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snow photos

2/6/2014

Opened my eyes this morning, saw sunshine in the window and couldn't get out of bed fast enough! Now I am waiting for the sun to move up over the evergreens and shine on all those iced up trees!!!

In the meantime, these are photos of my dogs that I took on our walk early evening yesterday. I DID figure out how to walk four dogs and carry my camera, too. And I felt safe carrying it with me on the icy road because I had on my Yaktrax. If not for the Yaktrax, I would not have been able to walk the road.

Played around a bit and had some fun with effects, too. I haven't quite figured out how to tone down the reds. It shows up pretty dark and brilliant in snow. But then, they are brilliant. : )

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yaktrax update

2/5/2013

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I am writing about the Yaktrax again because these little devices are so amazingly useful. Made of rubber that threads through small coils of wire, they simply stretch from toe to heel over the bottoms of your footwear and you're good to go. I got the Pro version which has slightly larger wire and a Velcro strap that goes across the boot and further secures the Yaktrax. I like both features.

This afternoon, I walked Nexus, Owl, and Viljo nearly two miles on the snow-covered road as snow continued to fall. It was a very beautiful walk - made more so because I was not at all concerned about skidding and crashing. That was nice!

Here are my boots with Yaktrax attached, soon after I took them off. The wire is not at all sharp. How it works is that the wire coils spread under your weight and dig into the ice or packed snow. The wire does not, however, dig into the floor. I walk across carpet and tile flooring on my way out the door with no problem. I could have put the Yaktrax on my leather boots but for winter weather and tromping around on or near the home place, I just attached them onto my inexpensive canvas boots and left them on.

I turned around from taking the photo of my boots and there was Owl, hovering at my wet jackets (one jacket inside the other) and asking to go again. It was wishful thinking though because that was it for our walk today. Also in the picture is Viljo rolling around down there on the floor. Notice that Viljo's skin and "underhair" look like they might be dry. That is because they are dry. VERY little of the skin of either dog became wet after walking two miles in snow. A good longhaired coat has really remarkable insulating and water-proofing qualities. But that must be the subject of another post. : )

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YakTrax

1/15/2013

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LAST winter, on February 18, I posted the following on Facebook:

Sure can't complain about the weather this winter but thought I'd share this little story. It's been 4 weeks since the night I drove home from work in freezing rain. I slowly but surely made it the 30 miles until I turn off SR 37 onto Portie Flamingo Road where, from that point on, no salt truck ever goes. I managed to slip and slide another mile with very poor traction and I was still on the flattest, straightest part of the road. I stopped. Opened the door. Put my foot down on the road and it was solid ice. I knew then that I had two choices. Drive on, put my car in a ditch, and walk home. Or park the car as soon as I could, put on my boots, and walk home. I chose the Parking option. I took my field trial beating stick to use as a walking stick and started walking. There was no walking the road. I had to walk in the ditches and baby step across driveways. Never saw a person. Never heard a dog bark. All I heard was the sound of freezing rain hitting my jacket. It took me two hours to walk 2.5 miles! I got home at 3 am. I took this photo of my jacket covered in a thin layer of ice. My purse looked the same!

Freezing rain had formed a thin layer of ice on my jacket as well as a thick layer of ice on the road

On Facebook, Linda Sullivan of Nebraska replied:

Get a pair of "yak trax" to store in the CRV--if you ever need them, they slip on your shoes or boots. With any luck you will never need to use them but they are absolutely wonderful if you have to navigate ice on foot.

I did not buy a pair of Yaktrax last year. But THIS winter, with another Facebook prompting from Linda, I did. I went online and found Yaktrax on sale at Amazon. I figured they would also come in handy when road walking my dogs this winter so for a few dollars more, I got the somewhat better, sturdier Pro version.

Well, tonight I had occasion to use them for the first time. I could not believe how effective they were on the ice-covered porch, sidewalk, and driveway! Wow! If I had have known these things existed, I would have gotten a pair years ago! They are easy to use, comfortable to wear, they're not sharp or spiked (so you can walk on the floor okay to get to the door), yet I eventually got the distinct impression that it would be impossible to slip or slide in these things. I say "eventually" because at first I did not trust them and kept walking like I was walking on...ice. Before very long, though, I was striding along like the ice didn't exist. Great invention!

Thank you, Linda, for telling me about Yaktrax - and telling me again!

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Trapped

11/24/2012

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There has been some discussion on a tracking dog list lately about trapping (as well as hunting) being allowed in state parks. State parks are where people often train their tracking dogs, and more than a few tracking tests are held on park lands.

The discussion prompted one list member to post a worthy link Removing Your Dog From A Trap Or Snare. With sources being the Wisconsin DNR website and the Nova Scotia DNR, Wildlife Division, this information from the Lincoln County Humane Society, Merrill, Wisconsin is very well done.

There are a number of trappers in my neck of the woods so I am glad to have the info. I just hope I never have to use it.

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Love These Sunglasses!

7/1/2010

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I likely won't do this often but I am so very pleased with this item. It is the HD Vision Ultra Sunglasses - as seen on TV. Only, since I don't have TV (because I don't need or want TV), I didn't see them on TV. So I am glad that Carol Luetkens talked about them at the Illinois field trials in May. I tried hers on and liked them so much that a few weeks later I bought a pair for myself. $9.99 at Walgreens! Wow! They are super light and comfortable, fit perfectly, are not a bit loose or one bit tight, and the view is outstanding. They're the first sunglasses I've ever owned that I have forgotten I was wearing them! Thank you, Carol. Like you did, I highly recommend these sunglasses.

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snow photos

yaktrax update

YakTrax

Trapped

Love These Sunglasses!

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