Outdoor Fun on Dec. One

I can't remember if we have ever had a Dec. 1 quite like yesterday's. 

Bare ground, sunshine aplenty and abundant outdoor enjoyment. 

I know for sure that we have never seen our No. 1 ZAGS ranked No. 1 in the nation on Dec. 1.  

The best part?  They'll keep that ranking for at least another week after yesterday's nail-biting victory in their first full-fledged away game in a "hostile" gym with upset-hungry and talented Creighton Bluejays.

As one commentator said, yesterday's victory over Creighton was even more meaningful than the ZAGS win over No. 1 Duke in the Maui tournament.  

A combination of injuries to key players, the travel factor and playing before several thousand fans eager to see the home team knock off No. 1 all added a significant challenge for the ZAGS in yesterday's contest. 

They trailed much of the game but never lost their composure, and that paid off in the final minutes with a 103-92 victory. 

So, a high-stakes Gonzaga win, adding to the day-long beauty of the day, made this year's Dec. 1 something special.   

The great part:  Schweitzer had snow. 

Up on the mountain, skiers and boarders were probably enjoying their version of Heaven as much as we were enjoying ours down below. 

I really appreciated having Debbie and Emma accompany me as I led CB on trails through the entire woods.  

Along the way, he took time to sniff the 4-wheeler which Bill had just loaded with firewood.  

Through the whole trip, the only time CB shied occurred when we were returning to the yard.  For some reason that white corner post made him nervous.  

So, we walked back and forth past it until he decided the post wasn't gonna jump out and attack him. 

To say I'm pleased with his behavior at this time in his youth is an understatement. So far, so good.  Hope it continues. 

Except for some idle time inside while humans were enjoying the woods, the trio of dogs highly approved of yesterday's weather, fetching and carrying balls and even taking off on some high-speed chases of each other. 

Occasionally, while watching the ZAGS game, we'd smile as minor distractions of black and white streaks flashed past the sliding glass door. 

All in all, a great day for ushering in December and knowing that at least one month of the usual potential for dealing with winter conditions has passed, made it all the better. 

Happy Sunday.