weeks I am told.... so I will try hard to Sympathize with you.... Welcome to the Club! LOL! Oh, and I hope you do go "Arthur" a bit..... I need to see some more Elizabeth Magic!!!

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  12. Hi There Betsy! I recall a winter here about 5 years ago where the snow kept falling and I kept shoveling and eventually the mountain of snow grew so high that I couldn't toss the snow on top because it would just slide down again. Honestly there was no place to put it .... Anywhere!!! Then it froze and it became so heavy and nearly impossible to transport. Needless to say, the suburb where I live practically ground to a halt. Piles of frozen snow were seen well into May! What a winter that was.

    But back to the doll's house: Yes, I have at last moved my lazy behind and made an effort to do some more work on POOR ARTHUR. However, it is on the exterior. The stairs continue to haunt me and I'm Afraid of them!!! They are BAD, BAD STAIRS, I tell you,Totally Mean to me! So I am ignoring them and working on something else instead. Something is better than nothing , am I right Betsy?

    (8;50 p m ) I just looked outside again and it has FINALLY STOPPED SNOWING Whoopie!!!! Now perhaps we will get what we Vancouverites are use to and really know how to hate ..... RAIN! :D

    elizabeth

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    Replies
    1. Hi Elizabeth... I had an idea about your BAD BAD Stairs..... perhaps you should "enclose" them along the bottom end... making more wall space to build against? My last Home had tiny ancient twisty stairs inside the walls... with a door at the bottom too! It was really picturesque and antique (truly... the house was built in 1822).... but it also made the room more of a room not a hallway if you know what I mean? I might have to try this in the Folly... I have a similar layout... we could fight over whose kitchen is the smallest Baddest space! LOL! Just an idea!

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    2. Hi Betsy! Two heads are better than one! I had thought of enclosing at least the upper half of the staircase that opens to the kitchen because you are right, it WOULD give me more wall space which is a valuable piece of real estate in this house! I had not thought of a door though which is an interesting idea that I will consider. The immediate drawback would be how would any of the furniture make it upstairs if that corner was any tighter than what it already is? I'll do an mock up wall and see what it will look like. Meanwhile the stairs are made and ready to be installed and once you see them I am sure that you and probably everyone else will wonder at my struggles ...
      hmmm..... me thinks it looks like Much Ado about NOTHING

      and you would be right :]

      elizabeth

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  13. Salut Elizabeth !
    Ici, pas de neige cet hiver, les températures sont très douces (sauf les matins). Je reste prudente car une année, quasiment identique à celle-ci, un matin, nous avions 45cm de neige à pelleter avant de pouvoir sortir de la maison. Mes petits caniches adoraient la neige ... pas moi !
    C'est superbe à la montagne, mais dans les villes, non !
    Bon courage, le printemps, le vrai est proche.
    Bisous. rosethé

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    Replies
    1. Hello Rosethe'! I thank you for your very encouraging words. I felt that Spring was already near when all of this snow suddenly dumped on us. I think that so many of us recall the really bad and Freakish snow storms because, as you have mentioned, we are the ones that have to go out and repeatedly shovel it to the side so that we can get out of our houses, whether they are in the country or the city! That is the only reason I remember the one that I told Betsy about earlier. Anyway, it has stopped snowing now and I am once more optimistic! :))
      However, my work on the doll's house is not going so well. I decided to try something new on the exterior and after several hours of much work, I have decided to remove it all and begin again. Nothing is going according to plan Rosethe'! What to do? What to do? ... Oh Well,.... Back to PINTEREST! :D

      elizabeth

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  14. Hi Elizabeth, At least it looks beautiful and gives you quiet time at home. I speak from my recent experience with the snow that hit us. If you're not snowed in, will you be attending the Seattle Miniatures Show? I'll probably attend. If we're both there, I'd love to meet you after the shopping. ;-) xo Jennifer

