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Author Archives: Teri J Pieper

Doggie Dash 2020

Once a year in Winthrop, there is a six-legged race where a dog stays attached to a person wearing skis sponsored by Methow Trails! As you might imagine, it is a fun and exciting event. And if racing isn’t enough, it’s also a costume contest! People in the Methow Valley love to play dress up. The day starts with a costume parade and then the judges confer as to who will be in the finals for best costume. The prize for best costume is the coveted golden poodle, a traveling trophy. Then there are the races. This year there was a kids’ race, a ski joring race, a little dogs race and then the big dogs. There are plenty of big dogs (must be another Methow thing) so there were three heats of big dogs and then a final. And after all the racing, the finalists for the best costume, again parade past the crowd and the winner is decided by who gets the most applause and cheering. There are three highly skilled judges for this. All in all it’s a darned good time!

How’s that for a perfect weather day with perfect skiing conditions.
Oreo
Lima
I was totally smitten with these two pups.
Hopefully no wardrobe malfunctions
The emcee introduces the skilled judging panel
The coveted golden poodle
Hazel and Harriet seem to be getting out to a head start for the costume parade
Princess
Pabst Blue R-mour
Make America Ski Again
Methow Valley Spring
Ernie, the dog, recently survived a cougar attack
Uh oh, Harriet and Hazel are asleep on the course
Little bit of a dust up
Mountain Man and Dan easily win
Family fun
Winner of the big dog race
Best costume!

Snow Moon

Last weekend’s full moon – the Snow Moon.

Coming up Saturday, going down Sunday and back up that night.

 

Saturday night

Sunday morning

At the far right, you can see the morning alpenglow touching Mt Gardner

Sunday night

Snow Moon

Lights of Winthrop

I started a class in After Dark Photography last night. It is sponsored by The Methow Conservancy and taught by Ryan Bell. A group of eight of us listened to Ryan talk about exposure and how to use it create our own images with limited light and went outside at dusk to see what we could do. We started at the Conservancy office and then walked across the river to the Winthrop Ice Rink and then back to downtown Winthrop. It was fun to get out and make photos with other enthusiastic people, not afraid of the dark. There are many lights around town so it hardly seemed dark. Our next assignment is the full moon. Hoping for clear skies.

Winthrop Ice Rink
Spring Creek Bridge
Highway bridge across the Methow River
Of course, I peaked in the windows of The Winthrop Gallery

Winter

We’ve had some cold weather and some snow, but not enough to make it feel like real winter. And now the afternoon temperatures are going well above freezing so the small amount of snow will be alternating between melting and freezing. No one likes that. Sky doesn’t like temperatures below ten so last week I took her to town and she picked out a nice red and black plaid fleece coat. I think she likes it when it’s cold. Hopefully it will get cold again and she can wear it some more this winter. Luna says she doesn’t like the sticky snow. It clings to her feet and legs and makes ice between her toes. She probably should get her legs shaved like a poodle. But with the current conditions, that won’t be a problem. The birds appreciate our feeders and give us endless hours of entertainment. Who needs a tv?

Sharp-shinned Hawk watches over the bird feeders
House Finch
American Goldfinch showing some bright yellow feathers already
Aspen Lake
Black dog club
Skiing has been pretty good
Scene on Methow Trails

December Walks

December was generally gray with some snowfall. We really need a lot more snow especially after the New Year’s Eve rain, freezing rain and yesterday’s spring-like conditions. The forecast is showing some snow this weekend. Fingers crossed.

The girls and I had some nice walks in the hills last month and judging by these photos you can figure out (as if you didn’t know already) that two of my favorite subjects are dogs and trees. Maybe that’s why Sky likes sticks so much. Another thing I like is a spot of color on a gray day. Especially red. Even without much snow or sunshine, we enjoy our walks in the hills around the valley.