Snow Garden

Over the weekend I noticed this crop of snow stalagmites blooming outside a window.

They were carved by a drip from the rooftop far, far above.

Lots of dripping today. It's 52 degrees and rainy, and the entire Lodge is enveloped by evaporation fog. The Chap is enjoying his holiday. Dogs are slumbering all over the place. This morning I'm finishing my taxes--would've done it yesterday, but I decided to read a novel instead and am better for it. It's the second novel in a row set in the time of Charles I, thus out of the period about which I'm writing.

This afternoon, it's back to writing.

Ordered another two rose bushes. I believe that's an even dozen that will be added to the rose beds in springtime. Click-of-the-mouse retail therapy this weekend means hard and heavy labour in a couple of months' time, but it's all good. And good for me.

Friday Festivities

A warm day and a little bit of melting made me hopeful that someday the snow might vanish, although we're now sunk in a deep freeze so any surface that got wet is now iced over. Sunshine is a nice addition, however.

After navigating through caverns and tunnels of snow to my mandolin lesson and back, I desperately needed retail therapy unavailable at the mall. Garden retail therapy. Soon as I was home, I sat down at the computer and headed straight to Pickering Nurseries in Ontario.

As an act of faith that spring, and summer, will someday come, I placed a massive order for rose bushes. I filled my shopping cart with maybe 8 or 9 plants: mostly antique varieties I don't have, a few David Austin English Roses that have been successful or which I've always wanted to grow, and a pretty pink climber. It's a very large order, probably excessive for someone who tends over 75 roses already. I scheduled a shipping date 2 weeks later than I normally do, just to be safe.

Rising from the computer, I got ready for our special night.

We attended a dinner party on the other side of town, and our guests of honour were the Speaker of the New Hampshire House of Representatives and her husband. About 18 or 19 people were there for a fantastic feast. The Chap and I supplied some of the wine and supplemented with cider and other beverages.

After dinner, the Speaker shared with the group the accomplishments the majority made during last year's session, and the challenges we face this year, with declining revenues and many commitments--to education costing and funding, retirement system support, relieving the hardships caused by the latest announced mill closure (and previous ones) in the North Country, and more. She urged the group to be supportive of the 4 incumbent representatives (we were all present) in this election year. After the mad week we had--especially Wednesday--it was great to be able to socialise in a relaxed setting.

Madam Speaker speaks

Here's evidence that we were a large group!






Representative
Porter
caught
hugging
her
favourite
constituent.


Today we're making decisions about our New York trip, not imminent but the planning is an antidote to cabin fever. And I'll be working out my plan to incorporate all those new rose bushes into existing--and already crammed--gardens. There's one section in my front garden that desperately needs re-imagining. I'm inspired to do a massive make-over, combining my recent purchases with reliable perennials, many of which I didn't have time to divide and re-plant last year. And there are areas around the big deck where I can find space to add Austin roses to the ones currently thriving.

Red Hearts, White World

This a.m. my valentine drove me down the hill to my car so I could travel to the Legislative Office Building to the Executive Session in my legislative committee. As we did yesterday, we had quorum issues and drafted a representative from another committee to join our deliberations. We started at 10, finished at 11:30.

Being one of two females on the committee had its advantages today--we and the committee secretary received a Valentine's gift bag and a red heart-shaped box with some chocolates (in my case, also know as "lunch").

Because my other two meetings--afternoon and evening--were cancelled, I had a free afternoon to shop for pressies and a card for my own dear valentine. Plus a card from the dogs. The category expansion in Valentine's and other special occasion cards is sometimes useful.

The only territory I've seen lately is along the route to and from the State House, and the downtown streets immediately adjacent. So the size of the mountains of plowed snow in big box store parking areas took me by surprise.



You could practically ski down this one. I believe it qualifies as an alp.



I wasn't the only one taking photos, either!

And then, of course, we have the ever-growing snow mountains at the Lodge. Here's the one beside the garage.



If we get any more snow, it will also be the one blocking the gargage. It's completely solid, hard as concrete.

This month is only half over, but the above is almost certain to be my choice for the February 2008 photo in the sidebar. I've been emailing all three photos to people living in places where it never/hardly ever snows.

I was supposed to be born today, but I wasn't. My mother rang me up to remind me of this fact and to wish the Chap and me a Happy Valentine's from her and the father. I was practically a 10-month baby. My brother, too.

We've always regarded this day as my pre-birthday, the one she wanted me to have. Only I was too stubborn. Or lazy. Or just not yet ready to face the world. As is often still the case!

Happy Valentine's Day!

The nature of my week has prevented me from shopping in stores. But it doesn't matter.