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  15. Hi Jennifer! Yes!!! Both Fatima and I are planning to attend the show next Sunday, God willing, and are really looking forward to it. I'd love to meet you too Jennifer: how Marvelous!!! :D

    elizabeth

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  16. Hi Elizabeth! A lot has been said about the snow, but personally I am a bit disappointed........'cause I LOVE SNOW BUT IT ISN'T HERE!!!! ;) Spring is here just around the corner: the birds are whistling, making their nests, yes, they really do :D! In my garden the first flowers are in bloom: snowdrops are out of flower, crocuses are in full bloom, even the daffodils are peeping with their heads above of the soil (not blooming yet). BUT: this is all to early, so I am getting a bit afraid what will happen here, if I read your blogpost and we all here think it will be spring soon.......;)!
    I have another remedy against the heavy snowfall in your place: my snowman beary Schepje! Okay, he is a bit small, but he can work terrific with snow :D LOL!! I guess that if he could work in your garden for shoveling all that snow he would be busy for years, the poor lad ;)!
    I just read the comment of Jennifer: oh, I hope you can go to the Seattle Miniatures Show and that you and Fatima can meet her, that would be so lovely :D! Keep up with all that snow and maybe you can visit the show this coming weekend, I'll keep my fingers crossed for you and Fats!
    I am glad that your doggies love the snow ;)!
    Big hug, Ilona

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    1. Hi Ilona! I have no problems with snow as long as it happens the day Before Christmas and disappears exactly 2 days later! By then I have had enough and I don't wish to see it again. So I hope that you can see that I am entirely sympathetic to your disappointment! :) Last night as I wrote to Betsy, the snow has stopped altogether (hooray). Widespread Relief! However, I awoke to another 3 inches of the white stuff which is still going strong and which I had to go out and re-shovel and then violently shake it off of the snow- deformed hedge that always gets the worst of it. On the Plus Side: all of that shoveling and shaking has worked out my dormant muscles and perhaps I'll get skinny? :) maybe? :o
      My big concern now is the road trip to the Seattle Miniature Show. The road down to Seattle leads up through some higher elevations. If this keeps up will Fats and I be able to attend? THAT is the Million dollar question.

      elizabeth
      p.s. Beary Schepje would Adore it here Ilona! But he may need help

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  17. No snow here - it's raining.

    The snow might be coming down thick and fast in your neck of the woods but it DOES look lovely! Even lovelier when you're inside looking out!

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    1. Hi Irene! I agree! It is very pretty and as I write this I am facing the window and watching it fall and it is so pure and makes the landscape 'other worldly!' I would have enjoyed it more however, 2 1/2 months ago.
      In January My fragrant hedge burst into bloom. Normally reserved for March, it put out the most intensely sweet floral fragrance which I eagerly look forward to every year but this time they only lasted a few days before the blossoms were Wiped Out by several weeks of FREEZING COLD.:((
      Then more warm weather with Spring in the air :))
      and Now This!? :((
      Arrrgh!!!!
      But it IS lovely looking out :)

      elizabeth

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  18. I can't believe you still have that much snow in late February! Well, the world climate IS crazy. It's been hellish hot and heavy rains & floods at several places here in Brazil (luckily not where I live, but we did have some heavy hails too). Stay safe!

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    1. Hi Evelyne! I can't believe that we have any in the first place! You are right though, the world climate IS crazy. Nothing seems as it should be. I can't imagine living where you are right now either. HAIL in Brazil? That is WILD!
      Strange days indeed!

      elizabeth

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  19. Hello Elizabeth,
    I don't like snow and I wait for Spring too :-)
    but I see your doggies love winter.
    Magda

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    1. Hi Magda! I don't say that I don't like it..... I just don't like it NOW!
      For everything there is a time and a season and to me the season for snow is at Christmas and that is it! :D
      Otherwise it is "Snow go home"
      My dogs DO Love the snow and it is good exercise for them to be out and about in it! They roll in it, dive into it and chase each other around in it. They are a mess when they come in and it makes me smile when I dry them down with a big fluffy towel which they also love. :D

      elizabeth

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  20. Hola Elizabeth, muchas gracias por tus amables palabras y por hacerte seguidora.
    Yo tambien empiezo a seguir tu blog a partir de ahora.
    Un abrazo.

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    Replies
    1. Hello Eloisa! I have to say it was while I was on Pinterest that I saw your "Cocktail Glasses" tutorial and was blown away by your ingenuity and creativity! I loved the Cleverness of how you combined the various components and so I was very happy to join your blog as a follower! :D
      I Welcome you to mine too!

      elizabeth

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  21. Oh Elizabeth, hon, I do feel sadness for you and your spring bulbs!

