Got Milk?

Ok so it isn’t milk….but it sure looks like I’m in one of those Got Milk ads doesn’t it?  Whatever you call it, snow, nieve, neige,  frozen water, a damned pain in the ass….I love this stuff . You can even see how hard my paws are working as I cut through the snow.  I have grip extraordinaire;   no yaktrax for me.  This picture was taken on Sunday morning…it didn’t start to snow until Friday morning. Isn’t nature amazing?
It really helps that  our huge snowfall  has dried out a lot  since  it arrived.   When I went out about 10 p.m. on Saturday night  the road was booby trapped with thick snow over a lot of  puddles.  My owner and I both slopped right into a deep one (not fun!).  The temperature  fell  taking a lot of moisture with it….that wet sticky stuff is really tough on my feet  when it turns into ice balls.   As easy as I found the River Trail today, it  was  tough for the humans  to negotiate.  Luckily some cross-country skiers and then some runners had been out and back several times.  This pounded down the snow to allow them, not yours truly as I have  good paws and even better claws,  to make our unsteady way out to the old bridge and back.  It was a slow trip as we had to take a lot of photos. 


There will be no more  climbing up to Ajax Peak, Ingram Basin, Blue Lakes or any of those places until  June for us.  Some people risk going up there with their snowshoes  but they are much more mountain savvy than we are.  We have no experience hiking into back country with avalanche danger. I mean who would want to mess with that kind of thing.  You can see in the video below  how powerful they can be. This one was dynamite triggered.  Our ski area is avalanche controlled to keep us all as safe as possible. We have never seen  a  real avalanche but the raw power of  this video makes us cautious about venturing out where we don’t belong. In the little town of Ophir the residents were held captive for several days a year or so ago from a big slide.   Everyone took good care of each other and many little parties were held to avoid cabin fever.
Last December the Telluride area received so much snow  that  we couldn’t go for our morning walks without hearing dynamite charges going off  up close to the ski area – before anyone was allowed on  the slopes obviously.  It makes you realise that real people are out there keeping  the  mountains safe for us to enjoy ourselves…..where they don’t go we don’t go. (sometimes the videos work better the second time through…buffering and all…make sure your sound is on! )

We tend to stick to the tried and true trails over the winter months. It was great to get out today and see that cross country skiers are already  enjoying all this white stuff. The difficult  question  is where the heck am I supposed to go when they are passing me on their skis?  Is there a rule about this?  Curly-haired  Alpha  seems to think I need to step off the path…well easy for him but it was up to my nostrils and I could have suffocated.   To me the skier needs to get out of my way because they don’t sink nearly as badly as I do.  However, he   has never listened to me so he’s not going to start now.








I  made a new friend that I thought was my old pal  Rusty for a moment. It only took a sniff to realise I  was mistaken.   We had a quick chat about how strange humans can be.   He  told me he was out on the prowl ownerless!  Now that I  would love to try.  I’m no longer constantly under lock and key (read leash) but always under watch.  They still have never allowed  me head out alone and roam around town.    Nine years old (X7) and never allowed out on the loose…excluding the one time I ran into the field where all the coyotes live.  I survived so what’s the big deal? Of course there is that fine  they would have to pay if I got nabbed by the dog catcher….but why should that bother me?   My Rusty look-a-like pal took off on me and left me dreaming of what it would be like to be footloose and fancy free.
Just as he ran away  we noticed more beautiful scenery.  We had never before seen  sepia tones that sang out loud.    Before you know it this snow will have fallen and the ethereal effect will be gone until the next dusting.   Even I try not to brush the snow off the lower branches.  I don’t do this because I care about the beauty.  The wetter I get the longer I have to lie on my mat in the front entryway. 


Soon this bridge leading to Lift 7 will be lit up with fairy lights.  It is hard to make a magical environment more magical but those lights do just that. 
  
