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Last night, we got several inches of snow, topped off with some rain around midnight. But what’s gonna make it stick around for a while this time, is the temperature. By tomorrow morning, it’ll be 30 degrees colder than it was last night…
Getting out to the Forest to play in the snow this morning seemed like the best idea. I was home and cozy yesterday before the snow started coming down late in the afternoon. The roads this morning were a mess. I spotted 4 cars in the ditch during the short 5 miles I spent on the highway. They all looked like leftover casualties from yesterday’s rush hour.
Fortunately, my co-driver helped me watch the road…
“Look’s slippery… go faster! Haha!!”
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Uhh… yeah, having a Minx as my driving advisor probably isn’t the best idea. Have you seen them drive their shoes???
I’m pretty good in the snow however. I understand the limits of my vehicle pretty well, run winter tires on it… and I know the difference between a “calculated” risk and “foolish” risk. I knew I needed to be cautious this morning, but the drive to the Forest was definitely manageable.
There wasn’t a lot of people out on the road tho. I suspected that there would hardly be anyone at the park. I was correct… the lot was empty.
“Oooo… let’s do some donuts!!!”
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This was perfect snow for snowshoeing in…
It’s not obvious to people. They think you only want to snowshoe in deep snow… but that’s way too much work. The snow today wasn’t deep enough to “require” snowshoes, but that’s why they’re perfect for it… because they give a predictable step and balance every time. They also allow me to walk straight into the brush and fields off-trail.
It’s definitely more of a workout than hiking nice dry trails, but walking in snow isn’t easier without them either. In my case, not having my foot slip and twisting my knee without warning was reason enough to put on the snowshoes.
The trail revealed it’s beauty to me slowly…
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The above cross-country skier was the only person I saw in the Forest the entire 2 1/2 hours I was out there.
Like me, he was taking advantage of the new snow… something that is becoming rarer every year. A few days ago, I saw earthworms on the sidewalk after yet another rain. The ground isn’t frozen. That may change this week, but it’s a tragic trend for those of us who love winter.
Yip Yap!!!
What was that?
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It’s Sika!!!
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The little Arctic Foxy-Minx bounded over to me… obviously enjoying herself immensely in the fresh snow!
Yip Yi-Yap!
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“Would you like to walk with me Sika?”
Yap Yap YAP!!!
Sika bounded off down the trail in front of me. There wasn’t much hope of me keeping up with her… I’m a ponderous beast in the snow… but she’d frequently race back and catch me up.
I do hope that little nature nymphs are okay in super cold temperatures! I'm a little worried about Rosebud as we sit at today's high of -31. If she's not impervious to the cold I like to think she's curled up in a hole cuddling with some squirrels or other furry creature. Whatever these wise forest creatures need to do I'm sure they'll do it.
You tell him, Frankie! Donuts! Donuts! Donuts! I like her style.
Pretty sure we're going to see a nymph riding on the back of a fox before this story concludes, if I had to put money on it!
“Good morning Cedar luv. Umm… isn’t it a little rude for you to tease Sika like that?”
“Silly ShadowFun… I’m not teasing Sika. We’re playing Snow Monster!”
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“Uhh… ok, I’ll bite. How do you play Snow Monster?”
“Watch… Giggle!”
RAWRRRRR!!!
Cedar leapt from the tree onto an excited Sika below…
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Yap yap YAP!!! Giggle!
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And just as you’d expect a Snow Monster to do, the two of them roared off into the Forest.
It was tough for me to keep track of Cedar and Sika now. They were obviously enjoying playing together. Plus, they were way too fast for me. I heard giggles, yaps and roars echo through the woods. Some turkeys scrambled past me too. They’d obviously seen the Snow Monster.
I was getting some much needed exercise today, but I could tell I was gonna be feeling it tomorrow. Too much sitting on the couch lately… sigh.
“You sure are pokey ShadowFun… especially for how big you are! Giggle!”
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“I’m sorry Cedar luv… but I’m doing the best I can today. I’m just about out of energy”
“That’s ok, at least you’re trying to play in the snow… unlike all those other dumb Hoomans sitting in their brick boxes… pfft!”
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“Maybe… giggle… Sika will give you a ride and you can play Snow Monster with her???”
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“Uhhh… I really don’t…”
YIP!!!
And like a white bolt of lightning… Sika was gone.
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“Don’t even THINK about riding me… Giggle! That’s not how Snow Monster is played!”
“I wouldn’t dream of it Luv.”
“Well… you can dream… Giggle!”
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And with a bound, Cedar was gone… chasing after Sika.
I stayed in most the day after snow blowing ..
We have little over two feet here I think..
We got hit Tuesday and then again last night.
Looks like you had a fun time out in this mess lol.
So cute! I can watch Sika and Cedar play Snow Monster from the confines of my comfy couch all day! Aargh, I should probably stop being a coach potato too.
Thanks Agent, John, 4891d, Lone, h6, Mr Franz and everyone else for stopping by!
