Crap - it's here.

[Dempsy's Mom]

http://youtu.be/l2vSN6_ifaw just a very short flick - it was a very short trip.

Our first snow of 2011 came last night. It didn't fall gently and pretty - it was that whirling wind crap. I know that some of you love this old stuff. I know that our little fur babies think it's pretty neat. But I am not in the mood for it yet. It's cold, it gets up your pant leg, (but that's because I haven't went down the basement yet to drag up the old boots ... then plod up the steps and dig out the coveralls .... gloves .... scarves .... don't forget the long underwear) I hate moving it and if you don't move it away from the doorways you will fight it all winter because it packs so well. Hibernation is all I want to do. I just cannot motivate myself to go out .... it's either cookie baking or a nap. hmmmm. .... nighty nite. "Come Demps. Let's take a little snoozer."

[Tuesday]

I'm originally from Northern New York, and I remember that whirling, windy crap well. I don't miss is at all! Sure, it's pretty on Christmas for like two days, but that's it!

The wind, oh do I remember that howling wind!

I'm going to stick with my palm trees.

Dempsy looks like he's quite pleased with the whole mess.

[josie&holly]

Dempsey looks very happy but please keep it to your side of the Atlantic this year - please?

I know Holly loves it but I don't...................

[bradl]

Ugh. The dogs do love 'wild weather' but with so many tall firs and cedars and whatnot looming overhead I'm no fan of high wind and heavy snow. Fortunately the snow is rare for us, but the wind ... not so much.

[Idaho Cairns]

I share all of Demp's Mom's feelings at the moment--we received a skiff last night, nothing like what I know is coming. Four days ago I played the last round of golf before the Course closed the greens--now it is a cold wasteland of geese and ducks. I'm sure the girls will enjoy getting out there to snoop around uninhibited by golfers. I hate winter anymore--I had pre-retirement dreams of heading south but the economy put the dampers on that thought, so it is gut it out time for us here. Nice thing for Sammi and Bonnie is that they have their own personal doormen to let them in and out anytime they need to go--none of that "We have to wait til Mom and Dad get back from golfing" business.

[finncaraid]

Well, at least somebody enjoys it! Demps looks too happy for words. We had a significant amount of the crap on Halloween weekend. Ugh. Never had a white Halloween before. Finn happened to be outside when it started & he was walking along, doing the sniffs & suddenly saw it flying out of the corner of his eye. He looked up in the sky, saw it falling, and looked at me as if to say "Moms, it's snowing! Yipeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!". He, of course, wanted to go back out every 2 minutes until it all melted a few days later. It's going to be a l-o-n-g winter

[Lynn in TN]

I love the snow so long as it's not the kind that breaks the power lines and has the awful icy winds. I like how clean the air feels after a good snow. I like staying in the house and making snowcream, and baking cookies and making hot chocolate and homemade bread then curly up on the couch with the family enjoying the homemade goodies.

[Kathryn]

Lori - I knew what you were talking about the minute I read your heading. Oh Cr**. And it is hitting here in MN this afternoon. Same wind - obviously didn't take it long to get here after it left your place.

Allie and T bone love it too, until folks start putting that ice melt on their sidewalks. Then everything about going outside with dogs just becomes a chore. Sigh...maybe I'll try to hibernate to spring too.

[Dempsy's Mom]

"Yes Demps. It's just great."

Aww, I can just see Finn looking up at the snowflakes. Bet he loved it.

Well a good nap did help - the sun was out when we woke up and Demps and I went for another walk - I suppose wasn't sooo bad with snow boots on. Here the crunch, crunch, crunch when I walk - sends shivers down my spine. Little Demps's got cold feet so we cut it short. It does help when the sun comes out and the wind stops blowing Kathryn. Guess we are in it together. Demps gets cold - wants in - then after he warms up a minute later he wants to go out again. He likes that it's something different - they all do.

Hear the calves in the background? Poor little guys. We are weaning them - I go out a couple times a day or more to check for sick ones. Demps would love to come, but they don't need the extra stress right now. Put one in the barn tonight - a little one that the big ones were pushing around.

[pindrop]

awww...Demps looks like he is having a great time - not so the adult and I for one can't really blame you. Living in Maine we have already had our first storm on Halloween weekend - got about 9" and was not a happy camper. Retreated to the log cabin with the wood burning stove and shut the outside out. Course Layla was in seventh heaven literally jumping around like a young spring lamb in sheer joy of the white stuff. We all know what's coming and I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that it won't be a harsh winter - mind you I'm retired now so don't have to go anywhere till the weather improves.

[hheldorfer]

Ugh! I don't look forward to it nearly as much as Buffy does. The only snow I really like is a gentle snow falling on a Sunday morning when I have time to sit and enjoy it. And none of that wind or 20 below zero stuff, either. Dempsy was having a great time though, wasn't he?

[Idaho Cairns]

Here is a video that kind of says it all when it comes to the difference in how Cairns and humans see winter and snow. As you can see the dogs are having a massive play day while DW does the shoveling (I was filming of course). Our dogs are real PIA's when it comes to shoveling snow--Sammi tries and often does bite the shovel and scares me to death thinking I'll knock a tooth out. She insists that we throw the snow on her. As you can see, Bonnie is picking up practice herself.

Winter, particularly snow is carnival time for our girls. They just love it.

[Tuesday]

Wow Lori, those were just the calves crying? I thought it sounded like a gazillion big cows! How big is your farm? From what I can see, it appears to be very large. I understand why you need naps.

Dempsy just looks so excited to be out there running around but wants to make sure you are right there behind him!

Thanks for sharing!!!

