Two Days of Winter in January 2025: Playing “Poofer” with Molly in the Snow! (published 1-12-2025; article #512)

Introduction

With three inches of snow on the ground, the weather prognosticators got it about right this time. The predictions and warnings were televised days before the snow started. Over several days, local media continued to remind us “children” not to drive unless necessary, of how to drive in snow and ice safely, and of how to dress warmly if outside.

Welcome, dear reader, to the sixteenth entry in the pets topic section! Later, this article gets to the audiovisual recording of Molly and me playing “poofer” in the snow. But first, let's break down this two-day winter event by day.

Day One: Friday, 1/10/2025

Mrs. Appalachian Irishman had a snow day off from work. The snow was forecast to start by late morning. Three to five inches were predicted. The morning low was 20 degrees Fahrenheit. The daytime high, under cloudy skies, reached freezing (32 degrees).

Light snow started falling about 11:15 AM, accumulating only on concrete and asphalt surfaces. Heavier snow started coming down by early afternoon. The ground began to turn white. By about 3 PM, my wife and I brought Molly inside and upstairs with us. She enjoyed being a couch potato, as the next photograph, taken by my wife, shows.

In the late afternoon, Molly was fast asleep on the couch. An old but clean bedsheet is between Molly and the leather couch.

Don't worry, fellow pet lovers! During supper, Molly dined with us near the kitchen table. Soon afterward, she was ready for adventure! Inside, I counted four rounds of “got 'ems” games. I toss treats to Molly. She catches and eats them. Additionally, Molly wanted to go outside into the falling snow seven times! Each time, after romping around and barking for a while, she came back inside, damp with melting snow on her. It was a rich, full evening!

About 8:30 PM, I took Molly out into the heavily falling snow for her final “romp and stomp,” before bedding down for the night in her basement “condominium.” Her usual barking, sniffing, and running routine took less time, due to the snow. Once back upstairs, I removed my snow-dampened heavy jacket and toboggan. The snow continued overnight.

Day Two: Saturday, 1/11/2025

Under clouds all day, the morning low of 20 degrees rose to a balmy 38 degrees for the afternoon high. I wish that I could have trusted the back roads to House Mountain to be free of snow and ice. Another snow hike on House Mountain would have been wonderful. I didn't trust the roads.

Tinkering around indoors in the morning, I became restless. I wanted to get out into the snow! I wanted to stir Molly out of her basement “condominium!” Well, I did.

Four Photographs

From 12:14-22 PM, I took the following four photographs. The first one measures the snow in the front yard to be three inches.

Was that all? Shoots of grass were still visible.

The next image shows the front of the house and yard. Both vehicles were garaged. The view looks east.

Those tracks are Molly's and mine. My “Appalachian Irishman” yard sign is near the porch. Last summer, I touched up and repainted the two rocking chairs, the glider swing, and the small table on the porch.

The next two photographs were taken in our “back forty,” as I call the back section of our acre. The views look west.

The lone cedar tree has grown over the years. To the right are six cedar trees, standing closely together. During our evening “romp and stomp” sessions, Molly enjoys running around and through that cedar “forest,” playing hide and seek with me. Once finished, she darts across to the lone cedar tree, before bolting up to the driveway. It's good exercise and fun, unless it's raining!

So, where is Molly? I found her!

Do you see her, near the east corner of the house, looking at me! Okay, Molly, let's go!

Playing “Poofer” with Molly in the Snow!

I encouraged my “long-suffering” wife to pause her “couch potato” session long enough to record Molly and me playing “poofer” in the snow! We were on the driveway. The following is a still image from the audiovisual presentation, which is next.

With her head and tail up and eyes focused, Molly is ready! The “poofer” is aimed and ready to fire! Yes, I am left-handed.

The 33-second recording on Appalachian Irishman – Podcasts is Playing “Poofer” in the Snow with Molly (published 1-11-2025; episode 33). My wife, eager to return to the couch as a potato, recorded us well enough. I hope that you enjoy watching. Molly and I play “poofer,” “old favorite,” or “plastic bottle” at least once a day, if the weather permits.

Conclusion

After Molly decided that her play and exercise session was done, I filled her water bowl and snack bowl. She enjoyed the water and treats. After that, I shoveled snow off the walkway to the front porch. Unfulfilled by that exercise, I walked the subdivision road that leads to a county road and back. I waved at one neighbor and talked for a while with another.

I still wish that I had hiked House Mountain in the snow yesterday. It's only about seven or eight miles from the house. I could have walked there and back, since I didn't trust that the back roads would be clear.

At least we have had a couple of days of winter so far this January. The article from January 23 of last year chronicles the eight days of winter that we had then. Those were better times. Do you think that I am joking?