As promised, on Thursday we had a fast moving storm go through. At first I thought it wasn’t going to do anything since they had said it was to start around 9:00 a.m., but by 10:30 the sky was light and all we’d had was the skiff of snow that the dogs left their snow angels in. All of a sudden the sky got dark and big fluffy flakes started to fall. Within an hour we had two to three inches of snow. Then that pretty snow changed to sleet.

Rivers of frozen ice poured from the sky. As the gutters on the house filled to overflowing, I could hear them ridding themselves of their heavy load in the form of a grainy waterfall which spilled noisily over onto the barbecue grill on the deck. At one point I opened the door because the dogs thought they might want to go out. They just stood there looking out, then looking up at me as if to say “you must be joking, we aren’t going out in that!” Of course, while the door was open, eBay the cat decided to make a mad dash for the great outdoors. That lasted about a minute before she was pitifully holding up her ice-cold paw wanting back in. Honestly, that silly cat does love snow.

Once in a while it would try to change back to snow, but the sleet won out until after the sun set. We got a total of about six inches of “whatever.” We would have had a lot more had it not changed to sleet.

Yesterday we had a glorious sunrise.

The sun came out, the temperature rose to 40 degrees F and we had some melting going on. All the little creatures, birds and squirrels alike, took advantage of the weather to stock up on the goodies I put out for them.

Today is equally calm. So far. We’re supposed to get a Nor’easter overnight and throughout tomorrow. Sadly, the heavier snowfall is going to miss us and they are predicting the same mix we got on Thursday. Sounds like a good weekend for just staying inside by the fire! We shall see ...

Remember the cow that escaped this summer? What follows is the latest article published in our local paper. Talk about having bad cow karma ... sheesh!

It was nearly déjà vu all over again Sunday afternoon when a cow rented from a New York livestock dealer escaped and went for a run near the West Milford Equestrian Center on Union Valley Road.

Frank Battipaglia, owner of the Equestrian Center, said that the bovine escaped after a door on the truck in which it was being transported opened as the vehicle moved down the driveway.

Her excursion was short-lived, however, as she was soon wrangled and returned to Monticello, NY, from which she came with the other cattle rented from dealer Jay Rubin Livestock.

The incident was reminiscent of one nearly six months ago when a cow escaped from an event at the Equestrian Center on May 6.

That day, it had a literal run-in with a Honda on Union Valley Road, but fled the scene of the accident.

That black cow tagged with the number 0, which the center also rented from Jay Rubin Livestock, has been spotted several times over the past several months. Numerous employees and loyal riders at local equestrian centers volunteered their time to play “cowboy” and “cowgirl” and search the woods near the Equestrian Center. Though the mounted volunteers came close to roping her a few times, including once when she was spotted with a bear, she was never caught.

Sightings slowed, however, and the cow has not been spotted for a few months. Those following the story have not given up hope that she will return home.

“They can live open range for a long time,” Battipaglia said on Monday.

—from the West Milford Messenger; story by Rebecca Scanlon, Staff Writer

I know, I know. Most people don’t like spiders. I don’t really either, but this one had a message for me: find the good things in life and smile.

I had to marvel at this magnificent web. I was caught in its spell with the early morning sunlight streaming through it. The most perfect spider web I’ve ever seen. Such a work of art! A shame that this very same evening we had a big thunderstorm and the next morning when I went out to check it was only to find it washed away.

Well, congratulations to Krista (coffespaz) for correctly guessing a canoe! Letty was close though in first mentioning a boat. And my sister, well, I don’t know why she said she hoped it wasn’t a boat!

Yes, this beautiful hand-crafted canoe was gifted to Rick by a good friend. We are both in awe of this gift and it is truly one of the most wonderful gifts he or I (hey, I get to share the joy!) have ever been given. It’s very special. We are beyond words of thanks. What a wonderful gift. We’ve had a canoe before, in Colorado, and presently it lives at our mountain cabin there. But it’s like riding in a cold, tin can (it’s aluminum) and can’t compare with the craftsmanship represented here.

This morning we loaded it up onto the Suburban and headed down to our local Green Turtle Pond. You’ve seen it before here in my blog. Where I walk the dogs, where Bart liked to wade, where the swans were this past winter.

Ahoy, mates! Strap on your PFDs and prepare for the maiden voyage! (PFDs = personal flotation devices; better known as life vests)

From the moment that we launched her (well, boats are always referred to as “she” aren’t they?) it was sublime bliss. She glided through the water effortlessly and every so silently. The only sound was our paddles hitting the water and the water dripping off them.

We paddled into one of the coves to get used to maneuvering again. It’s kind of like riding a bicycle; once you know how it comes back quickly.

After getting our canoe skills back, we then headed for the open water. I hope we weren’t over zealous, but we paddled the perimeter of the entire pond, which is really like a small-ish lake to me. Probably about a mile. Here I am doing my bit, but thank heavens I don’t have to steer.

But the real work comes from behind:

Someone has to start things and this tree may have gotten a bit ahead of the others in prepartion for winter.

Wait, Rick says, what’s that in the water ahead? Looks like a turtle ... whoa ... it IS a turtle. Image a turtle in Green Turtle Pond! How very apropos and how very timely. Thank you, Mr. Turtle! Looks like a Snapper to me ... what a tail!

As we headed for the boat ramp we couldn’t help but think once again how lucky and grateful we were to be given this gift.