We had our first snow of the season last Sunday. Not much. Not like what they received back East anyway. Maybe two inches. In Santa Fe, two inches of snow is enough to shut down the entire City Different. If we’re fortunate for the snow to fall on a school day, it’s a bonus day of sleeping in a few extra hours and driving in to work at a later hour. Government offices and schools then follow a delayed schedule. Four inches of the white stuff will see me working from home for the day. Malcolm and I live outside of Santa Fe and the few token snow plows never seem to find their way out to us. It’d be different if one of our five esteemed County Commissioners were a close-by neighbor. Sadly however, that’s not the case. Hence, we suffer through snow-covered roads and are dependent on the sun melting our way to town.
Last Sunday it snowed just enough to bring the girls out to the Galisteo Basin to play. There was just enough to leave a distinguishable trail of paw prints. Just enough for our dogs to chomp and bite at the powder. Just enough to roll over in and make snow angels. And just enough snow to enjoy life to its fullest.
Dolce was in heaven. Dog heaven. Doggy snow heaven. Our furry little snow bunny immediately ran to find a gentle slope to toboggan down. Her enjoyment comes from plopping on her stomach, rolling over on her back, shaking her booty with a little wiggle to start the move and sliding down the incline. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Until she tires. It’s never-ending.
Then there’s Amore. She runs. Just for the hell of it. She loves to feel the cold snow on her paws, sniff out the fresh scents, bite at the snow as she speeds over the snow. I wish I could catch on camera the times she trips over her two front paws while she tries to grab at the snow and run at the same time. Head over heels, she shakes it off and runs again. She just loves to run.
Amore is at her happiest when at full throttle, barreling down on us. On a good day, and if we are lucky, Amore will put on the front paw brakes within two inches from our knees. On those days when we aren’t so fortunate, we hobble back to the car after being wiped out from a 100 lb. beast. Last Sunday was a good day.
And last Sunday – it was a perfect play day for a first snow. It was a perfect day to make paw prints. And it was a perfect day to enjoy life.
‘Twas the night before Christmutts, when all through the pen
not a creature was stirring, not a mutt nor a hen.
The stockings were hung by the dog door with care, in hopes that St. Bern soon would soon be there.
The dogs were nestled all snug on their beds,
while visions of rawhide and bones danced in their heads.
With Amore in her ‘kerchief, and Dolce in her cap, they had just settled down for a long canine’s nap.
When out in the dog pen there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash, tore open the shutter, and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
gave the lustre of midday to objects below,
when, what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a miniature dog sled and eight tiny Terriers.
With a little old driver, so lively and durn,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Bern.
and faster than Greyhounds, his coursers they came, and he whistled and shouted and called them by name:
“Now Rover! Now Ruddy! Now, Pepper and Buddy!
On, Daisy! On, Charlie! On, Duke and Harley!
To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall! Now leap away! leap away! leap away all!”
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
when they meet with an obstacle, jumped to the sky
so up to the house-top the coursers they flew, with the sled full of toys, and St. Bern too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
the prancing and pawing and a little woof woof.
As I drew in my head and was turning around, down the chimney St. Bern came with a bound.
He was covered all in fur, from his muzzle to his paw,
and his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and straw.
A bundle of treats he had flung on his back, and he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
His eyes–how they twinkled! His jowls, how merry!
His tail curled over, his nose like a cherry!
His long muzzle was drawn up like a bow, the whiskers on his chin was as white as the snow.
The stump of a rawhide he held tight in his teeth,
and the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a big round belly, that shook when he barked, like a bowl full of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old mutt,
and I laughed when I saw him, in spite of his strut.
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
and filled all the stockings with treats and jerk.
And laying his paw aside of his nose, and giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.
He sprang to his sled, to his dogs gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
“Happy Christmutts to all, and to all a good night!”
A tired dog is a happy owner! And nothing tires out our girls more than snow. Play time in the snow is probably Dolce and Amore’s number one favorite doings. In the life of a dog, there is nothing better than a full belly, a warm bed and a romp in the snow.