Because I'm giving a big bouquet of roses--from my own garden--to all my blog visitors.

You will find them here. Click on the individual images for a larger view with caption.

I hope they'll brighten your day. And infuse a bit of summer into this seemingly endless winter. (For those of us in the Northeastern US!)

Hugs and kisses!

Home Again

I'm safely back at the Lodge--miraculously.

The House session was utterly indescribable. With such low attendance, the margin required to pass anything was 2/3 of those present. After making some progress, we got bogged down with a contentious House Resolution that pitted the majority against the minority. On a normal day, it would've sailed through in accordance with the committee recommendation. But today, none of the many, many votes on the various committee or floor amendments or the bill, or motions to recommit or table or special order or _fill in the blank_ could get anywhere near that threshhold. We were at a complete and utter impasse until at last--after not even being able to adjourn or anything--we did pass a vote to refer for interim study, meaning it won't come back this session.

I can hardly wait to read the press accounts.

With much business to complete (a motion to special order remaining bills to a future session failed, the "third reading motion" also failed, unheard of) members began strategically and stealthily filtering out of the chamber. There came a quorum call--we'd fallen below the minimum to conduct business and the Speaker had to gavel us into recess.

The road flooding wasn't so bad on the way home. I almost made it, but the big hill was my downfall. Covered with rain-slicked ice. At I started up, I lost control and somehow managed to turn 360 degrees (without getting stuck in a snowbank) and get back down to the paved road. Turned around, tried again--same thing, a 360 spin. So I pulled over into a convenient lay-by created by the plow and abandoned my car.

I walked up through the rain, in the gathering darkness, up the slippery hill, and phoned the Chap to say I was on my way. It's the better part of a mile, up the hill and down and around the little lake. The tree branches were bending dangerously low, I stayed on the opposite side of the road from the power lines. The fallen hemlock branches made the air smell piney. That was the only pleasant aspect of the hike. As I reached the summit, a neighbour with 4WD came along and scooped me up and delivered me to the Lodge.

I've never been so glad to be warm and dry again. Never had such a trying day in the House--I do believe it was historic. It was the first day for our newest rep, who won a recent special election. I wonder if he'll ever come back!

Wednesday Weather

I'm most grateful for the kind sympathy extended towards Lola. Although her condition is progressive, it's not painful. She exhibits no signs of being impaired, visually or otherwise. Her companionship is a gift, her longevity and general health are remarkable. That does comfort us as we face this hard, harsh truth of loving and living with dogs.

"There's a ton of snow out there," the Chap reported very early this morning while I was still buried under the duvet. He was up and about, even though his office had a late opening. This gave him time to clear paths on the decks and some of the steps so he could retrieve the paper. (Our delivery person is amazing!) Our plow guy couldn't even plow the whole of the drive on the garage side--no place to put the snow without blocking the doors--so the Chap had to do part of it with the snow plow.

By the time I went outside to clear the back deck and the steps down to the dog yard, the wet snow has given way to sleet and icy rain, a real mess.

The bigger of the two snow mountains on our larger deck is now taller than the top rail. I've not been keeping up with snow totals, which are record-setting, but what you see here represents a considerable portion of the total accumulation for the season (it's in the 70 inches range.)



With winter raging, I'm especially thankful for my Valentine's gift: a pot of tête-a-tête narcissus.



Yesterday I was in town. I dropped off some prints of the Governor's day at the sled dog races at his office, searched the third floor of the LOB for the Chap. (He was monitoring a hearing Then had back to back to back "churchy" meetings. Our diocesan mission resources committee completed its process of awarding grants to congregations seeking financial support. Then I huddled with some canons to discuss tomorrow's Council meeting, which I've cancelled because of a funeral in the North Country--we had a tragically sudden death in our diocesan family. Then I hastened to Taco Bell for a fast meal with the Chap, and we made our way to the convocation meeting. The big agenda items was elections, and we finished early, enabling people to get home before the storm. And to watch the last night of the WKC dog show! And the Potomac Primary returns!

Today's session of the House was postponed till this afternoon. So I slogged through the mush to the Capitol, where I'm live blogging from Seat 3-93. I'm also still trying to recover my wrecked composure from the terrifying drive. The road leading to my road was nearly flooded and no doubt will be by the time I'm headed home. If I make it that far--the water came up over my tires and into my engine a few yards from the Legislative parking garage. Miraculously, I did not stall out. I won't be going in that direction when I leave.

There was almost no traffic other than plows, not even on the motorway. All the schools and the entire state is closed for business today.

But here I am. To do the people's business. As much as we can do with so few members present.