    I too know the cold sting of winters smug smile, it throws its icy stare at me each day and while we survived three feet of snow, freezing weather and its frosty doom....it is not done taunting us yet ;(

    I embrace you as a sister of spring and warmth we will shine sunny thoughts on this bitter winter blast and prevail soon...SOON!!

    Hugs, Js

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    1. Alack and Alas Madame Fanaicus, I have very little hope for the bulb situation. I shall just have to wait until the snow melts to see if any of them survived my Big Feet! I feel that you may be right however Jane, in that it is not likely to leave us soon. YOUR 3 feet of snow has sent a shiver down my spine! (pun intended) I think that here it has reached about 10- 12 inches maybe. Hard to say exactly because the weight of it all topples off of the roofs and is shoved to the sides by the snow plows and shovels.
      I embrace you too Sister of Springtime! and as Evelyne said " Stay Safe!" :))

      elizabeth

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  22. Hi Elizabeth
    We just got slammed last week and now that the weather is nicer they said we would be flooded but...no flood and now we are having more snow..it's supposed to snow until tues. oh my aching back..we moved everything down in the basement on to pallets..it took days to do that and then to fill some sandbags just in case now we have snow..oh the irony..I think someone is going to punch out our weatherman..

    stay warm

    Hugs
    Marisa

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    Replies
    1. Hi Marisa! You have sent me into hysterics!!!! The Poooor Weatherman, he had better watch his back! :D
      I live on a hill in a suburb that is 90% hills and have never given major flooding a second thought except when my water tank "gave up the ghost" the day before New Years. I had water all over the furnace room and everything that was stored in there had to be moved out! I have since placed some of wood furniture down there up on bricks after I moved everything back in, just to be on the safe side,..... cause you never know!

      elizabeth

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  23. Well I wouldn't like to have so much snow in my street... Well, you never know, no real winter so far in Orléans but winter is not over yet...
    Geneviève

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  24. Hi Genevieve! :D You are right! Winter is not over yet and I hope it does not happen to you in Orleans like it seems to be happening in so many places, where the weather patterns act out of character for the area. The spring weather in January and early February was out of character for here. It was way too soon. I fear for the Robins that had made the long journey home to build their nests because Now What? I love to watch the birds in the gardens and it saddens me that they may perish for lack of food or shelter. ... But I must stop worrying because I know that God takes care of them and provides for them too. :)

    Snow snow... it is time for you to Go!

    elizabeth

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  25. Cierto que la nieve es un poco engorrosa, y sus plantas habrán sufrido. Animo que pronto llega la primavera, feliz semana:-)

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  26. Hello Rosa Maria! Update: It is now snowing wet snow which is causing the drier snow to fall to the ground in heavy heaps! Oh my poor plants!
    Oh well,..... what can you do? :/

    elizabeth

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  27. Ohh! Also grow in my garden flowers (Hungary). I hope I have not come snow!
    I just love the snow between Christmas and New Year. But this winter not been. Now you can does not it! :)
    I hope you do not freeze your flowers!
    kiss

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  28. Hi Anda! I'm with you! Snow is now falling heavier than it was this morning and I have given up hope for my early spring bulbs. Well that is just the way the snow flies, so they say. And there is always Next Spring!
    enjoy your good weather there in Hungary. :))

    elizabeth

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  29. haha! it's very funny! I do not laugh too because I also I look for three days
    my garden and flowers that emerge. I say great, winter goes. Now ... I say softly .... softly ... I do not want him back. your pictures are beautiful. I think the snow is always something magical. it becomes all children before the snow! .... but shhh! it does not snow this year in my garden. I look forward to the primptemps

    je vous embrasse ...chaudement .. haha !

    catherine

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  30. Hi Catherine! Just before the snowfall, there was the emerging tulip bulbs and also snow drops, heather and the spanish bluebell. Today the snow has begun melting and it seems that the bulbs under shelter are still upright, it remains to be seen what still lies undercover, but I hope that the strength of the plants will have been able to withstand the weight of the snow and also the ice beneath it. :(
    But as I write this, the sun has lit up the sky which is now a clear blue with only a greasy grey smudge of cloud, way off in the distance. Perhaps Spring is Again, just around the corner?
    Enjoy YOUR Spring time garden Catherine and continue to speak to the winter softly... softly.... softly...... ( just to be on the safe side)
    and a warm embrace to you too! :D

    elizabeth

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  31. Sound a bit like Sweden.. We didn't have any snow, and then there were lots =) A few days, but I have a cold so I had to stay inside =( Too bad for me that loves snow. But my daughter got to ride a plastic sledge before the snow just disappeared as fast as it came down.. And yesterday the sun was shining and it looked like spring already. Maybe spring will get back to you soon too.
    (Btw your dogs are very cute! and your garden looks great!! =) I imagine it looks even better in the spring time =) )
    Hannah

