Full disclosure: March is not my favorite month. It’s a month of walking through mud to get to the icy places where you’re in danger of falling if you don’t take tiny baby steps, covering about 6 inches at a time. Then you cross the ice, and slip in the mud and fall down anyway. Besides, the month itself is too damn long, and is full of yearning for a real spring that hides just behind the clouds, and teases you relentlessly.
Ah, but, there’s also a lot to be thankful for! It’s a time of more daylight, and returning Sandhill Cranes, and Chickadees singing their haunting spring song, Whoo hee! Whoo hee!
This week it’s all photographs again (I’m going to make it a monthly feature), and why not lead off with a Black-capped Chickadee?
The chickadee was at a friend’s feeder (thanks Nancy and Jim!), along with another of my favorites, the White-breasted Nuthatch, who gets “cool-factor” points for being able to walk straight down a tree trunk as easily up walking up. Both species tend to travel together during the winter–more eyes and ears to keep a look out for predators (mostly hawks, owls and shrikes).
And look! Flowers! No kidding, these are Snowdrops against a house, encouraged by a southern exposure. These are at friend Donna’s house; our few Snowdrops got manged when we remodeled, but I am not going through another year without planting a bunch for the farm. (And Skip got to work sheep briefly while we were there. Thank you Donna!)
We took the dogs on a walk yesterday to Brigham Park, blithely wearing our spring jackets and light hats. It had been 40 degrees the day before, sunny and no wind, and I kept having to take off layers while walking the dogs. Whoops, because the temperature the next day may have been 40, but it was damp and windy and was really, really cold. Jim and I apologized to the dogs and kept the walk short.
But the woods look hauntingly beautiful, don’t they?
I also tried this weekend to get a good shot of Skip’s mighty mane. He is in full winter coat, and is looking a little movie-starish. (Please do not repeat that around him.) I never quite got the shot I wanted, but he does still look rather elegant.
No elegance here, with his ears flopped up all skiwampus (that actually is word, but I had to look up the spelling). If you find his left front leg after the snow melts let me know; it’s apparently fallen off.
Here’s a paw update from Maggie: Both dogs are doing well right now. Ironically, it was Maggie’s paws that ended up suffering the most from what I am guessing was “frostnip.” She ended up with deep cracks in the large pads on her back paws, which my vet believes were from nip or bite, one or the other.
Maggie has endured me massaging all number of things into her paw pads, but I can tell you that Udder Balm, which is truly good for cracked pads, was detested by both her and Skip. I have absolutely no idea why. It wasn’t having their paws massaged, and I doubt it wasn’t the feel of it, which was no different than what I am using now. My wild guess is that they hated the smell. But Maggie seems to be very happy with Queen Bee’s Lotion Bar. (Which is for hand and cuticle care and made locally at an alpaca farm. What’s not to love?)
Queen Bee’s is the only thing I’ve found that can salvage my dry, miserable hands during the winter and after gardening. It’s made of Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, Shea Butter, Beeswax and Vitamine E. The dogs react to it as if I smeared food onto their feet, so no wonder they like it. I just keep massaging it in before they can lick it off and Maggie’s paws are healing beautifully. (I’m still waiting on some of the boots I ordered, more on that when they come.)
On another note, most of the flowers inside are long gone, but my “Christmas Cactus” is in full bloom. I’m usually late to the party, so blooms that are two months late are par for the course. But I couldn’t be happier to see some color, I’m just happy to see such vibrant color.
The second to the last word is from Skip, who just about never gives me a ‘side eye,’ but here he is after I got out the Udder Balm last week. Yeah, that’s been retired.
The very last word goes to all our friends in Texas, who have been through a dystopian nightmare practically beyond belief. My oldest sister, who lives in San Antonio, tells me that many of their friends JUST got drinking water back a few days ago, and I hear that some people are still without it. Between the frigid temperatures, lack of electricity, flooding from burst pipes, lack of food, inability to get medicine… it’s been a nightmare for so many. Here’s a link to a list of places to send help. If you’re in Texas and have a favorite non-profit who is helping all the people and other animals down there, please let us know. I myself would add the Red Cross, who I know has been working non-stop, and the ASPCA who evacuated dogs and cats from shelters and transported them to the northeast.
Also, I know it wasn’t just Texas that was affected–please tell us your stories no matter where you live, along with ways you think that the rest of us might be able to help. Let’s be careful out there, and take care of each other as best we can.
Donna in VA says
I saw snowdrops today also! I figure lip balm is safe to use on dog paws in a pinch since we put it on our own mouths. Recommend marking which one belongs to the dog and which belongs to a person, unless you don’t care….
