Cleanup time

Little did we know when Victoria planted her boxwood hedge near the deck years ago that it would serve as Casey's after-dinner (or after-breakfast for that matter) muzzle cleaner. Fortunately there's more than enough of this all-weather, renewable resource around the backyard for this kid's cleanup - and our comic relief. And what's more it seems to thrive on drool and food scraps each growing season, while birds snack on the leftover morsels all year long.

Pregame warmup

That look

There's that "look". That familiar glance our way when the kid knows we've just had last cups of coffee and are ready to get going, anywhere.

Indoor obstacle course improv

Wake-up snow, such as it is

Not exactly a snowmageddon from the looks of things this morning but Casey was excited nonetheless.  A Frisbee toss is the first order of business with the first snowfall of the season and today was no different with this accumulation of less than a half inch.

We might even have another go-around at it later, once the kid thaws out.  He's always up for it.    

Subfreezing trend hangs tough

The quest for foliage that doesn't crunch continued today with temperatures hanging in there around 35 to 30 degrees, mid to low 20s at night. This late afternoon pause in a neighborhood greenbelt might readily convey that icy trend, fairly normal for the first week of any new year in Whatcom County. Needless to say we weren't out long.

New Year's rehab

The kid is obviously laying low after a rough a rockin' New Year's Eve. It wasn't like Casey was out partying. He was home baby-sitting Stella and everything was fine until after midnight when south end revelers thought it would be a good idea to light off fireworks. A recent city ordinance has actually done very little to curtail these now illegal explosives, with pets usually cowering until the moronic activity subsides. 

    

At least things have settled down enough to rehab on the couch. And 2016 should be OK until July 4, when we'll leave town for peaceful summer environs before the next round is set off.