Wild wheat dog

I spend most of my day feeling like I don't belong. My brain races with inappropriate thoughts, and although most people think I'm blunt, I keep most of my ideas tucked inside this sphere of bone. There is one thing that I do that I feel completely at peace. Hiking. Being outside. Surrounded by nature. It's only better with my dog.

Today I bundled up and headed to an old damn, that is now a path, and the lake a golf course. Beyond the golf course I noticed a sort of path and decided to let Fresa illegally off leash in the grass.

This area of the city is up high. The views incredible and forever. As I walked down the path I came to a sign that describes this area as a reclaimed landfill. Interesting. No digging please. Well, that would explain those vent pipes sticking out over there. Releasing methane?

As I walked north, the sun behind me, I was mesmerized by the swirling darkness.

The dipping spouts. Huh, is this tornado weather? The wind was whipping. I looked around for a low spot, a ditch, just in case. My thoughts were, well, if this is the time to go, let's go. I did have an image of Fresa and I being swept up in the funnel and dropping somewhere not too distant. 

I've heard coyotes around here before, so I was conscience of that as I let Fresa run around.

Her wheat fur matching the wheat colored grasses of the plains. We wandered for an hour or so and the feeling of freedom, energy, life surrounded me. I need to hike every day. 

Coal burning times

It's 10 degrees with a wind chill of -5, and if anyone mentions how much they like winter and snow I'm going to punch them in the face. This is miserable. Grey skies, light snow, yes that is beautiful - for about 10 minutes looking out the window and then the realization of - I have to do something - enters your head and now what. Luckily I can walk to the grocery store, even in this blistering cold, it's better than driving on the roads. Apparently the salt/chemical mixture doesn't work at these temperatures, no wonder they don't put anything down.

I think Fresa might understand that we can't go out an play. Yesterday I bundled her up, boots and all and after she pooped, she put on the brakes and wouldn't take another step, unless it was turning back towards the house.

I'm trying to coax her along, but no deal. She hates her boots, but no dog's paws should touch the subfreezing pavement. I guess we'll hunker down and wait for the chill to leave...

She's gonna need a snowsuit

This morning we woke up to 4 degrees Fahrenheit and cloudy, dreary, snowy skies. I figured I'd get out early and try get some exercise for me and the pooch. We drove to the dog park a few miles from my house and this is what we walked into.

Eff this, we are braving this cold. I had a long sleeve shirt, a light down coat, a fleece vest and a snow shell, and my new boots. Fresa had her double fleece, and her snow boots. We rushed to the gate of the park to find that is was completely, and utterly empty. Ok, so maybe this wasn't such a good idea. A few minutes later a lab/ridgeback puppy came and jumped all over Fresa, who was none too happy to be there. She decided to stand in the middle of the park and shiver, uncontrollable shivering. She looks so pathetic. 

Ok, so she's Dominican, she's not meant for this kind of frigid temperature, but we will die here if we can get outside and be active. I want to take her snowshoeing. This doesn't look good, unless I can get her to wear one of these...

The key is in the built in boots.

It's all perspective, this "reality"

All whiny bitchiness aside, it's -1 Fahrenheit (-18 Celsius) outside and I don't know how to function. Just stepping out into that kind of cold starts a freeze reaction of your boogers and don't even think about gasping, because that deep breath will make you cough up coldness. It seems that cold weather gear is concentrated around your core, but what about my poor legs? I turn into a zombie because the thought of bending my legs and touching my pants is horrifying.

To add to all this, now I have a cute little puppy that should not be putting her paw pads on -1 degree pavement. Her silly little dew claw is making it hard for her boots to stay on her front feet. Today I have to solve that problem because both she and I will go mad if we don't get outside for a while.

The 10 day forecast is a bit brighter than this cold snap that has snapped me into reality. We have 40's predicted by the end of the week. Wow, 40, two years ago 40 would have terrified me and now I'm thinking about how toasty I would feel if it would just get to 40!

Damn arctic

From 44 to -12. Ugh. The arctic blast needs to stay in Canada. I decided against the knee length down coat with the furry hood and now I'm feeling regrets. I usually have buyers remorse over every purchase I make and now I feel not buying remorse and it's too cold and dark to actually drive to the mall.

Can we return the geese and cold back to the Canadians?

Blue Friday

I spent Black Friday with two of my favorite people in an amazing place. The drive there and back took me through a chunk of mountains and during those 3 hours I had some time to think. Think about that existential bummer. I was surrounded by images like this...

Breathtaking is a perfect description because as you pass through the bulging landscape you forget to breathe. This time I was conscience of my thoughts and tried not to think about dying or this being gone, or pollution or trash, or how wasteful the holidays really are, and instead I tried to just take in the snowcapped, tree dotted lumps backdropped against the bluest, clearest, most pristine sky you've ever seen. Gorgeous, true beauty, amazing, stunning, I actually felt content, happy, satisfied. 

After a few cloudy days the Colorado blue skies returned, and the contrasts of colors blinded me into peace. 

In Salida we decided to take the pups for a few adventures. Walking down an old railroad path I was stopped in my tracks by this image...

and then this....

Friends, pups, peace, I'm pretty sure that is exactly how Black Friday is supposed to be spent.

Tim Burton could do this justice

This could be the opening scene for a vampire attack, or maybe a perfect location for a witch ceremony. As the winds ripped through the tops of the trees we were sheltered, only letting the frigid sub zero air seep into our lungs. If not for the barks and hollering winds, a crack of a stick would send chills down your spine, raise the hairs on the back of your neck. 

The Nightmare Before Christmas, Sleepy Hallow, Corpse Bride. 

Would you believe that this was taken at 10 am? The sun seems to be that high. Too bad I didn't run into Johnny Depp on our hike...

Continental Divide

I decided to take my real camera on our hike today. I also decided to pull off the road to snap this photo. THIS doesn't seem real, even as I sit here in my living room after seeing this earlier today. THIS is heaven on earth, but I'm not sure how I'm going to survive winter. Falling the clocks back is going to make for early cold darkness. Each day gets a few minutes shorter and chiller. Being back in the US is nostalgic. I remember these feelings. Bundled up on the couch at 4:30 pm in pajamas, a scarf, big fat, fluffy socks. Thinking how nice a cup of tea would be, if only I had a butler. My freedom is worth it. 

Breathtaking

There's this view when you drive west on I-70 from Denver. You're view is limited and you are climbing altitude and all of a sudden you reach the top of a hill and this is what you see.

I've seen this view hundreds of times and it never ceases to amaze me, take my breath away, remind me of my place, restore a little tiny bit of faith.

It's the end of October and although we've only had a dusting of snow here in the city, the Continental Divide, those ridges of 14,000 foot peaks that separate the east from the west are already snow covered. It's like a dream up there, high alpine ecosystems. Think of the continent moving, adjusting, colliding and scrunching the rock. Our world is amazing, wondrous, spectacular.

Glorious

Going for a walk isn't that easy anymore... First thing is to check the temperature with the weather app on my phone. Yup, I confirm that it's 33 degrees, about freezing. Now to think about what to layer so that I don't freeze or sweat. Do I wear my new fleece lined pants? A long sleeve shirt? Two shirts? Do I wear my fleece hat and gloves? Ugh, all the decisions just to go outside. 

BUT look at what I get to see once I get outside and walk two blocks north.