Giddy-Up

We finally got around to buying Pickles some booties to keep the ice balls out from between his toes and to save his paw pads when we're on rough rocks.  Like all dogs wearing booties for the first time, he galloped around like a marionette.  This is actually the 2nd or 3rd time he wore them so he was mildly used to them.  His feet still had minds of their own though.

Guinn Mountain Hut

Several weekends ago, Pickles, Lily, Mark, and I hiked up to Guinn Mountain Hut near Eldora to check it out as a possible overnight destination.  It was a great hike and a neat little cabin so the next weekend we hiked up with a bunch of friends.  Pickles and Lily had so much fun playing in the snow, chasing sledders down the hill (Pickles barking ferociously), and snuggling up in the cabin.  Unfortunately, after Dec. 1, dogs are no longer allowed due to the need to melt snow for water.

View of the cabin on our scouting trip, you can barely see the loft up above

Pickles sporting his new backpack compliments of Talia.  Thanks!

Everyone getting ready to leave the cabin

There was a strong wind storm over night and lots of huge trees had fallen in the trail

R&R sledding their way down

The top of a tree that blew off in the storm; we took it home with us for a Christmas tree

Mousey

We often have mice getting into our chicken food.  Lily has been quite helpful in catching them for us.  I think she's caught a total of three.  Here's a real little baby one that she caught and we let her and Pickles play with it for a bit.  Pickles was super gentle with it, nudging it with his nose and licking it.  While Lily didn't actually kill it, I'm not sure if rolling on it is considered gentle.