  As the winter solstice approaches,  yes I am a learned dog, change is in the air.    Summer clothes have moved to the garage in special ziplock bags…who knew? Quilts have been replaced with comforters. Fuzzy slippers lie haphazardly in the  hallway.  I tripped over a pair yesterday which really irked; I am losing my sight it appears.  Candles are being lit and lining our windowsills to warm the night for travellers to and from their homes.   Our little heater is doing what it can to warm our toes.  Specially spiced cookies are cooling on the counter. Who is going where for tree season  is a topic of conversation along with do you want turkey or roast beef….I’ll eat anything folks. I have never been fussy about my meat.    See ya later. 

(again buffering works best the second time through….patience eh?  I’m new at this and doing my dog (ha) gone best!)

Flickr Tags: Telluride,dog,Telluride avalanche video

Always wanted to live in the neighbourhood – with snow!

 

Woke up this morning and burrowed deep down under the covers.  Curly- headed Alpha popped up right away because he had to head to Clarkes across the street to get his caffeine fix.  I heard my owner ask, “did it snow.”  “No”, he replied.  “OK then I’m staying in bed for another hour.”  I snuggled closer to her relieved to not have to head out  because it wasn’t quite light outside. Suddenly she poked her head out from under her pillow  and said, “I think it is snowing now.” And it was.  Everyone came to life.  We LOVE snow.  Call us weird, call us bizarre, call us downright loco,  …we love that white stuff.  Clothes were thrown on, jackets dug out of the closet, old Uggs  that can get wet slid on happy feet and out we went.  We love snow so much that we went the long way to get the coffee.  Now THAT is devotion to the fluffy stuff.  I did mention last posting, however, that no one bothered to figure out where MY coat was so look at me….I’m dressed in a snow blanket but it was worth it.

  

Now snow means different things to different people.  For many in Telluride  it is their livelihood.  All of the lifties who have come to town are excited to see snow falling because the hill opens in just under two weeks.  Shop owners are excited because visitors will come to town and pick up gifts for their friends and family who didn’t accompany them  this trip.  Restaurant owners are happy because all that altitude and  fresh-air exercise makes for some hungry folks.   For a huge percentage of people in  town it  means getting out on the slopes and skiing and snowboarding their tails off….OK, they stole that expression from us dogs but you know what I mean.  Others are delighted to see snow because, like my pack, big fat falling flakes just make them happy.  It can’t be explained; it has to be felt. 

Some people just can’t accept that there are people in this world who  truly do  love snow.  Don’t forget curly-haired Alpha  grew up in Toronto and my owner grew up  in Northern Ontario  on the Quebec border so they really  understand winter! I will admit  my owners don’t like brushing snow off the car (but hey, we don’t have one, problem solved.)  They hate freezing rain. They really  hate stepping into a half-melted puddle in the middle of the night on the way back from a movie at The Nugget Theatre, but other than that snowflakes make them happy.  Everything looks clean and fresh and new and hopeful.  I think that is what it is…. snow makes us  feel  alive and reveling in life kindles our sense of hopefulness.  

For me it means that some or maybe all of the boys are coming home. Once turkey season rolls around it gets more and more likely someone is coming back to walk me, hug me and play with me.  If it is David….I’m getting fed extra food off the counter.  The rest of the bunch are just old  fuddy duddies.  Jon and Benj worry about my heart, my liver, an extra roll of chub around my middle….to hell with that, bring on the grub guys.  I love turkey scraps, even a  bite of pumpkin pie tastes good to me.  Oh well, I heard David isn’t coming home this year.  He’s still off with China teaching China to speak English.  I hope he is teaching  her  to love dogs too.  Since I’m half Chow a part of me comes from there…I wonder which part?  I guess my head  since I have a mostly black tongue; in case you didn’t know Chow’s have a fully black tongue. I have a feeling only Benj will be home this year.  He’s leaving College behind again  but we all know how that goes…they just continue breaking up and getting back together.  I bet anything that by January he’s back with her again.  I can’t even think about Kim  not coming. She and curly-haired Alpha are so similar that it makes the energy level of the condo  go up…they are always up and ready for anything.  Oh well, we have to share her, and by default Jon,  with her family too.  I can’t bear to  think about it.  Bring on the snow I need to feel hopeful!