Husky love

It's the sort of frigid, blustery day that made me reluctant to leave the Lodge. But this morning my growing concern about Lola sent us both out into the 10-degree (with windchill it's worse), windy world to the vet.

There's good news and not-so-good news and terrible news. Her ailment is confined to the upper right portion of her face. Good: it's neurological and symptomatic of her advanced age and thus apparently not life-threatening. Not so good: It's incurable, it will increasingly impair her vision. Terrible: It's an indicator of an inevitable decline in an otherwise amazingly vigorous 15-year-old husky.

When they led her away to have her toenails clipped, I sat alone in the examining room.

I was acutely aware of confronting the same stainless steel table on which our "firstborn" Killian breathed his last as an old man, after we were certain life no longer held any joy for him. The same cold surface on which sweet Daisy's x-rays had been spread to show me her spinal tumour (so malignant, as it turned out, she had to be euthanised on an operating table). The very room in which darling Shadow was pronounced healthy a mere three weeks before her secretive cancer manifested itself with terrible suddenness (while we were in the UK) and resulted in her being put down before our return.

Ours is a rural vet, there are only two exam rooms. Why did I have to be in that one, where the Bad Stuff happens? It raised all sorts of troubling premonitions about Lola.

I tried to focus on all the Good Stuff. It's also a room in which my dogs have been well-tended, treated fondly, fed treats, received hugs and pats (after the jabs).

The roads were very treacherous, slick from all the snow being blown from the mountains of snow left by the plows. When we were safely home again, Ruth and Jewel greeted Lola with great joy and excitement. With her usual superiour air, she brushed past them. I watched my big, still-beautiful, only somewhat arthritic husky lumber down the icy steps to the white-covered yard. She lifted her head to sniff the frigid air. Thankful to be home. Bursting with life.

She lives in the here and now. No unsettling exam room memories. And no premonitions at all.

Sled Dog Videos

Videos of the sled dog racing. (Yes, more dog videos. But not of my dogs!)

Apologies for the low quality. Not the best of filming conditions.

Video 1: The Youngest Musher. It's a toddler. And the easily distracted dog isn't very old, either!




Video 2: Lining Up For the Lyman Memorial Open Class. These dogs can't wait to run!




Video 3: The Longest Sled Dog Team I've Ever Seen. Eight pairs! Sixteen dogs! Sixty-four paws! (The team after it is a more usual size.)




"Ain't no mushing happening here at the Lodge.
We're non-working dogs"

As previously mentioned, there's a World Sled Dog Championship Photo Album

World Sled Dog Championships

Undeterred by threats of snow squalls (which did materialise) immediately after church we drove across severely frost-heaved roads to the 79th Annual World Sled Dog Championships. This is a favourite winter event, in recent years unfortunately cancelled or delayed due to lack of snow. Or global warming, if you prefer.



It's a must for lovers and owners of Northern breeds. Killian, our late great red Siberian Husky accompanied us to sled races when we lived in Colorado. Now we've got Lola, an Alaskan Husky--the most common racing breed in these parts. Most of the dogs we saw today were Alaskans, or very mixed breeds. Oops, that's redundant...by definition, Alaskan huskies have mixed-breed ancestry.

We were there in time to watch the Junior One-Dog Races--some of those juniors were very young, more like toddlers.

There was a lull in the racing when the Governor and his wife arrived. They each took a turn driving a sled dog team, and appeared to enjoy themselves very much.

Here's the Governor with Miss Lakes Region.



The snow was really pounding down, and sometimes Miss Lakes would pull her hood up over her crown.

After they finished their ride, I went over and said hello to Gov. Lynch and Dr. Lynch. The Chap and I wandered round watching dogs being hitched up for the Lyman Memorial Open Class (teams of any size) and so did the Gov and Mrs. Dr. Gov.



Not all the Northern breeds were mushing today. Some were there to see and be seen--very classy spectators.



Here's a not-so-classy spectator.

"Don't take my picture unless there's a husky in the frame."

Eventually the Lynches headed to a different part of the Big Lake, where the Annual Ice Fishing Derby was taking place.

We had planned on a look-in at the cottage but felt we'd been snowed upon quite long enough. So we returned to the Lodge.

To see loads more fabulous pics of sled dogs, the Gov and his wife, more sled dogs, fun in the snow, etc. (with captions), go to the 2008 World Sled Dog Championship Photo Album I uploaded to Facebook. (Membership not required for viewing)

Saturday is bringing more snow...Sunday, too....

"I'm starting to maybe get tired of snow," I admitted last night, moments after Mr. Weatherman described the next chapter of The Whitening: A Horror Tale of New England Winter.

The Chap muttered something that sounded like, "What does it take to push you over the edge?" before using several bad words that I can no longer say because I gave them up for Lent.