A week after our big snow dump, most of the snow has melted but there are still patches to be found, snow angels to be made and fun to be had! On the lookout for fresh snow, Malcolm and I took the girls on a new trail at the Galisteo Basin Preserve this weekend. We knew the snow was getting thin, but certainly didn’t anticipate the amount of mud we would encounter. Snow melt brings slush, and then comes the mud. And more mud. And then more mud. As we swished down the trail, accumulating thick mud on our boots, Dolce and Amore took off like the wind. They smelled fun! They got a whiff of excitement and ran ahead like a bunch of banshees, barking for the sheer joy of dawggy play time!
Dolce immediately sniffed out a sizable plot of snow and began her rattle, roll and shake. Angel time! Amore followed suit, building her own snow angel. Then it was a race to the next patch of powder. They ran through Juniper and Pinon, leaping over small gulleys and rain carved-out arroyos in search of more snow. They found it – along with a lot of mud, returning with mud capped paws and more.
The mud and the muck is worth it. The look on their faces, the expression in their eyes – there is nothing more joyful than watching them play and seeing unadulterated happiness shine back at you.
Amore and Dolce – perfect angels! (not)
the race is on
muddy paws and all
a twist and a roll in the last of the snow
happy dawg
grins and smiles
Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes, snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes, silver white winters that melt into springs, these are a few of my favorite things!
Mix sugar, butter, egg and vanilla well. Mix together flour, baking powder and salt. Add to the butter mixture. Let chill in the refrigerator for an hour.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Roll out the chilled cookie dough on a floured board and cut into star shapes. Place on an un-greased baking sheet and bake for 6-8 minutes. Remove from oven when lightly brown. Completely cool.
Place some melted chocolate in the middle of a star cookie. While chocolate is still warm place another star cookie on top with the star points alternating with the bottom cookies. Add a small dab of chocolate on the top cookie and sprinkle powdered sugar lightly over the finished cookie.
Keep under lock and key – husbands and dogs are known to swipe one (or two!)
Sunday morning we awoke to a good nine inches of snow. Throughout the night, a blanket of pristine white had covered our southwestern landscape. The girls loved it – especially Dolce. Her favorite winter sport is making snow angels. She has perfected the art of finding the perfect spot to drop and roll, wiggling her paws for more leverage, then leaping up to shake off the snow dust. Shake, rattle and roll, or I should say, rattle, roll and shake.
The girls played until Malcolm and I couldn’t handle the cold any longer. Our cheeks rosy from the below freezing temps, our fingers near to frozen from the numerous times we had to take our gloves off, we lasted a mere 60 minutes before heading in to the coveted warmth of a roaring fire and some hot homemade soup.
searching for the perfect spot
dropping in the snow
the rattle and the roll
the shake
the happy snow angel maker
Salute to the first snow of the season!
WILD RICE WITH SMOKED SAUSAGE
perfect for cold snowy days – serve with a savory herbed scone or biscuit
Bring 5 cups of chicken broth to simmer in heavy medium saucepan. Add wild rice and simmer until all the liquid evaporates and rice is almost tender, about 45 minutes. In a food processor, take 4 cups of the corn kernels and 1½ cups chicken broth and puree. Continue until smooth. You might need to do this in batches.
Heat oil in heavy, large cast-iron pan. Add sausage and sauté until brown, about 5 minutes. Add onions and carrots and cook another 3 minutes. Add remaining chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Simmer for another 20 minutes. Add cooked wild rice, corn puree and rest of corn kernels. Continue cooking until rice is tender, about 30 minutes.
Soup can be prepared up to this point two days ahead. Refrigerate. Reheat soup over medium heat. Once heated, add half and half. Ladle into soup bowls. Sprinkle chopped parsley over top.
For more delicious recipes and tails of the dogs, purchase If it falls on the floor, it’s mine! cookbook at http://www.amazon.com/dp/0615869823
If It Falls on the Floor 