Anyway, this town has a real sense of humour about snow.  There is a lovely bronze (I think) statue near the school bus stop at the local Middle and High School.  That little charmer is always dressed up by the locals.  Today she had on a wig to keep her head warm and a cute little scarf.  How sweet is that.  Someone keeps  her stylin’

 

I admit that snow can make navigating difficult.  Mind you I do it by smell not by signage.  However, people can get lost because it gets harder and harder to figure out where you are.    And it becomes much less likely you are going to be using your patio furniture with your friends.   But hey, how much can you do that anyway.  Gee in Texas you sit outside on your patio and drip sweat and swat mosquitos all night.  How much fun is that?  Instead   we meet up with friends and  ski until we are exhausted, nourish ourselves with  savoury winter foods and then  hop into hot tubs and feel like a million bucks.  Well I don’t   hop in  because I avoid water as much as possible but the owners like  to lounge around in the hot water  and laugh as their hair and eyelashes collect snowflakes.  Add a glass of wine  and they are in heaven…. (probably NOT recommended by their doctor but he doesn’ t need to know  everything).   I prefer to sit on the edge and  let my tail swish in and out of the water once in a while.  It just makes me feel happy to be out in the snow  with the owners.  If they are happy; I am ecstatic. 

And look at these little fellows. They  probably think it is almost tree season. It is not even eight o’clock in the morning and they have begged to get outside to roll in the white stuff. Kids are closer to dogs than you would actually believe!  Don’t lose the magic guys!   You wouldn’t want them rolling around on the grass in Texas…you’d be worried about fire ants and stray snakes.  There’s only one problem.  If you have ever lived in a cold climate you know there is a relationship between snowsuits and needing to pee…in fact I really could use a fire hydrant about now. See ya later.

                     

First the news!

 

Can you tell my head is spinning?  I’m looking right, left, over my shoulder and all around?  I just heard our  house sold in Texas. YIPPEE!  or is that yippee.  The reason I’m confused is because I know the owners wanted it to go away and leave us alone, but  I hear the apartment they plan to rent  won’t allow me to  go inside for a look-see.  Why you ask?  Well it is that same issue I hit on time and time again.  Dog prejudice.  They heard I’m a Chow and I’m on the “do not admit”  list!  I don’t think Melissa ever has this problem. Her name is Chau.   We spell it differently  so people don’t get us confused,  but we pronounce it identically. Now Melissa has a special hat that university gave her and  I don’t.  It stands to reason I should have a hat too because I went to dog obedience school and I was really smart.  Most likely I can’t get in that building because of prejudice.  A slight chance exists that it is  because I’m not a Chow with a special hat. I only have a silly  hat.

Anyway, moving on.  Today I thought  it was time to educate you  about ice.  Ice on puddles, river rocks and waterfalls seems to be the necessary prerequisite for snow.  Snow means skiing.  Skiing means visitors.  Visitors mean Telluride makes money.  Money seems to make most people reasonably happy – I’m not convinced on this last point.

The first thing I noticed  when I moved to Telluride  was  that water  has a personality.   In spring it races down the San Miguel  bubbling and sparkling and looking happy to be back in town.   In the summer it moves  a little more sedately.  People have  the chance to slip slide along in their kayaks and inner tubes or just sit quietly along its banks and dream.    Now I’m a dog and I’m going to tell you I can handle cold. Playing in the river in the summer doesn’t bother me  a bit.  But these people are tough!  Probably an hour before they stuck their butts in an inner tube that water  melted somewhere up high in the mountains.  We are talking no feeling in the fingers and blue-lips C O L D.  The summer tourists leave and water takes on a new identity. In late Fall water begins to move thickly downstream.  It almost has a molasses look or a heavy oil aspect.  Thick water is difficult to imagine but that is what I am seeing now every day.  The water seems to be going to sleep for the winter.  Don’t you love this picture….it looks like one of my ancestors has had his head frozen in the river to remind me of my ancient heritage.   He even has ice whiskers on his chin. I get those sometimes.  Can you see the water’s heaviness? I can.

Next the riverbeds compete with each other to see who will win, ice or snow.  Snow puts up a good fight but ice always wins until snow covers him over in frustration.