Between now and tomorrow evening, we're told to expect another 6-to-9 inches, depending which weather map--Manchester or Boston--you're viewing.

Yes, I still love snow. I don't mind watching it drift down from the sky. The difficulty lies in where to put it once it hits the ground. We've got 21 acres here, but 20 are tree-covered. Our snow plow man (who's getting very rich) is running out of room at the end of our drives to push the snow.

This morning when I went out to feed the birds, I found lots of tracks criss-crossing the snowscape. Including these, near the old lobster trap.



Snow lobsters?

More likely the snowshoe hare. Or a very large grey squirrel.

It's only February. I don't like to remember that March is typically the "snowiest" month....

Our girls are enjoying the white stuff. Especially Ruth.

"Standing on Wolf Mountain, I don't feel so little."

"What's the altitude way up here on No-Name Mountain?"

"I got up, surely I can get down."

Jewel looks forward to another day of playing outside.



Exciting plans for tomorrow. We're determined not to let the weather slow us down.

Before signing off--greetings and gratitude to all my new Facebook friends!

Stuck In a rut. Facing the Book. Booking the Face.

Another day of confinement, here at the Lodge where the snow falls intermittently and the canines have contracted narcolepsy. Perhaps it's the ideal curl-up-nose-to-tail-and-snooze weather making the young ones so sleepy. Lola has an excuse--at 15 years, her life is one long nap interspersed with meals.

Readin', writin', 'rithmetic (balanced my checkbook) doesn't make for interesting blogging. Good thing I've got an announcement. Or, as we say in the novelista business, A Big Reveal.

I'm now registered with Facebook.

Didn't see that one coming, did you? (Well, some of you actually did, because I've friended you already.)

It all started in January so I'm very new to this. Frankly, I haven't exactly worked out how it's supposed to fit into my extremely active and fulfilling online lifestyle. I mainly connect with other people via their blogs, so do I really need a social networking site? I haven't any books to promote at the moment...except to residents of Bratislava or Vladivostock.

But I'm a joiner. So join I did.

UK acquaintances have been F'booking for a while now. Not long after I signed up a real life friend friended me. So I started searching for more. Turns out that many people I know in real life--lots of writers--are on F'book. Bloggers, too. And at least one relative.

It also turns out that I'm terribly shy about friending people. Therefore I'm not allowed to have an inferiority complex about my tiny collection of friends. It's my own fault.

Consider this my global plea to all my blog visitors: If you're on Facebook, too, reach out! Or I will. (When I get over being so shy, that is.)



You can also tell me why and how you use Facebook, MySpace, whatever. Or whether you do use it. I really want to know!

Trapped on Wednesday, Too

basement window in Legislative Office Building

Okay, so the incarcerated/trapped theme is somewhat outworn this week, but I'm sticking with it one more day....

Today I was "trapped" in Representatives Hall, where we legislated like hell from 10 a.m. till 4:40. Tomorrow is the deadline for reporting bills going to a second committee. Because icky weather is expected, we really didn't want to come back for a second session this week. We were sufficiently motivated to make it through Part 1 of our calendar (the deadline bills) and a portion of Part 2. We special ordered the unfinished Part 2 bills to next week.

Melissa, I thought of you--and your EZ Pass woes of last year--when voting on HB 1604-FN. Our Dept. of Transportation estimates 33,000 EZ Pass violations each month...you can screw up twice in 30 days without penalty. But three times, and you suffer the consequences. There's no reference to an appeals process in this particular piece of legislation, as far as I can tell.

At lunch break I did email on my laptop on the deserted 3rd floor of the LOB. Taking 4 flights of stairs (from the basement to the top) up and down is my midday exercise.

During the afternoon debates I was attentive yet still managed to scribble a portion of my scene-in-progress. As the hour grew later I got giggly. The bill that would've formed a study committee to see if NH wants to change to the Atlantic Time Zone cracked me up. (And my seat mates and the row behind me.) Not so much on its merits, or lack thereof, but points made during the debate were occasionally frivolous. And late in the day, I'm susceptible to any sort of humour.

I can't imagine driving from Portsmouth to Kittery and entering a different time zone. I know, I know--Indiana. Not a convincing argument!

A parliamentary inquiry (PI) type of question popped into my mind near the conclusion. It went unasked but I'll share it with you.

"Would the honourable gentleman believe that I spent 11 years living in the Mountain Time Zone, and would he also believe that I moved to the Eastern Time Zone where all my immediate relatives reside partly to stop my mother, father and brother asking me 'What time is it there?' every time they rang me up, which was driving me crazy?"

