Watching the sunset.
No one in New England likes seeing it snow more than Maddie. There might be a few didn’t-study-for-the-algebra-test high school students who look forward to being able to procrastinate for an extra day, but their excitement at seeing snow doesn’t match this pup. And, their anticipation of that announcement being made pales in comparison to Maddie’s expectation of that imminent mound of snow known affectionately as Mt. Maddie.
I posted once about how I maneuver the snow blower around the back yard in order to build Mt. Maddie. That process is always important, but never as important as it is after the first snowfall. By some measure, there really isn’t enough snow to produce Mt. Maddie. On the other hand, if you spend 30 seconds outside with her during the storm, you would understand that her look is saying: “you’re gonna build Mt Maddie…right?”
And, if you stepped inside with me after putting the snow blower away, you would understand that she’s saying:
“Is it ready yet? Is it ready yet? Mt. Maddie, did you build Mt. Maddie? Did you? Did you? Is it ready? Can we go play now?”
We had our first significant snowfall on Saturday. It rained on Sunday, but enough of Mt. Maddie remains.
This post is part of Linda G. Hill’s fun weekly series One-Liner Wednesday.
Now, THAT is adorable!
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Thank you! She just loves being up there and being in the snow.
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Aww, sweet story. I love a happy ending to a snowstorm. It sounds like Maddie certainly enjoys it, and it gives you a goal instead of just clearing snow. When our grandkids were little my husband did the same thing with our John Deere, and they enjoyed the sledding hill. Now, the only goal is clear the drive – not near as much fun. :-)
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Thanks Judy. I used to shovel a sledding hill for our daughter. It’s probably a good thing I didn’t have a blower back then, or that would have been huge. It does make the job more fun, adds a challenge, and she’s so happy when she comes out and sees it.
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I love Maddie’s enthusiasm for the snow and her mountain. She is like a child who doesn’t care it’s winter or snowing or cold outside. I hope you get a little more snow so Queen Maddie can rule her kingdom from on high.
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She is like a child, Mary. Including the fact that she forgets or doesn’t understand the implications of the fact that Irish Setters don’t get a winter coat. I think she would sit on Mt Maddie until she froze to death. We need a couple of good heavy wet snowfalls before Mt Maddie is firmly established.
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Does dad slide down Mt. Maddie with his sled? Or would that encourage the child to jump on the sled with you?
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I used to make a pile like this for our daughter. Faith talked me into sliding one time. That did not end well.
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Ruh-roh…
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Ha! Maddie has you so well trained!! The things we willingly do for our fur-family <3
After each snowfall, I always shovel the back deck and sidewalk from the back yard to the front for Theo. He HATES the snow and is in a dizzy until the snow has been cleared for him. Since I'm restricted on lifting any weight for another 6 weeks, all the shovelling has now fallen to Gilles. He begrudgingly shovelled the back and side for Theo on the weekend.
Yesterday he bought a snowblower. Bwahahahaha!!!
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Ha ha – Did he give the snow blower to you for Christmas? I might have done that :)
Our pets do have us well trained, Joanne. This notion of a dog serving its family that has been handed down over time, is a complete fantasy.
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Yeah – Theo makes no effort to pretend that it’s not all about him. Our pets have a truly wonderful life :)
… and shhhh! It hasn’t occurred to Gilles to gift me the snowblower. Don’t give him any ideas – although it is like a new toy and I suspect he can hardly wait for the next snowfall. With any luck, I’ll never have to clear the driveway again :)
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I do enjoy using it :)
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Dan–this is so cute, and you’re a good dad. I love the last picture. Yup, life is good, Maddie.
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Thanks Lois. She is in heaven on the snow pile. And when she’s higher off the ground than the dog in the next yard – oh, life is very good.
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Squirrel!
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Yes, I know how you feel about them. That might be part of the reason I included that photo ;)
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Dan… you’ve just accomplished the impossible — a snow post that made me smile. (I really hate the stuff.) Thank you for sharing Maddie’s bliss with us. By the way that is one serious snow blower — but clearly you need it there. Nice of you to help out the neighbors. Merry Christmas. Hugs.
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Thanks Teagan. When you can make an animal that happy, you really can’t resist. The snow blower makes it possible, although I used to pile it up by hand for our daughter. Merry Christmas!