 

 

Now ice in the river is fine and dandy.  Ice on the River Trail is a completely different ball of wax.  Yesterday my owner could not keep her balance as we hiked along the flat.  She kept falling over into a funny crouch.   At  first I thought she was dancing that old soft shoe because her feet were flying out behind her one after another time and time again.  Finally, she  got them under control.  It must have been a good core workout for her since she managed to keep herself upright.    She was rather comical to watch.  Later we headed to  the hardware store and bought the ugliest things she has ever purchased….they  hook over her shoes or boots  and have big ice picks in them so she can walk without falling down.  She has fought against buying  these for years but she has given up; nature has won.

With ice on the River Trail I  have to tell you that  our beloved waterfalls have frozen over for the winter.  Soon people will be coming to town specifically to see if they can climb up Bridal Veil with ice picks.    It was forbidden for a few years but I heard people were doing it in the dark which was really dangerous.  Of course like any town this could be just a rumour.  I don’t know.  I barely get out after dark and with no car we aren’t driving over to check out the waterfalls either.  It is hard to imagine water falling that quickly can freeze, isn’t it?

 

Icicles are one of my favourite things.   They grow huge outside  the windows of our condo.  Sometimes we have to race out from under the front  porch just in case an icicle should pick that moment to fall.  Last year we kept moving Kristina’s car onto the street so that falling icicles didn’t  dent  her hood or roof.  It was smart because one day a big five foot icicle fell  and crashed onto the driveway. The name of the game is Telluride Dodge Ball. 

Ok, so the sign doesn’t refer to icicle dodging but at our condo it should! I’ll have to look for something we can put up to warn unsuspecting visitors of our melting and tumbling ice.  You just never know when it is going to be your turn to be hit in the head with some  frozen  water. And just because I know you wonder if icicles have a sense of humour….well they do.

Everyone in town has enjoyed the warmer weather.   Enough is enough however.  At night we can hear  snow making machines blowing snow near lift seven. We are waiting for the real stuff to blow back into town like it did close to Hallowe’en.  Everyone is ready.  New faces are popping up on the streets as “dreaming of

Flickr Tags: Telluride,Telluride dodge ball,skiing,San Migeul

adventure”  young people move to Telluride  for their winter on the ski slopes… living the dream. It is time to search the closets for the long johns, dust off the helmets, and figure out who took my owner’s  new “low light” goggles?  Night are full of snow-filled dreams…and the reality ususally  coincides with turkey season.

Now where the heck did I put my winter coat?  See ya later. 

Didn’t I blow your mind this time?

Here I am heading home from a great walk.  I’m in a hurry because today is my day to  get another posting ready for you.   There are over 13,000 photos stored on our computer so I have a lot of work ahead of me.  This afternoon  is  going to be  occupied with finding  random views  around  town; these will be views that could entice you to come visit us.  In fact if working on this project becomes too overwhelming then you’ll get more photos next posting.  Sometimes a picture really is worth a thousand words.  If all of my rantings and ravings about how much I love living here haven’t made you book your vacation rental in  Telluride, maybe these pictures will.  And if these photos don’t, then perhaps  an upcoming ski video  will have you saying “charge her” as you book your airline tickets!

Getting up early to take me out on a  morning constitutional is never easy for my owner.  She’s just not a morning person. However, once she gets outside and sees the sun trying to peek over the top of the mountains or catches a glimpse of a pink sky backlighting the peaks, she’s awake and grateful to be alive.   It is rare to live somewhere and notice the grandeur of nature  every morning.   Emotions stir deep down in your soul because you are always aware of how tiny you are in the big scheme of life.  Rock breaks scissor…and mountain trumps man!   
Carpets  of leaves in the early days of Fall have the same stirring  effect.  Are there any experiments that tell us why  the colours brown, gold, orange and red  make us want to jump into a pile of freshly raked leaves  and roll and play in them for hours?  Nothing like some good leaf   wrestling to make me feel like a puppy again.  They are the Autumn  version of a snow (dog)  angel. 
It is not my intent to make you sick with envy but just look at these views .  Can they  be beat? How lucky are we? And the more snowy it gets the more beautiful it becomes.  This cycle of one-upmanship  continues year round as our hills and mountains dress themselves in  various  shades of green come Spring.   I mean come on people, look at these next few shots. This isn’t my vacation; this is my life.  Imagine how rested you would feel after a short time away in paradise—no need of a car, no traffic jams, no road rage.