I’m ecstatic that I got out to have some fun with the Snow Monster yesterday! Today was clear, sunny and COLD!!! No way I would’ve had FUN today.
Unfortunately, the extra cold temps are gonna stick around for a week. I would like to get back out in the snow and play some more… but that might not be in the cards. Ugh… I know exactly what Cedar will say about that…
“I’m sorry Cedar… it’s just that I was planning on sculpting today… and it was CANCELED!”
This morning was supposed to be the second and final session working with a particular model and pose at my sketch session. Even though the building and other classes were on for the day, the guy who runs our session saw there was snow coming and called it off. Myself and others were waiting in the studio… and no model showed up.
I was sculpting this model’s lovely feet and now I won’t get to finish!
“I can help you find feets SF! Let’s go see all the pretty ones in the sculpture garden!”
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“Thanks Cedar luv, but all the sculptures are covered up now to protect them from the snow and ice.”
“Not for long… giggle!”
Cedar bounded off… stopping first at a fully wrapped deco style sculpture of Diana in a frozen fountain. After some rustling around with the cover… feet appeared.
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“See??? FEETS!!! Giggle!”
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“Uhhh… thank you Cedar, but I think we’ll get in trouble if we start unwrapping the sculptures.”
“Pffft… such a scaredy-cat! Who’s gonna know???”
Indeed… it was pretty quiet out here… and beautiful. I followed Cedar through the snow and was starting to forget about my disappointment this morning. I never intended on “finishing” that sculpture anyway… but it would’ve been nice to work on it some more.
Mmm… I think I know just who’s feet Cedar is heading for now.
“Spring is coming early this year SF. Persephone isn’t gonna need her blanket for long!”
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No she isn’t.
This coming week temperatures are supposed to go up above freezing again and this tiny window of snow and cold will be over. I’m not looking forward to another long stretch of grey mucky weather.
Maybe I should get out to a park with my snowshoes today… and take advantage of this extra time on my hands???
I was a little too cold when I stopped at the Art Park and let Cedar console me with her antics. I had dressed for my sculpting session and not tromping around in the cold. But as Cedar pointed out, the day was beautiful, and I now had a lot of extra time and energy on my hands.
Heading out to the Forest with my snowshoes sounded perfect.
“Yes yes Ta’rah… certainly, I do need some exercise. But where are your snow paws?”
“No Ta’rah paws today. Ride Sha’do’funn to bite if lazy! Haha!”
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Oh… I see how this is gonna go…
I think all my complaints to Cedar about how tired I was last time out have been passed along to Ta’rah. I forget that the Minxes all communicate with each other constantly. I can already tell that this day is gonna be a workout.
“To trail now! Paw paw!”
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The Forest was perfect this morning…
It’s a little sad that I’ve figured out my winter clothing and kit just in time for the snow to disappear. Next week is supposed to be above freezing again. Today, with the impending workout requirements, I packed my camera in its smallest and lightest form. No extra lenses, just my weather resistant 27mm “pancake” lens.
I bought this lens years ago (pre-dolls) specifically for winter activity use. The focal length of this lens on my camera translates into what is considered to be a “true normal” perspective… close to how the human eye “sees” the world.
There’s a long history of “fixed-lens” cameras using this focal length perspective. In my collection of vintage cameras, probably at least 2/3 of them use a lens of this “angle of view” as their only lens… and every interchangeable lens camera system I have has one in its bag.
Simply put, I love this perspective…
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The trail this morning was quiet… and I was taking full advantage of my snowshoes.
I’ve written about it before, but it bears mentioning again… my snowshoes allow me access to the Forest in ways I normally can’t. It’s easy to just go off the trail and tromp over to interesting trees and stumps I see. It’s not just about getting over the snow, but the brush and vines too.
Ta’rah was constantly on the lookout for snowy places to model for me.
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It’s wonderful having such a beautiful and willing companion with me!
My disappointment sculpting this morning carries some old baggage with it. My entire adult life, I’ve longed for sexy female companionship… women who would “be beautiful” in the natural beauty of the Forest all around us. But such a woman is a unicorn. They simply don’t exist…
Well… not until I discovered dolls at least!
Having Ta’rah with me today… and all the playing with Cedar and her friends in recent years… has fundamentally changed my experience of being out in the Forest for the better. The tiny luvs give me things I’ve always longed for but never could’ve achieved with any “real” woman.
I’m no longer longing for unicorns to appear!
“Shhhhh… Sha’do’funn. much too talk, more paw!”
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Hidden Lake isn’t frozen enough to walk on, but it’s nice to see it coved at least.
I was worried that I’d never see this shot happen this year. Once again, my snowshoes let me get into the marsh a little ways, even though it wasn’t frozen solid. The steady flow of the seasons are important to me… and something would be missing from my year if I never saw this lake covered in snow.
Time to turn my snow paws around and head back to the car. Thanks for dropping by everyone.
I hope Winter brings you all some magic and beauty!
Proud servant of 