I escaped the Hall soon as we were released, raced to the garage, and was on the motorway before the State employees merged onto it from the state complex at Hazen Drive. It was a speedy commute and I was singing along with Dar Williams and Ani DiFranco--Comfortably Numb--at the top of my voice.

I really should be at church tonight, kneeling and reciting the Ash Wednesday Litany with my fellow parishioners. I think ours is the only church in the village that didn't cancel services (because of impending weather.) I don't have the energy. Our miserable country road is such a mess after a day of pouring rain that has nowhere to run off due to the snow piles that I worry about getting out and not getting back home.

Some might say that I've already done my penance by being confined in the State House so many hours. Others would say that because of the way I voted, I ought to do penance.

If the weatherman is correct (for a change) our snow plow mountain will grow tomorrow.

Trapped on Tuesday

Maybe "trapped" isn't entirely accurate. I could escape the Lodge if I had to. Fortunately I don't.

Mr. Weatherman's map showed that our area could expect "a trace to an inch" of snow by morning. We were gobsmacked to find a good half-foot when we arose. In recent days there has been a fair amount of melting, but now it's a case of one step forward, two back. The Chap had to be at the LOB for some Senate hearings and headed downtown. He observed--and a commuter friend confirmed--that it was a miserable drive. The radio reported people sliding all over the interstate and other roads, many accidents.

The wall created by the snow plow continues to rise, and is now a towering eight, maybe ten feet high. Possibly more. Difficult to measure.



One day I'll pose in front of it. I'm in no rush, there's plenty of time before spring. Barring massive heat waves, it'll probably be here on Memorial Day.

My afternoon meeting was cancelled. Meaning I could stay home all day, dipping into the artichoke/cheese dip we have leftover from Sunday. (If you're wondering, no, we didn't really "watch" The Game. The startling loss was Not Our Fault.) This would be a great curl-up-and-read-somebody-else's-book-day. But I've been a good girl and have been writing my own. Rather, re-writing. I attacked the very first paragraph, for the zillionth time, and after knocking it into shape re-re-re-re-re-edited the entire first chapter before carrying on at the place I left off.

I take occasional breaks to play with my new treasure, which arrived yesterday.




As it's Super-Duper Tuesday at long last (Was the NH Primary only a month ago? Seems like years!), I predict a very, very late night of watching election returns, even though I have to be up early in the morning. I also predict the Chap will beat me to bed. He's not as obsessive about these things as I can be.

Incarcerated

I had to go to jail today.

I wasn't apprehended for exceeding the lawful limit of doggy photo/video blogposts. Not yet, anyway.

My brief incarceration in the county lock-up was all part of my legislative service. State Reps are also members of their county delegation and as such are assigned to subcommittees who review assigned departmental portions of the county budget. I serve on the Corrections Subcommittee, and today we met--at and in the jail--to review the proposed '08 budget. There were 7 of us reps, plus the Superintentant, Director of Operations (a constituent of mine), and the County Administrator.

Last year we met twice for budget discussions but today we worked through till noon-thirty so we wouldn't have to come back. Although nobody pointed it out, it does save the county some $$$ because we'll only have one day of per diem instead of two!

As we were departing, our subcommittee chair gave voice to our shared thoughts: "I'm always relieved when I step out into the sunshine, and hear that metal door slam behind me."

No kidding. It's a wonderful facility--new, state of the art, environmentally green. And like all such places, the population behind bars is spiraling. I'm glad I don't have to stay there for longer than a few hours at a time.

I'm always amused by the highway signage posted at the approach to our county complex, from each direction:



I didn't notice anybody thumbing for a ride. If I had done, I definitely wouldn't have stopped for them!

When I took the photo, the sun was in a really bad place but now that I see the result I rather like the washed-out, surreal quality. Looks like I tweaked the image but I didn't.

The Big Game: Puppy Bowl IV

For residents of the Lodge, the Big Game could only be found on Animal Planet. The two young dogs were glued to the telly for the broadcast of Puppy Bowl IV.

Ruth was riveted. Jewel coached (noisily) from the sofa.




Bingo was our favourite pup, because of a perceived resemblance to Jewel. So that's how we voted for the Most Valuable Puppy Poll. But Bingo didn't win.

I know, I know. Yet another dog video. Sorry. It's just that my dogs watching other dogs on tv cracks me up.

One of these weekends I'll escape the confines of the Lodge on a Sunday, and shoot more interesting footage. Promise.

The Deliciousness. The Cuteness.