Frances says
Here in the UK March came in like a lamb, rather than the traditional lion – in fact the early lambs were out in the fields before the end of February. The snowdrops are nearly over, crocuses and early daffodils have been out for a week, and yesterday I saw the first celandines, which always lift my heart that Spring is really springing. It is still too early to start planting outside – hard frosts at night and colder weather forecast – but a few warm Spring days are such a blessing at this time of year. We hit the dizzy heights of 11C/52F yesterday, and got a couple of decent walks in – much needed after weeks of ice and snow and rain and wind.
Charlotte Kasner says
I am a confirmed galanthophile and have been rewarded by a long snowdrop season locally which made up a bit for not being able to travel to see acres of them in dedicated centres.
Two weeks ago, I saw something that I have never seen. We had a brief cool snap with temperatures hovering around freezing for a week (not often seen in London recently). This was followed by ridiculous temperatures that were well into double figures above.
Result – I saw a bumble bee on a snowdrop. Needless to say, I wasn’t carrying a camera 🙁
Mary says
Thank you, Trisha, for the link to Queen Bee’s Lotion Bar! I just ordered 2 of them…I share your dry hands and have cracks at the end of my fingers, and I’m hoping this will help.
Think Spring!! 🙂
Adrienne K. says
The weather here in Maine can be a challenge and we are always happy to see February come to an end. But March reminds us that Mother Nature is not done with us yet. This morning, 6 degrees and hurricane force winds. Wow, what a challenge it was walking Zasu at 6 AM. She is a hardy, moyen poodle who loves the outdoors and I was very proud of her this morning facing it head on wearing only her own thick wooly poodle coat.
LisaW says
Yes, we in the northeast call March and April the cruel months (with a nod to the Bard). There is still quite a bit of snow under a nice, protective layer of ice. March did come in like a lamb — in the 40s, sunny, calm. But, by the evening, we had 50-mile-an-hour winds, a snowsquall, and this morning, it was 5˚F. But, the sun is out, the birds are moving around (had a flock of robins visit for a week or so), and the air smells different. They keep moving that end-of-the-tunnel light, but we can faintly see it.
Here’s a sunrise from a few weeks ago and a sunset from last week, they really are this incredible. https://www.dropbox.com/sh/zi0h6fokjdnkcfg/AADfm3YuIKKX5m30SDtHlraBa?dl=0
Susan Wroble says
Always such a joy to read this blog! My snowdrops in Denver began peeking out about two weeks ago, and the honeybees immediately found them. Denver has such fascinating microzones, with March getting all hot and desert-y on the southwest-facing exposures, and full frozen snow-covered expanses on the northeast exposures.
Kathy Griffin says
Hello Trish from the Texaslands! We finally got water and electricity back after 7 days. Babette the standard poodle did not like trying to walk on the ice that topped over the 12 inches of snow. Every step would result in her foot crashing through the ice to be buried in the snow. Who can poop in these conditions?!? So I tromped through the ice to pack down the snow for her. Then the next day she started limping so I declared that she had frost nip because Maggie has it. But more than likely it was a sticker burr at the bottom of the snowy, icy, muddy mess. So she is back to Poodle in Boots for our walks.
Gayla says
The Nuthatch is so beautiful !! And that’s the perfect description of the tree photos…
Alexander Hardy says
Greetings from “Down Under”—-Very handsome fellow your Skip !!! Summer has almost gone now proven by three factors–Nerines in flower almost colour matching your cactus—-Omega plums ripe enough to pick and eat—-The Godwits have started their annual migration to Alaska from Aotearoa, back in the Spring (Sept/Oct), understand return journey is made direct and largely non-stop some four thousand km’s—mind -bending!!! Keep well,keep warm and keep safe, Best, Alex
Jann Becker says
Tell Skip he looks very handsome and my miniature poodle is jealous (having just narrowly survived a shower this morning.) I’m guessing the next phase of spring is depositing that lovely fur on your clothing and furniture?
Stella says
Your photos are beautiful !!! Thank you for sharing.
Nic1 says
Trisha. I just wanted to send my sincere sympathies to you and your friends as over 200 wolves being slaughtered in Wisconsin was pretty wrenching to read about. I know you tried so hard to stop all this. It’s sickening and let’s hope wolves get back on the endangered list so this barbaric pastime can finally be put to bed.
