Hoarfrost

Have you ever heard that term?  Hoarfrost?  My friends Luton and Carole told me about hoarfrost -- what I had referred to as a freezing fog.  Both terms are correct.

Last week we had a freezing fog -- a hoarfrost -- all day long.  It was an unusual, but very interesting and gorgeous day.  It was foggy all day.  And since the temperature never got out of the 20's, the moisture in the air froze on everything.  This put a beautiful layer of pure crystal white on everything. 

Driving up to our property that day, we were unable to see the tops of the hills right above us.  The fog was thick and slow moving.  A thick fog like that always reminds me of that old Twilight Zone episode where the residents of a neighborhood suddenly found themselves surrounded by a thick, impenetrable fog. 

But our fog wasn't impenetrable.  It was just beautiful. 

And earlier this week was Valentine's Day.  I picked out some flowers at the market the other day when Les suggested that I buy some for Valentine's Day.  I love having roses in the house.  But then I thought that was pretty much it -- you know how couples who have been married a long time become complacent about things like this. 

While I worked that day here in my office, Les went out to do his thing.  He either putters around up at the property or visits with neighbors.  But he came home that day and handed me a Valentine's Day card.  My first thought was, "Oh No!  I didn't get one for you."  So he said, "That's OK.  I know you didn't have time to get me one.  So I bought one for you.  All you have to do is sign it." 

What a guy!  What a character!  And the card he picked out for me to give to him had the perfect sentiment in it.  One that I would have clearly picked out myself. 

Skyscapes

Most people appreciate beautiful views.  Les and I have found what we believe is an absolutely marvelous piece of heaven with a gorgeous view.  But some people may say, "Wow, you have such a pretty view.  Too bad it's so cloudy today."

Not me.

For me, half of my gorgeous view is the sky.  And here in Trinidad, we have such an incredible view.  Both below and above.

A couple of days ago while hiking on our property, I looked up and really saw the profoundly deep cerulean blue of the sky.  No smog.  Seldom any planes.  Just the magically infinite blue of the sky.

Today, as I walked on the property, I saw the varied shades of blue and gray and purple of storm clouds.  Snow is coming.  And sure enough, we got about 1" by the afternoon.  Not much, but every bit helps.  It's been so dry here.

I visited my friend, Brutus, today.  He offered his ears for me to scratch through the chain-link fence.  I met his owner a week ago.  He was raking out Brutus's "home."  He appeared to believe that he's taking really good care of the dog.  He feeds him.  He rakes out the place.  He's provided a dog house with a sleeping bag in it. 

When I mentioned that I'm coming over every day to hang out with Brutus for a few minutes, he didn't seem concerned.  He just thinks that it's OK to leave his dog out on a chain -- no matter what the weather.  So when I visited today Brutus was so happy to see me.  He ate his treats with enthusiasm.  Then he gently mouthed my fingers -- just as Schultz used to do.

I used to laugh when I'd give Schultz a rawhide bone.  He'd take it in his mouth somewhat reluctantly.  Then he'd stand there... first one eyebrow would rise and then the other.  He'd look around, then he'd go outside to bury it.  Only when it was nice and soft and muddy would he dig it up, bring it inside to my just-cleaned carpet and eat it. 

 

So when I gave Brutus a rawhide bone the other day, he did the bit with the eyebrows and then went to bury it!  I thought that was a Schultz thing.  Turns out it's probably a German Shepherd thing.  It's times like these that I wish my little house wasn't quite as small as it is.