Friday, January 28, 2011

Snow and more snow and cold even colder

It just keeps snowing and snowing and last week it got colder and colder and colder. One morning when we awoke it was -20° and we needed to go out. Living in the city, with brick sidewalks that hold the cold and are covered with salt, make it very painful for Sophie. She would limp and hold up her paw. I would end up picking her up and carrying her to her favorite patch of grass, which is covered with two feet of snow. We finally stopped at the pet store down the block and walked home with new red boots.

At one point, I looked down and she only had on three boots—damn. We backtracked and there in a snow bank was the fourth boot. After this happened several times, the boots had to go back.

We're now using MUSHER'S wax just like the sled dogs in the Iditarod and it works great.
"MUSH, Sophie, MUSH"

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh poor Sophie! She looks snazzy in her new boots! Love the sketches!

Peachtreeart said...

What a good and thoughtful parent you are! And that picture of Sophie describes it all!

winna said...

great set of sketches---the boots look so cunnin...the salt must bother her maybe...how I love to see bits of Portland Maine in your work...makes me homesick

Sandy in Michigan said...

Too bad the boots had to go back -- Sophie looked so stylish in them. Your sketches of Sophie are some of my favorites.

donnamcm said...

Well, I am laughing my ass off at your little story--I love it and Sophie probably prefers the latter. Love the drawings Jen.

Elza said...

What a cute way of telling us about Sophie's boots, which look so spiffy. Second picture with the lonely, eye catching red dot in the middle of all that cold. Bet you are glad you got red boots, and then that adorable paw print on the last drawing. Enjoyable - all of it.

Mari Brown and Colourblob said...

Love the story along the pictures, Sofhie looks sweet in her red boots. My Charlie has boots too and he loves them, but they kept falling of too, but then I found a trick and its the wide elastic rubber bands that comes on broccoli and I put them over and they stay on (works like a charm). never tried the cream, heard about it and will have to give it a try : )

Lovely paintings as always : )

Anonymous said...

I love the sketches, especially the first one of Sophie in her boots. Our dog, Penny, has the same sort of problems. When the sidewalks have been salted, she can step in that and then into snowbanks and freeze her paws. So thanks for the recommendation of Mushers Wax - we are going to try it out on her!

jgr said...

You are a good PuppyMOM!! Wow -20 that is COLD.

nanke's stuff said...

Aw, poor Sophie, but how lucky she is to have a mom like you! Years ago we bought red rubber boots for our dog, Norton. We put them on, he jumped straight up in the air with all 4 legs sticking straight out, and all 4 boots went flying off in different directions. It was hilarious! I loved your story, and of course your sketches are wonderful! nancy

Nancy said...

"You have to be tough to live in New England"

alissaduke said...

delightful story and drawings! I am glad you found a solution

Anonymous said...

Wonderful sketch, wonderful idea! Love those red boots - shame they didn't work out.

Cathy Holtom said...

I bet Sophie was disappointed, she looked very cute in her boots!
Great sketches and story, thankyou for sharing.

Sandra said...

First, I cannot imagine human or animal going out in -20 degree weather. Second, I want to see how you are dressed! Your paintings are always a treat.

lyn said...

Love your blog! I have not stopped by since halloween! So many remarkable drawings I don't have time to compliment!
Do you have to take the wax off after the walk?
Continued success!

Janene said...

Sophie is adorable, and her boots are like the cherry on top of the sundae...only on the bottom...the sketch of the street is great too. Thanks for the entertaining story!

sue said...

OMG, these are beautiful, Jennifer, and what a great idea, too! I would never have thought of that, but it's perfect. These sketches tell the story--you should illustrate children's stories! This is adorable. Sophie sounds really cute.

dana said...

I gave up on those boots several years ago - we merely detour around those neighbors that choose to use the dreaded salt. I don't know why you're in maine when you're usually in bali at this time of year but I'm delighted to get a first hand account of maine in winter since I'm only there in the paradise that is summer. If you're interested you can see a few pages of the book I published on blurb.com about the little cottage that so many of us love on the midcoast. cheers.

Karen Blados said...

Sorry the boots didn't work, but I'll be showing your post to my Punks. We had a dog that the salt bothered -- pre-punks -- and he refused to wear the boots. The punks don't believe me that there are boots for pets and I haven't taken the time to hit the pet store to show them, so now I'll just bring them here.

Wish I'd known about the Musher's wax at the time.

And love the sketches, as always.

Unknown said...

Oh, I liked the boots! I just hate it when cute things don't work out! Wonderful pages!

Margaret Ann said...

Great wintery sketches...Loved the boots...but love the wax even better...What will they think of next! :)

Mitzi Easley said...

Great Jennifer!