Ice Ball

NOTE:  Due to one nasty person out there  - I feel the need to put in a quick note.  Please look at the picture below.  See that this 'pond' is not part of the river.  It was frozen solid and only 6- 18 inches deep.  There was no chance of the dogs falling through or being lost under the ice.  Also, the ice was covered by a thin layer of sand that offered quite a bit of traction.  Additionally if you look carefully at the pictures you can see that we were GENTLY tossing the ball - which did not cause them to run break neck after it - we also stuck to the end where there were small round rocks sticking up - giving them more traction.  After reading some of the kind emails from people nicely sharing with me thoughts on the dangers this may impose - looking back on it I wish I had not taken the risk with my dogs ligaments, tendons etc - I truly did not think they could be hurt.  The pictures are fun - but this is not something I would do again in the future.   


The temperatures have been bitterly cold.  When this happens the river level drops as the snow melt in the mountains decrease.  Large pools of water on the river are cut off from the flow and freeze beautifully.  Slick, smooth and solid.  Perfect for skating and hockey (once you get away from the rocks on the edge).

When we first found this frozen section - the dogs ran out then started slipping and sliding around.  They did not avoid  it and seemed to enjoy playing on it.  Safety First:  We checked the entire 'pool' determining it was a safe enough thickness for a adult to walk on.

Then Grace threw the first ball....thus, the creation of

ICE BALL!

Ice, Ice ball baby

Ooomph...

Aghhhhhhhhh.....

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeee.....

Whoops...where did it go?

Can't stop...

Yo camera lady...watch out....INCOMING!

Lets try this again...

 

Uh oh...competition

 

BACK OFF, IT'S MINE!

(click picture for larger view of Ranger Rage)

 Bonnie asks herself  "Is that what I look like when I am angry?"

 

 Dumb girls are cramping my style.

A dog needs to fetch his ball in peace.

 

ITS MINE - I SAID BACK OFF!

What do we have here?

Is that Bonnie....FETCHING A BALL?

GO Bonnie, GO Bonnie

Did you see me Mom, I GOT THE BALL!

We love ICE BALL!

WATCH OUT!  LAND SHARK!

(click on image for larger view)

 

 Lets get a closer look at Bonnie Jaws. Doesn't it  look like the blast of air from Bonnie's mouth is flattening the side of Brynn's face.

*SIGH* Bonnie...KNOCK IT OFF!

 

Beth is such a good girl - see her in the back ground - staying out of it?

I am a good girl, but my feets don't stay where I puts them

I got my legs wrapped in stuff, because I keep skidding in the rocks and ripping the backs of my legs up.

We are all doing much better playing nice (except for Ranger Rage and Bonnie Jaws)

The girls are starting to relax around each other again. 

It helps that mom keeps us too tired to care about fighting

Mom is the most impressed with me.  She says that I have made the biggest change of all.

She is proud of me.

Mom is even proud of Mr. Spit Head

Enjoy more pictures of the dogs playing Ice Ball. View the slide show on Flickr

CLICK HERE FOR ICE BALL SLIDESHOW

Beth & Grace

Our youngest, Grace, has an amazing way with all of our dogs, especially Beth.

Beth has an unreliable 'off-switch'. This is particuarly evident when you are petting her. She will be gazing at you adoringly, you will start to relax and enjoy running your hands over her silky smooth fur...suddenly she swipes your face with a paw. It is always our face, not the arm, hand or leg, just our face. *sigh* Typically one of us is sporting a nice scratch on our face daily.

Beth does not do this with Grace. Beth snuggles up and falls asleep on Grace's lap. She doesn't paw Gracie in the face - she just lets her love on her and we finally see Beth relax