[Idaho Cairns]

That's one of the downsides of a cattle operation, those bawling calves at weaning is, well, annoying. However, good grain fed, well marbled, beef in the freezer that you KNOW is as well raised as cattle can be sure does alleviate the noise pollution.

Lori, have you tried to socialize Demps with the cows? I would think that Cairns, as smart as they are, could be taught to co-exist with cattle pretty easily--I know I have had some Cairns that are comfortable around cattle and don't harass them.

[Lynn in TN]

I love these videos. They seem to like the snow so much. I can't wait to see how Kelly reacts to it.

I love the way Sammi was playing and liked it being thrown on her. She was jumping right under it. I wonder what Kelly would do? She will probably chase the snow shovel.lol

That's what she does when I sweep chases the broom and sniffs the pile in case by chance there is food in it.

[Hawkeye]

aww....Demps is loving the snow. Great videos! We had our first snow fall just in time for Halloween and another power outage for a couple of days. Bailey and Radar were thrilled - they thought it was a chapter out Dempsy's Great Adventures.

[Dempsy's Mom]

No, I haven't done much socialization with the cattle. Demps, the calves and the horse do enjoy being a little rambunctious together. We have about 200 cow/calf pairs - we used to have 500, but 200 seems just as much work. Jim cut back on cattle and bought more land - he is a bit of a work alcoholic (true farmer at heart) - so presently we have about 5000 acres of pasture/hay and about 6000 of crop ground - some of that is rented land, but it gets tougher every year to keep up with. I have loved the animals, even though they are the most work. I consider myself quite blessed with life on the farm - but you do sacrafice - you just have to keep enjoying all the life. Life surrounds you on the farm. Everybody has to choose to make the most out of their little corner of the world or it can be a miserable life. So as the thanks and the giving approaches us ... I hope you all find peace and contentment .... those two things are priceless.

Oops ... turned into a bit of a reflection .... anyway thanks dear Lord for all the animals that give us such joy and provide so many blessings.

PS: Idaho - you have two of the cutest little characters! Love those two.

[kjwarnold]

Sorry, here's an upright that can't wait for the snow to come, along with her Cairns. I'll have had enough of it by February, but for now, there's nothing like some snow to get you in the mood for the holidays. Packy and Kirby can't wait, Kirby watched the videos and asked why we can't have snow, too. Kirby always watches the videos...

[Idaho Cairns]

Lori, I can't even imagine trying to manage that many acres! That takes so much work and ambition--wow. But, you are right about "life surrounding you on a farm", it certainly does and all of it has to be nurtured and/or managed by the humans that work the land.

I don't think I could handle all the multitude of concerns that it takes to run an operation like yours! Shoveling a light load of snow from a 13 x 10 deck, with or without Cairns, is a picnic by comparison! Neat--I want to see more of Demps doing his "farm dog" role, it just seems so natural and so few of us live in a traditional Cairn environment we have to lean on you for visuals.

[Meggie]

What lovely videos, Dempsey's Mom and Idaho Cairns! Even if it's more lovely for the pups than the humans All the romping. Never gets old!!

Although I'm not a huge snow-fan either, I'm excited to see Hubble's reaction. Last year as a pup, he was so thrilled for the snow, I have a feeling the first real snow will blow his young mind! "Wait...This is happening again?!?!"

Edit: 5000-6000 acres?? That sounds amazing, although it must be so very much work. I'm not sure I can quite wrap my head around that much space!! Dempsey is a lucky doggie!

[Lynn in TN]

I can not even imagine that much land. Wow! Tell your husband I said he better hang on to you tight and be very,very,very good to you! I know how hard farm life is, but only about 360 acre farm. Can not imagine how hard 11000 acres would be. I hope God Blesses you always! give Demps a big hug for me.

[Sam I Am]

I love the Dempsey trilogy! He is one happy happy Cairn.

Up in Alberta winter has hit with a vengence. This morning with the wind chill it was -37C. Jock cant even go out to pee without having his boots on. He hates them.. but if they arent on he doesnt last 2 minutes without trying to stand on his head to avoid contact with the snow. The freaky thing is we might have rain in a couple of days! In Alberta there is a favorite saying, wait 5 minutes and the weather will change. I dont envy any farmers working in this weather... its just plain awful. When I went to see my horse today the owners of the barn were using a torch to defrost the water lines for the stock tanks.Things just break in this cold.

[Hawkeye]

Lori, I am always amazed to hear about "life on the farm", but what is truly inspiring is your outlook on life. Farming is not easy and you make that very clear but you still can look at it and find the silver lining and laugh at the crazy things that go on around you. Thanks for sharing!

[Dempsy's Mom]

You guys are great. This forum is so wonderful because you get such an insight to all sorts of life styles. All the life styles that our little cairns fit into and enjoy with us. All the ways of making a living and last I heard farming was only 6% - we are becoming fewer. Jim is 63 and I do have concerns about his adjustment when it comes time that he can't do it anymore. He has farmed his whole life and built it from scratch - "oofta" it will be a hard one. You can't take farming out of his blood. Thank you all for your positive thoughts - I love seeing and hearing about all your lives as well.

PS - Poor Jock. Can't imagine, but we can relate. Poor Demps hates going out to pee, especially with a wind - I keep thinking I am going to look out at him and see a little icicle hanging. But our Thanksgiving forecast sounds very nice and calm. Yay! ....... Say everybody, Dempsy is meeting his new cousin, Lucy, over Thanksgiving. Lucy is a plot/coon hound - oh my, it will be interesting.

[hheldorfer]

If you're not too busy with your turkey and your guests, we'd love to see Dempsy's introduction to Lucy. Bet they'll be a cute pair.