We awakened to the first snow and a feeling of serious melancholy for me. Autumn snow does that to me, together with the inevitable tough stuff that life throws our way.
It is amazing, however, that Shyla's enthusiasm for life almost always rubs off on me.
When we first went out into the snow, she kicked up her heels and zoomed!
Unfortunately, I can't let her have quite the freedom that she usually has during our bike rides. A mountain lion has killed at least one deer near our house, and the deer bones are strewn everywhere. We've learned from tough experience that Labs are not smart about what they swallow, including large bones. (K had to have surgery to remove deer bones from her stomach and intestines on one occasion.) So, Shyla has been confined to a "heel" next to my bike recently.
Or, when I fiddle with my camera, she does a "stay" like in the photo below. In case you're wondering, she's staring into the area where the mountain lion killed the deer. Shyla is a good dog - what a temptation sits out there! The coyotes should finish off the bones soon, making the forest safer for our pups.
When I heard that it was going to snow, I thought that the snow might bring down all the aspen leaves, which are reaching their peak autumn color in a very small elevation range that includes our house. I was wrong.
Ever so briefly, as I pedaled my snowbike, the sun shined through the storm clouds. It was like dawn in mid-morning, as the leaves began to glow in their snowy cloaks.
The sun didn't last for long before the clouds began to close in on us.
And, it started snowing again. Because the aspens have leaves, many trunks were bent all the way to the ground. Believe it or not, this is a trail that is normally clear and wide. Leaning aspens blocked most of it today. Some were uprooted due to the 18" of rain a couple of weeks ago and very wet soil. I love aspens so I was sad to see the uprooted ones.
But my main memory of the day will be the brief sunshine and glorious leaves.
Gorgeous photographs of the snow-covered Aspen leaves. Hope you don't lose too many of them.
ReplyDeletelovely......xo
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pics but we hate to see snow on the trees with leaves cuz we hate it when the branches break under the weight too. We love trees and just don't have enough of them!
ReplyDeleteYour Pals,
Murphy & Stanley
I know the snow is kind of a sad sight, but the colors of the leaves mixed with the white it just spectacular!
ReplyDeleteSafe travels. :)
What a cook contrast with the yellow leaves and the white snow. I hope the snow doesn't last long. It's way too early in the year.
ReplyDeleteGlorious colours, Shyla is truly a " Mountain Girl" and may her happiness and joy stay right there with you every day. I ,too, am trying to find Two Good Things, as the days slowly continue, and sure enough, there they are. Love those close-up pics, you use that lens to the max. Fond greetings, Jean.
ReplyDeleteLove the pictures of the snow and aspens...truly spectacular! Shyla also looks spectacular. Love the snow on her nose. (I think I like that word spectacular). Thanks 24 paws of Love for reminding me of it. Glad Syyla is so well trained and smart. And you for thinking about the deer bones :-)
ReplyDeleteBarb. And our 4 furkids
Hard to believe you have snow! Our temp is supposed to drop dramatically tomorrow....we are getting your system. The leave with the snow and Shyla's beauty make for gorgeous photos!
ReplyDeleteThose aspen leaves covered in snow are spectacular. Why can coyotes eat deer bones and not labs?
ReplyDeleteWe're having a beautiful day reaching nearly 80 today.
XXXOOO Daisy, Bella & roxy
Good question, Scotsmad! I was told by the vets that a dog's stomach isn't acidic enough to digest a whole big bone. Maybe a coyote's stomach is more acidic. And, perhaps they are smart enough to gnaw the bone into tiny pieces rather than swallowing it whole!
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful. Thanks for this!
ReplyDeleteJust seeing that first picture of Shyla with that dollop of snow on her nose should lift your spirits. There always seems to be something magical that happens to dogs when their paws touch the first real snow of the season. They always seems to go into a zoomie frenzy.
ReplyDeleteCindy
Oh! Those leaves... Thanks.
ReplyDeleteWhat a good girl Shyla. We listen only when we want to. We heard on the TV snow was headed your way
ReplyDeleteBenny & Lily
Those orange and yellow leaves beneath the snow are gorgeous! We have found that trees that bow way down under the weight of snow often do not break, but come back up again. Mother Nature must love the beauty of them as much as we do.
ReplyDeleteCheers and hugs,
Jo, Stella and Zkhat
We love the snow on the autumn leaves! Yes, we know that it can be dangerous and so not healthy for the trees but it's soooooooooo beautiful ♥
ReplyDeleteWe love that first picture with the snow on your nose, Shyla!
I thought of you when I heard about the snow on the news. Beautiful photos!
ReplyDeleteWe love your first snow!
ReplyDeletelove
tweedles
Your photos make the first snow loos really beautiful. I know it's a bittersweet day as winter comes so close to a season that you'd like to last longer.
ReplyDeleteOh my. Those photos were just so amazing. If only we could pop over to your place to visit and have a cuppa. Thanks for sharing. Take care mates. No worries, and love, Stella and Rory (and Carol)
ReplyDeleteSnow! What gorgeous photos! I can understand your sense of melancholy considering the long winter that looms ahead for you, but I'm glad you have Shyla to show you the bright side!
ReplyDeleteI don't know of any dog who could resist the temptation of deer bones.
Love the first photo of Shyla--so cute!
Susan and Wrigs
Labs and snow nose! LOL! I swear they do it because they know it makes us laugh.
ReplyDeleteLovely Pictures!
ReplyDelete