Our town, and several neighbouring ones, held its deliberative session (or traditional town meeting) yesterday. We arrived at the elementary school a little before 9 a.m. and the "regulars" drifted in. Only a few dozen, not the few hundred who attended back when we had the traditional meeting. The purpose was to review and/or amend warrant articles that will appear on the official ballot of the March election. The discussion--and amending--got really bogged down with an article about continuing the current Highway Department lease of a front end loader, or whether the Selectmen should be authorised to enter into a different lease on a different model. We were breaking in a new town moderator, too.

We had to leave at noon-thirty for my make-up mandolin lesson. On Friday afternoon when backing the car out of the garage, I slid on the thick ice coating of the drive and ended up with a wheel stuck in a snow bank along the side. I spent about 15 minutes trying to dig out to no avail. The frozen and re-frozen snowpack was very hard to deal with. Realising it was a losing battle, I phoned my instructor and re-scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday. (When the Chap got home from the office, all he did was deliver one strong shove to free the vehicle.)

After my lesson, we reckoned the town meeting was finished. In fact, according to today's newspaper, it ended at about 2 p.m.--after 5 hours of deliberations! We had a late lunch at the new Newick's. When a theme restaurant folded last year after a brief tenure, the popular seacoast seafood place settled in. The view can't match the one of docks and Great Bay at the Dover Point location, where we often go, but the food is just as tasty. And they were clever enough to hang a fantastic photographic mural of the familiar Great Bay view (at sunset) in the new place! Coincidentally, there's a Long John Silver's right next door, but it's not like they compete for customers. One is fast seafood, the other is a sit-down restaurant with a bar and the grooviest, biggest, deepest see-through plexiglas lobster tank we ever saw.

We wanted old favourites and to try something new. So the Chap ordered the whole fried clams, onion rings, and clam chowder. I got fish chowder (always) and the special, a seafood shepherd's pie--fish, shrimp, and tiny scallops in a bisque under a whipped potato covering sprinkled with paprika. Coleslaw on the side.



Totally yum.

Last night I watched a Eukanuba Dog Show on Animal Planet (sound off) while the dogs slept and the Chap did email, and simultaneously checked out videos of mandolin players and old favourite music videos I never see any more on my laptop (with headphones).

Last Sunday Jewel was the blog hog, jumping onto my lap while I was at this keyboard and getting her picture posted here as a result. So today I'm celebrating Ruth, aka Our Wee Dog. An adorable combination of Border collie and possibly some sort of terrier, she weighs 29 pounds. She makes me laugh almost every time I look at her. She so little, and so cute, and so sweet, and her feet are so tiny. "Pig's trotters," we call them. Until she arrived in our home, we were Big Dog People.

Despite being a little bit shy (everybody is so much bigger) she's friendly towards all people and other dogs. Jewel mostly stays glued to me, but Ruth is very outgoing. She has bucketloads of charm and personality. She likes to cuddle. She strives to keep the pack--canine and human--together at all times. She's our most obedient dog, because she truly wants to please.

She can be rather possessive of toys and has no trouble taking them from Jewel, who though very smart herself, is victimised by Ruth's sneaky and manipulative methods of theft. Or else she doesn't care. In playfighting they are fairly evenly matched in strength, despite a difference in size and weight class, but Ruth always wants to dominate. With all humans she's totally and cheerfully submissive--she spends a lot of time belly-up, wiggling with joy.

She loves Lola, who most of the time is a mother figure, and like a puppy (or any young canid) licks big husky's face and mouth. Sometimes she asserts herself by growling if she fears the big dog covets her favourite place on the sofa or under my chair. Lola's jumping-up-on-the-sofa days are long past, and she's too large to fit under any of our chairs. Ruth doesn't seem to realise it.

She spends her evenings curled up on her cushion at the opposite end of the sofa from where I lounge, sometimes with her head on the armrest. It thrills her when the Chap sings songs to her. She thumps her tail so fast it's a blur of motion. Lately she's been in the mood for ballads.

I don't feel like posing for your camera, I'd rather play with Jewel!

As you can tell from the photo, I need to hoover black dog hairs from the carpet near my desk, a favourite napping spot for the young dogs.

Battening Down

Messy weather on the way later today...snow, sleet, freezing rain, rain, harsh winds. Our parish Mardi Gras festival was cancelled--not a night to be out on the roadways.

After Wednesday's House session, I came home by way of our town library. When we built it--yes, I can say "we," because the Chap and I served on the building and capital campaign committee--we made sure to include lots of gallery space. An acquaintance from a neighbouring town, wife of a legislator in fact, is exhibiting this month, so I stopped in to view her work.

Her work in acrylics was all beautiful...woodlands, rivers, autumn views, ponds, bridges. I loved it all. No artist or photographer can resist Nubble Light, and I really liked her representation. The light and depth of colour really appeal to me...instead of the usual blazing hyper-blue sky background, this one is more muted.