(It must have too cold for Chris  as she left us  pretty much after this hike and took off to India.  She is working with orphans at an orphanage  while we wait for ski season to arrive.  From all accounts she’s coping really well and loves the children.  This is what she did to counteract  Empty Nest Syndrome…so much smarter than my owner just crying all the time a few years ago.)

 
Even though I’m showing you some pretty spectacular moments in time, there are lots of mundane things that make our hearts go zing as well.  This is an active town with a fit population and everyone is outdoors enjoying everything there is to offer.  Bikes play an important role in daily life.  My owner’s friend was heard to comment last year, “I wish I was brave enough to ride my bike on the really  snowy days;  everybody looks so cool.”  After the tremendous tumble my owner and I  took today just walking over a small icy patch I’m not sure that  is the word I’d use.  But then we are newcomers and definitely rather dorky when we slip and slide….imagine how it feels to lose control of FOUR legs!  

So here we have bike tracks in the mud in the Fall.  And next we have bike tracks in the mud in the ice.  Both riders’ hands were likely very  cool!

Now I’m trying to entice you to come to town but the next photo may scare you.  There are  not too many places where you  actually have visible evidence of ghosts leaving a building in broad daylight …but then again the current movie  hit Paranormal Activity did debut here during Filmfest…maybe it brought some bad spirits with it.  I can sniff out a ghost anywhere and this one acted with great audacity!  My eyes are on the lookout for this guy; when I find him I’ll make short work of him!  Look closely, you’ll see him just leaving the left hand side of the  top third of the building. Cheeky devil!

When you come to town, notice I did not say IF, you will think this is an idyllic place to be a child.  You will be correct.  During ski season the kids have traditionally taken one afternoon off per week to ski the mountain.  Although it would not be my first choice of something to do in the snow, humans tend to love being out on those boards for hours at a time.  During the summer you will find children playing in traditional tree forts, running around yelling, “'I’M  IT.”  Pretend gun fights are often taking place just below our patio.  My owners love it because it reminds them  of their  boys when they were growing up. 
I  want to add that it is obvious   how much everyone loves dogs.  You see dogs doing things they  don’t always get   to do   in other parts of the country or world for that matter.  I see dogs running in Texas too but they are always on a leash.  The owners look frazzled as if having the dog off leash is just too much work, too scary….fraught with the hazards of butt sniffing.  But, (oops) trust me folks when we’re on the run we don’t have time for that.  Look at this guy…he ran right by me and I barely heard what he was yelling at me over his shoulder.  It was something to do  with   sorry, gotta run, will stop to sniff next time.  And  now get a load of this guy.   As a typical Telluride dog he  was  friendly and very patient. He never made one peep as he waited for his owner to get his groceries and hit the road.   He sat up there and tried out  a bunch of different positions just to show off.  OK, I told him, I have yet to sit  on the roof of a truck but I could if I wanted to, so there!


I saved the best for last.  Have you ever seen this before?   Honesty is my trademark so a) I did not take these two  photos and b) these animals  don’t live in town or even hang around town any more.  Surely the mouse is dead by now.  Hopefully the rest of the crew is alive and well.   This  first  picture reminds me of the gingerbread boy riding on the snout of the fox! Town used to be freakier a while back (oh, and we loved it so)…but our freakiness has toned down.  Yes, we still find a group of people every year who want to ride down Main Street naked and  we get crazy Fourth of July parades with women in garters  acting all smoochy on their floats….big deal.  But this was in a different category of freaky.     Jeepers, now I’m  nostalgic for yesteryear….I guess that is because  I’m getting older. 


The mouse obviously did die as these are two different mice.  I’d credit the photographer but there was no sign as to who it was, oh well.   See ya later.

Check out The Delfonics...and let them blow your mind.  Ah...the good old days.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eOYtxhCbXw

Flickr Tags: Telluride,dogs,visit