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lovely! Dogs do get very excited in the snow, don’t they. I wonder if their feet every get cold, though? Maybe the pads are too thick for them to notice it.
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We had one who would play and play then come in and sit and chew the snow out of her pads. As soon as she was done, she’d go to the door to go play some more. This one just can’t get enough. Thanks!
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Great machine. I love the little enclosure. I think you secretly like the snow. Maddie is the best.
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LOL! That’s an uplifting post Dan. She’s adorable! I really like the Fence Toppers, and Lantern Hats. They’re pretty. It looks like the work of snow blowing is hard enough to keep your body warm at least.
Looking forward to more Mt. Maddie tales. Happy Winter Solstice!
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Thanks Deborah. I’ll be sure to tell Maddie that someone thinks she’s adorable. I do stay warm, even though the machine does the hard work. Since the days start getting longer tomorrow, I consider this the unofficial start of summer :)
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LOL! Great attitude!😀
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She is such a character. Can’t beat a happy dog!
(Or maybe a happy partner…)
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She is crazy (dog, not partner) but she’s easy to please.
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Queen of the mountain….love it!! I can so see her giving you that look of ….are you going to build Mt Maddie or just stand there looking at me:))
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She really can send that message pretty well, Kirt. Thanks.
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Those lights with hats are beautiful! Poor little squirrel needs a tiny little mountain, too. :D It’s so good to see Maddie on her beloved Mt. Maddie. It reconciles me to winter weather. :)
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Ha – thanks Marian. My wife likes the hats on the lamps. I felt bad for the squirrel. He kept burying his head in the snow. I told him we’d put some food out later. All is well with the world when she’s on her mountain.
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Mt. Maddie is the top of the world for your adorable dog. I love how dogs (certain dogs) can be so into something. Maddie is definitely a born-climber.
Love also how the snow covers so perfectly any surface (posts and toppers look lovely).
Enjoy the season!
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Thanks Evelyne. My wife like the little hats on the posts and the lamps. Once, when I was walking Maddie, I let her get too close a pile left by a snow plow. She started to climb, and I had to work pretty hard to get her down.
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Reblogged this on All About Writing and more.
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Thank you so much for reblogging this!
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You are welcome!
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I finally made it back to read this, Dan, and what fun I had imagining you building your mound of snow for Maddie. :-) When we had our first foster dog, she loved the snow and was very athletic. She would leap of the snow pushed up on the sides of the backyard by the guy who plowed our driveway. She also loved to walk during the winter and we would walk when virtually no one else was out, too. Good memories.
janet
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Thanks Janet. I took Maddie for a short walk, and it made her so happy. When she’s really happy to be walking, she periodically turns around, stands up and gives us a kiss. It’s almost always a surprise and we’re pretty sure she’s going to knock us over at some point, but she just gets so happy.
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I feel a bit like that when there’s beautiful snow and I’m out in it, but I have so far refrained from kissing anyone, as Bill is usually at home sleeping when I walk. :-)
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Yeah, might not be a good idea.
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That is just too precious for words Dan. Mt Maddie. You go girl.
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Thanks Cheryl. She always gets up on top.
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She knows where the Snow Queen sits. 😀
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What’s with the red hood on your machine? Is it because it’s that cold? Or is it a case of it being cold and wind?
Maddie is having way too much fun making you work so hard for her.
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The storm cab prevents the wind from blowing the snow back in my face. Prior to installing that, I would look like a snowman when I was done clearing the driveway on a windy day. Also, it’s a place to mount my cup holder :)
Maddie just loves the snow.
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Aww, Dan! You are such a great Maddie’s Dad. She is quite a lucky dog for you to create Mt Maddie for her. My ex once created a maze out of snow for our dog to enjoy going around and around in. I liked your illustrations of how much snow collected on the outside lanterns, fence and the spray of snow sent spurting out. :)
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Thanks Robin. One year, when we had over 100 inches of snow in the winter, my wife got down and took photos from the dog’s eye level. It was kind of scary and we could understand why she liked being up on the mounds instead of in the paths I had cleared.
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If I was in New England this time of the year, it would be me and Maddie outside enjoying the snow and playing around. Well, I’m not sure if it would affect my health, but I would still go out. I live in an oven all here around, so for me this is a welcome weather.
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Maddie would show you how to play.
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