There were definitely some paintings I would consider purchasing. It's always the case...but with a painter in the family who has provided us with multiple works in various media, plus original cover art paintings from some of my books, and a wealth of other artwork, the walls of the Lodge are hardly crying out for more decoration.

From time to time I do envision a new and different "hang" in some or all of our rooms. But I never develop the plan or put it into action.

Passing by the paperback spinner on my way out front door of the library, I spotted a very familiar book cover.



Nice to know my novels are still circulating. This particular one was published 10 years ago this week. I well remember that I spent the fortnight before Valentine's Day doing press and bookstore signings all over the Northeast. It's a point of pride that in the past decade, the book has been printed in a hardcover edition and translated into various foreign languages. Most recently, Russian. Having just received my 1099 MISC from my literary agency, it's nice to see that this backlist title continues to support me!

We had some excitement earlier this week when one of the Chap's longtime clients was awarded a new multi-city radio licence in Ireland. As usual, when receiving the good news, I chirped, "I wanna go to the launch party!" When the same client launched the Dublin station now known as Q-102, we were there for the big celebration, the sign-on at the station itself and the massive celebration in the evening.

In musical news...MAS (Mandolin Acquisition Syndrome) had its way with me. Yes, I succumbed. Already headed my way is the sweetest little vintage bowl-back (lute style) instrument with rosewood neck, mother-of-pearl inlay and ivory tuning nuts. Very little wear and tear. Not only that, I've struck up an email friendship with the seller, who attests to the fine qualities of her former possession. It was well within my price range, so I didn't violate my instructor's warning not to overspend on an older instrument.

Colour me blissful. Can't wait for it too arrive!

Going Too Fast?

After intense and instructive debate, the boating speed limit bill on Lake Winnipesaukee passed in the House, 236-111. This legislation imposes a 45 mph. limit during the day and 25 mph. at night, and the law sunsets after two years. Similar bills have, I believe, previously passed in the House but never made it out of the Senate--but there's a very different Senate now.

Never, in my experience, has a bill inspired such volumes of email, in favour and in opposition.

The competing interests, as expressed in emails, are the speed demon boaters who like zipping about the lake at extreme speeds in their high-powered cigarette boats, bass boats, etc. with no regard for anybody else, pitted against the old-timers, the owners of waterfront properties who have been on the lake for generations (guilty!) and hate all the noisy boat traffic and wish the lake could be peaceful and pleasant as it is in their memories, from childhood, or in grandpa's (great- or great-great grandpa's) day.

While there is truth and (perhaps) distortion in the tales told by both sides, the situation has got worse, and at times is quite dangerous. Other states in the Northeast have boating speed limits, have had for quite some time...that's at least partly why all the fast boat people converge on our Big Lake.

As for my instensely personal connection to the lake in question...of course it informs my own vote. That said, I didn't speak in favour, nor did I lobby my colleagues, and I rarely talked about it with anyone. I lived in silent hope. Because during my many years on our narrow, heavily-trafficked Bay, I've witnessed and experienced all the problems that the opposition claim rarely occur. As well as a few truly appalling scenarios that were never even voiced by the bill's supporters.

However, I have a fairly low tolerance for the personal anecdote/personal experience style of debating. At times it can be extremely effective (and indeed it was today, regarding a bill on end-of-life medical directives) but usually it carries very little weight. So I kept my mouth shut.

At the start of the debate, I will confess, there came a moment when I was bursting with--well, amused indignation. My good (and brave) neighbour on the Bay, Mr. Minority Leader, was the first to rise in opposition to the bill. He expressed himself quite effectively and though we feel very differently about a speed limit I respect his position and I well know we share a deep love of that lake and lakeside living.

When discounting any dangers to canoeists, kayakers, and swimmers, he mentioned the fact that he's a rower, and goes out on the waters daily, at all seasons, when ice is out, to scull.

It was that remark that nearly sent me to the podium. I'm too polite to interject a "Gotcha!" question. But here's what I would've asked the honourable gentleman:

"Is it not true, sir, that you do your sculling at five o'clock in the morning? When there's absolutely no motor- or powerboat traffic in the Bay? And thus no hazard to life and limb?"

How do I know this? One day last spring or summer, he came up to me in the Reps Hall anteroom or a corridor and commented, "I never see you out on your dock when I row past."

"If I'm not here, I'm there. When do pass by our place?"

"Five a.m."

I believe him, though I never had visible proof. I did sometimes emerge from the cottage at that hour (though more usually at 6 a.m.), to lead my trio of canines outside for their early morning squat.

