Snow Bandi

 

Song:  Wandering

Group:  Lethian Dreams

I had awakened this morning to the result of more snowfall in the night.

I went upstairs to the loft to get a good look around...

and I then went back downstairs to look around more.

Although it wasn't a major snow storm...

it is supposed to snow for the next three days.

The morning sun was barely peeking through the snow clouds.

As you can see...

the wind had picked up.

The snow drifts started piling up against the front windows.

It was time to take Bandi out to use the bathroom once again.

Bandi...

being a Golden Labrador Retriever...

has a double coat...

which along with her longer outer fur...

she has a finer inner coat which protects her from cold water

and weather.

Still...

she is an indoor dog...

but she loves the snow.

Bandi gets excited whenever we go outside...

and wants to run in the snow.

My roof is made of thick metal and has a nice slope to it...

so, snow slides off it easily.

After having gone to the bathroom...

Bandi just shakes off any snow.

Bandi taking one last look around.

She loves guarding her home.

My normal wear around the house is just a t-shirt and sweat pants...

and I just walk around barefooted.

I keep this light jacket...

microfiber beanie 

(it has a built in headlight for night bathroom runs with Bandi...

I also take a flashlight)...

and her leash near the front door...

and I just slip on a pair of sneakers over my bare feet...

as I am just out there for a few minutes.

I still must buy some good snow boots.

But, even as the snow gets into the shoes...

it is a very light powder...

and so...

melts rather quickly.

The cool wetness is rather refreshing on my feet.

So long as the wind is not blowing too harshly...

being outside for those few minutes at a time that Bandi uses the bathroom...

actually feels good...brisk...but not so cold.

However...

I will at some point in the future...

put on my snow suit and boots when I will have to use my snow blower on the driveway.

Once back inside...

Bandi got playful...

and wanted to play fetch.

Knowing about how long she likes to play fetch...

I just sat in the recliner and threw her rubber bone for her...

over and over.

She fetches her bone...

and then drops it back off to me at my chair.

I must say...

especially with this plush blanket over the recliner...

it feels so comfortable.

I am just enveloped by the softness of the well padded recliner and blanket.

I just kept playing fetch with Bandi as I sat back in the recliner 

and listened to music.

Whenever Bandi looks at me with her puppy dog eyes...

I just melt.

Whatever Bandi wants...

Bandi gets :)

We played fetch...

over and over...

until...

...she finally tired out.

Even though Bandi has many indoor padded and comfortable beds to lie on...

she also loves the lying on the heated floor.

My feet never get cold inside.

The warmth of the heated tiles feel so good on my bare feet as well.

Right now...

the snow has stopped falling...

but every so often...

a new wave of snow will fall...

and will continue to do so for a few more days.

Another Gentle Snowfall - Mandarin Orange Chicken And Sesame Asparagus

 

Song:  Misty Mountains (cover)

Artist:  Malinda

I love snow...

and even though we are having just light snowfalls

(the heaviest snowfalls happen in April and May here)...

it gives a wonderful winter landscape without me having to plow my driveway...

just yet  :)

Bandi on her way to her bathroom.

I won't need to use my snowblower until the snow gets to be over a foot high...

which shouldn't happen until a major snowstorm hits here.

Even though the temperature is in the 20s F...

it doesn't feel so cold outside...

as only the gentlest of breezes is blowing.

My blanket shrouded recliner looks like a ghost  :)

For today's meal...

I made Mandarin Orange Chicken and Sesame Asperagus

There was just the lightest dusting of snow on the trees.

Just poking out behind the distant mountain is Pikes Peak...

at over 14,000 ft. of elevation.

As the thick floor tiles are heated from beneath (sub floor heating)...

I comfortably walk around barefoot...

even on the coldest of days.

The tiles are toasty warm on my feet...

as the subfloor heating gently warms the whole house.

My meal of Mandarin Orange Chicken...

Sesame Asparagus...

and flour tortillas dipped in hummus.

I gave Bandi a generous portion of the chicken mixed into her kibble...

but after she finished her food...

she came over to me and lay her chin on my leg 

 and just lovingly looked at me with her big brown eyes...

and, of course...

 I gave her more portions of chicken from my plate.

And, yes...

she has me well trained :)

As the evening twilight began to darken...

I noticed the moon and a planet in the sky...

and I decided to take one last shot for the day...

through the loft octagonal window.

Community Craft Fair - Fire Extinguisher Bear

 

Song:  Precious and Few

Group: The Climax Blues Band

My mountain community had an arts and crafts fair put on 

by the people of our mountain estates.  

The arts and crafts were made by the people who live in our mountain community.

This is the mountain estates community center.

This is just down the mountain and a few miles from my home.

They have a year round heated swimming pool...

a steam room, heated spa, a large gathering room...

among other amenities.

They had a free movie night here for the people of the community...

with free popcorn, pizza, and other snacks...

just a week ago.

This is also where I take my household garbage.

It just costs $1 a bag...or flattened cardboard box.

I use this instead of contracting with a garbage pick up...

as, so long as I don't have a lot of boxes to throw away...

it is just one tenth the cost.

I just throw away my garbage bag when I pick up my mail.

As I also have a trash compactor...

I usually only need to throw away the garbage once or twice a week.

Outside the community center...

a food truck also came for this one day event.

There were a lot of people of the community who have hobbies that provide 

extra income...mostly from online sales I would imagine.

The man in that second stand uses a chain saw and woodcarving tools

to carve different animals.

He was the one from whom I had bought Fire Extinguisher Bear.

The baked goods looked good...

but were mostly sweet...

and I don't really eat sweets too often.

I did buy some doggie treats for Bandi from one of the un-photographed venders.

I just thought this Fire Extinguisher Bear would go so well in my home.

I also bought five bags of doggie treats for Bandi.

The lady selling them makes them out of peanut butter...

and other ingredients.

Bandi loved them.

The man who carved Fire Extinguisher Bear

said he got free wood from a neighbor after he had cut down 

some pine trees near his home.

Although the food looked good...

I usually eat...

at most...twice a day...

and more usually...

just once.

As I was not hungry...

I didn't order anything.

Fire Extinguisher Bear now has a new home in my kitchen.

Meet...

Kuma...

the Fire Extinguisher Bear.

He even has carved in straps holding the fire extinguisher on to his back.

Cute...

but most of all...

functional.

I really love my mountain estates community.

Although it is sparsely populated up here...

as most of the properties are weekend or vacation homes...

or are purchased for future retirement...

the people are friendly.

I was happy to buy something from someone from my community.

It was a home christening that flows into the whole bear theme

of my mountain home.