At Home Stuff, Friends, TBT

Ice is nice for cold drinks or owies or figure skating.

I feel confident, however, in saying we've had enough of the stuff as ground cover for 2019. 

It can go away any day. 

As the huge slabs pretty much everywhere we want to walk hang around, they get shinier and shinier. 

And, slicker and slicker!

We're supposed to have some snow today and some warmer temperatures over the weekend, so maybe we'll get a break.  

And, if we don't get a break, we may get a break.

Nobody wants that. 

After three days of outings, we decided to spend our leisure afternoon time at home yesterday. 

So, the doggies and horses and I enjoyed some time together while I did some snow shoeing in the fields, the woods and around the yard. 

Later, Bill took his chainsaw out to the woods (where the dogs are allowed) so they enjoyed some bonding time too. 

I never tire of watching the dogs and horses do what they do while passing the time through their winter days. 

An intruder with big feet came through the place down along Love Canal, so Foster and Liam gave its tracks a thorough sniff down. 

Meanwhile, over in the barnyard, CB went down for a good roll in the snow. 

I included a photo of his four toes (hooves).  Horses used to have 20 toes, but evolution and the way they develop while in the fetal stages has changed that. 

https://thehorse.com/149565/where-did-horses-extra-toes-go/

Last night, part one of a fascinating PBS documentary on horses provided some fun explanation of what has happened to those extra toes over the years.

 http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/equus-story-of-the-horse-about/16877/

Anyway, CB's four toes are kinda cute, I think. 

On another subject, I read an interesting article about "friends" this morning and have included a link below. 

The piece differentiates the layers of our friendships, extending from our acquaintances and narrowing to what the writer considers "friends" in the true sense of the word. 

I'm thinking Facebook may have done a little skewing on what we commonly perceive as friends, but I also think we have enough one-on-one experiences to know who the true blue friends are in our lives.

It's definitely worth a read and some reflection on just who in our lives fit the qualifications to land in our "inner circles," especially those who still like and respect us in spite of our flaws. 

Finally, a few TBT's, which I'll explain below, and you'll see one reflects why today is important.

It's GAME DAY.  GO, ZAGS!  

Happy Thursday. 

https://getpocket.com/explore/item/reclaiming-friendship-a-visual-taxonomy-of-platonic-relationships-to-counter-the-commodification-of

Ten years ago in January, we had a lot more snow.  

On this day, Bill and I took a snow shoeing trip up Grouse Creek, which was definitely a lovely winter wonderland. 

In today's paper, the history column mentioned the county employees who were assuming their offices.

One of them was Norma Strecker (mother of my classmate Steve).  I took this photo a long time ago and can't really remember the occasion.

But I can remember that nice lady with the gray hair on the right who's listening to Norma speak.

That's Leora Bandy, a beloved local leader with rural and ranch roots.

If anyone recognized the two ladies in the middle, please let us know.

Five years ago I must have made some applesauce in the winter.

And, Lily had to be mighty happy to eat the peelings in the snow. 

Twas a few years ago, that I flew off to California and Palm Springs  to get a break from the winter.

Annie met me there, and we had a wonderful brunch with my classmate Janis and my longtime friend Jean "Mow" Tobin.

Good memories. 

Two members of the Selle Club, my neighbor Geneva (right) of the Meserve Preserve and Nita Schoonover, who seldom misses a girls basketball game at Sandpoint High.

Nita gave Willie a big hug Saturday night before the game and wished him well.

The girls won, and we're betting Nita's influence played a hand in the victory.  

Ten years ago, we loved the ZAGS. 

Twenty years ago we loved the ZAGS.  And, even longer ago than that, we loved the ZAGS.

Do we still love the ZAGS! 

Yes, we do, and eventually our house will be completely wall-papered with ZAGS posters.

GO, ZAGS!