I know for sure that I've never seen the honorable gentleman sculling on weekends in July and August. When the boat noise is so loud it makes my dogs bark and the shoreline wake disturbs the (very large) rocks holding the hillside in place and I fret over the neighbour kids on their floats or inner tubes if they venture to far out in the "shipping lanes" and I fume to see show-offs on jet skis deliberately over-running my beloved loon. We definitely have laws against harassing wildlife, but how can you report somebody who isn't even there within a minute of committing the offence?

Sorry. End of my NIMFY (Not in My Front Yard) rant. Clearly I've been keeping my mouth shut too long!

Anyway, the bill next goes to the Senators and I wish them joy of it. They'll get an avalanche of emails, that much I know. Maybe even from me.

Activity

My legislative committee met this morning in Executive Session. We "exec'ed" six bills in rapid succession, finishing our task in 70 minutes. Unanimity prevailed, except in one instance when the vote was 13-2.

One of the reporting subcommittees was dealing with permissable caliber of pistol bullets for the taking of game. We had a show and tell with some shell casings, of which the photo below is a reasonable facsimile:



On my way across Main Street, I directed a glance towards the building upon which the Concord web cam is located. It hasn't been operational recently and I don't know why. I've never successfully spotted the webcam.

In the course of my homeward journey I stopped to purchase some upholstery fabric and hard cider. Never fear, I shan't be imbibing and upholstering at the same time. I rely on professionals to make my cushion covers!

I left the big giant red ball in the dogs' play-yard in my absence. While I was out, it moved! This encourages the belief that Somebody played with it. Perhaps two Somebodies!

After catching up on my voluminous legislative email (I predict a sharp decline within 24 hours) I expected to spend the afternoon hard at work. The Gods of the Internets prevented this by invading my browser, altogether disabling my access to the web (horrors!), forcing me to seek a tech support remedy (ha! no such thing). There followed much huffing and cursing and self-troubleshooting followed by an uninstall...resulting in success (ha! ha!).

Now the evening draws nigh. All I've accomplished during a full and free afternoon: solving a problem that prevented my doing what I should've been doing all along.

It happens that the Chap has 2 board meetings back-to-back this evening so I don't have to do a proper meal or be sociable. Perhaps I'll manage some work on the ms. since I couldn't/didn't this afternoon.

I very much fear that there may be another mandolin in my future. Having already discovered I'm not immune to the dreaded Mandolin Acquisition Syndrome (MAS) I had a good chat with my instructor last week. He talked me down, a little bit. But I'm still craving. And I haven't a good history of successfully suppressing my cravings.

Besides, we all know the President wants us to go out and Buy Stuff and is reportedly sending us some $$$ with which to get all spendy. As I haven't got any debts to pay off, I suppose I might oblige him. Time will tell. Knowing me, the purchase will be made long, long before that Government check arrives.

Snowy Sunday

I don't remember Mr. Weatherman telling us that it would snow all day. We did watch the forecast last night...though I admit I might have been preoccupied with the South Carolina Dems Primary outcome. Enough flakes had fallen by breakfast time to result in a couple/few inches. It's very dry snow, a broom could brush it away. Total accumulation is around 4 inches or more, and our trusty snowplow operator came by to clean the driveways.

The fresh coating has "prettied up" the landscape.

Once home from church, I continued my mandolin hymn project. This time I used the 1982 Hymnal which has much the same music as the other, older version, but also a few different pieces (700 hymns, plus service music.)



My fingers ache after another 2 & 1/2 to 3 hours of practice. I don't care. I can still type.

A pair of Scentimental rose trees that summered on the big deck are indoors for the winter. I intended for them to go into a guest bedroom with the Sweetheart Rose that winters there but after we returned from London I somehow never got round to moving the huge and heavy pots--I can't manage them on my own and I'm always forgetting to ask the Chap to help me. Now with longer days (!) there's even more sunlight in their very sunny present location. As a result, they're suddenly leafy and leggy and throwing out buds!



A moment ago I was checking out my blogroll and about the time I got to Jim I wound up with 37 pounds of canine in my lap.



I'm not sure whether Jewel wanted to be my co-blogger this afternoon, or whether she was trying to get my attention as suppertime drew near. Possibly she wanted a closer view of the photos of my great- and great-great grandmothers and the aromatherapy vials atop my hard drive.

Hard to know what a dog is thinking.

My last dream of the morning was about dogs. I dreamt we had our three, plus two other very nice black-and-white ones who preferred living in the fenced backyard all the time. About all I remember of the dream was going outside with Lola, Jewel and Ruth, and pleading with the other pair to come on inside.

When I told the Chap about it, he obviously thought it was a nightmare. I had to assure him of my certainty that it wasn't prophetic.