Trisha says
Oh thank you so much Nic1. I am sick to my stomach over this. Most of the wolves were killed after being chased down for god knows how long by packs of hounds. Many of them must have been pregnant. The more you look into this, the worse it gets (the way the dogs are trained is horrific, and yet no one has any will to do anything about it. At least not anyone with power. I could go on and on, but I’ll stop now and just thank you for your thoughts. Gotta go pet a dog…
lak says
I have written my legislature and donated to animal rights groups to stop the hunting of wolves in MI. We don’t eat them, and they generally do not bother livestock, I am not sure other than hunting for sport why they are being killed! It makes me sick! I am not against hunting or fishing and I eat both fresh fish and deer meat, I just cannot tolerate killing for the sake of killing.
Julie Rehmeyer says
Hi Trish,
I have a training question that I hope you might be willing to answer, though of course I understand if you don’t have time to do so.
I have a five-month-old cattle dog mix, Roo. I’m very actively training her positive methods, primarily using Sue Ailsby’s Training Levels. A really reliable recall is one of my biggest training priorities, and already, for a five-month-old puppy, Roo’s recall is pretty impressive. But I’m worried about the really big distraction: deer or bunnies.
We’re doing lots of practice with recall in a wide variety of situations. We walk on trails in the forest a lot, and my strategy is that I start out with her on a retractable leash. After she’s done 5-10 perfect recalls, if I’m in a good spot for it, I let her off leash. She stays off leash as long as her recalls stay perfect. The first time she blows it, she goes back on leash, and we practice with whatever the distraction was, going to the spot where she blew it and doing recalls until it’s perfect. After at least 5-10 perfect recalls and a good ten minutes or so, I may try her off leash again.
That seems like it’s working well — but Roo has not yet met a bunny or deer. She has seen squirrels, and I’m working on training her to pay attention to me in the presence of them, but she’s got a long way to go on that. If she met an animal that ran away from her at this point, I’d be astonished if she did anything but chase it. And I’m worried that one experience of having a SUPER FUN TIME chasing an animal will make it all but impossible to train her not to.
So what do I do? Do I need to keep her on leash on walks until she can focus on me consistently in the presence of a squirrel? What if it seems like that’s just not coming? What I wish for is something like a motorized bunny or deer that could move at different speeds, so that I could start out with a slow-moving bunny at a far distance with her on leash and gradually get closer and have the bunny move faster and in more exciting ways and eventually do it off-leash. But of course, that’s very hard to arrange.
My previous dog, who died last July, Frances, was a hound mix who thought the world was a really, really, really delightful place. She also didn’t have a lot of sense and could get herself in big trouble, so I just couldn’t have her off leash without a really REALLY reliable recall. I worked on recall with her for YEARS and couldn’t get it sufficiently reliable, so she had to stay on leash on walks, which was a major diminution in the quality of her life. Finally I despaired of getting a sufficiently reliable recall with her with the positive methods I’d read about it, and I bought a shock collar. I introduced it very thoughtfully and carefully, and it was transformative for us. Suddenly I could get her back from a deer. I could let her off-leash without worry. She had so much more fun on walks, got so much more exercise, and was a much happier dog. I absolutely stand behind my decision — given my skills as a trainer and her character.
But of course, I’d love not to have to use one with Roo. But I feel like now is the time that I need input to make that happen, unless I’m fortunate enough that she actually does stop the first time she sees a deer or a bunny and I’m able to shower her with treats and praise her to the moon and give her every other good thing I can think of — in which case we might be able to keep building on that to get a sufficiently reliable recall. But if we don’t get so lucky, I think my only choice may be the collar.
Any ideas for me?
Trisha says
Hi Julie, I do have an idea for you: What I call a “Flying Lie Down.” Regretably I can’t find anything I’ve written on it (though I swear I have), so I’m just going to have to write a blog post about it! Basically, you set up a situation in which your dog is running away from you (easy, right?). Ask them to Stop or Lie Down (I’m using Stand lately for stopping still versus LD), and reinforce the heck out of them. Start easy of course (dog is only a few feet away… reinforce often of course. Basically, you don’t need a deer to train the response, you just need the context of your dog running away from you in another direction, right? Hope that helps til the entire post is written in a few weeks!
Trisha says
Thank you lak. I too am fine with responsible hunting, but using packs of dogs to run wolves down to exhaustion (or outright rip them into pieces which happens with other prey is simply horrific. Thanks for your efforts!
Julie Rehmeyer says
Thank you! That’s a terrific suggestion.
I’m going to start by just working on sit/lie down/stand at a distance when still — she’s not used to working at a distance at all, other than with recall, so I think the first step will be just to get in her mind that when she’s apart from me, she can respond to cues other than come. Then I can build toward doing it when she’s moving, slowly, very close to me. Then we’ll build from there!
I really really appreciate the suggestion.