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    Replies
    1. Hello Hannah! You are right on so many counts! Today is Thursday and although there is still snow on the ground, it is quickly melting away! There is a lot of tree damage and I have seen many tree limbs broken and lying on the ground because of the weight of that 2 day storm. A large hedge that surrounds my house will need some professional care because of all the damage but the bulbs have survived!!!! :D This makes me very happy! :D
      Some of the local children took a sledge ride down a small hill on the end of my property and there are many little snowmen dotting the landscape around the neighborhood. I am glad that your daughters got a chance to enjoy the snow Hannah, but do take care of your cold. There has been a nasty virus going around and likes to overstay it's welcome.
      The garden is in chaos right now but I have to say that it is very pretty late spring. And of course, my dogs.... they are always cute to me! Thank you! :D

      elizabeth

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  32. No one wants to see snow when you are longing for Spring! We had one warm week here in Texas. This week is back to cold. I don't like it! But like you said the dogs love this weather.
    hugs♥,
    Caroline

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    Replies
    1. Hi Caroline! I didn't know that you lived in Texas! Here I was always thinking that you were a California Girl!? :)
      I think that the smells are intensified for the dogs when they are out in the cold, perhaps that is why they enjoy it so much. They don't much care for the rain but they really love the snow! :))

      elizabeth

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  33. Oh my Elizabeth S! Too too funny! I wonder what those poor plants were thinking under all of that snow (do plants think?) LOL I think I can hear your puppies snickering.

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  34. Hi Grandmommy! Today, upon inspection, I have found the plants have not only survived but they look like nothing even happen in the first place? The robins are back and life has picked up as though it was all a dream and it is time to wake up! So much for all of my useless worrying! That should teach me!
    The puppies they always seem to have the final word around here... All the time! I am just here to feed them and do their biding! :D

    elizabeth

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  35. Yay for snow!!! This winter has been crazy... and I'm loving every inch of snow! We are expected to get up to 8 more inches tomorrow. So excited!!! Your dogs are super adorable as well. I just want to reach into the computer and give them a hug! :)

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    Replies
    1. Hi Lindsey! I know that there will always be the "difficult" ones in the bunch! :D
      Though I am glad that you enjoy the snow, now that the majority of it has been washed away with the following winter rains, I can safely say "Yay for snow" too; now that it is gone! hahahah
      And Max and Sadie would just love to have hugs from you, so speaking for them both, I will say "Thank You".... woof woof :]

      elizabeth

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  36. I hope that doesn't happen over here, because I'll be planting new plants in my garden tomorrow. The sight of everything covered in snow is awesome, in my humble opinion. However, I vote for it to only stay for one week a yearand suggest we all get that week off from work ;)
    Your dogs look sooooo cute!
    Hugs,
    Gee

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  37. Hi Gee! Oooh, I know that you said you will be planting just to make me JEALOUS! :[
    I agree with the idea of Snow for one week only and a week off from work.... WITH PAY!
    Uh oh.... Now I'm dreaming of a White Christmas?
    Spring... Spring.... where are you?!!!!

    elizabeth

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  38. Hi Elizabeth!! Probably by now the snow is gone. As Lisa said, it's fun only for the dogs....my dogs love snow too and it's really cute to see them play with it....but otherwise it can stay where it is.....your place!! :) :) :) Anyway, the landscape look always magical and amazing all white!!

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  39. Hi Simona! Yes, the snow is GONE and the sun is shining today and the sky is a clear blue with cotton balls of clouds collecting along the ridge of mountains in the distance.
    God is Good but now all is revealed......MY GARDEN IS A MESS! :( Got to get to work and get it ready for Spring. Looking forward to it too. :)) What a difference a month can make!

    elizabeth

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