Walking the Dog and Other Extreme Sports

Extreme sports are adventure sports that trigger action and dare-devil activities. These activities often have a high level of danger involved, in addition to much physical exertion. They involve speed, height, and specialized gear.
The definition probably originates from the 1990s. But think about it, extreme sport has probably been around as long as man himself.

Take, for example, Harry Houdini. He definitely was an extreme sport kind of man. We had a bird named Houdini a few years ago. For some reason, he always got out of the cage, even though the door was shut. He also liked to fly like the Red Baron into the flames of lit candles on the dining room table.

Stunt performers are the same - wild and crazy, loving adreanalin kicks and audacious exitement.
My son has tried quite a few different things, but is smart enough to tell his mother afterwards - he knows I would worry too much, if I knew of his adventures ahead of time.

Walking Hector, the Wheaten Terrier, a more than average happy dog, is what I would call exteme sport. Not every day. Most days I enjoy trailing behind the joyful little animal, who thinks sniffing, zig-zagging across dirt roads,  and jumping in puddles are all thrilling adventures. No, the risk is on my part these days. As I step outside the Duck and Cherry, I might as well put on my skates. The world is an ice skating rink. Maneuvering a cheerful puppy leaping across ice is crazy sport.

One thing is certain, extreme sport takes you outside your comfort zone - much higher, further, steeper, crazier than normal. But what is normal anyway.

Magical Snow

Snow is such a magical thing.
It comes down silently, slowly, floating a little here and there, then lands on cold and exhausted ground. Within minutes the world is transformed into whiteness. Dry, brown leaves are hidden. Grass and wilted flowers are hidden under the soft cover to slumber, just for a while.

Magical, because the dark and short days before Christmas are now lighter.
Magical, because children and dogs run out of the house laughing and cheering, dancing around in the snow, throwing it up in the air.
Magical, because it adds to the spirit of the season. December and Christmas should have snow.

So, to convince you even more, please watch the supersimplelearning version of "Little Snowflake". It's adorable. Whenever I think of this song, I hear my grandson, Dean, sing this song. It melts my heart.

♫ Snowflake, snowflake, [Snowflake gesture.]
little snowflake. [Little gesture. Snowflake gesture.]
Little snowflake [Little gesture. Snowflake gesture.]
falling from the sky. [Snowflake gesture moving down.]
Snowflake, snowflake, little snowflake.
Falling, falling, falling, falling, falling,
falling, falling, falling, falling... [Snowflake gesture moving down very slowly.]
falling on my head. [Snowflake gesture landing on top of your head.]

Snowflake, snowflake, little snowflake.
Little snowflake falling from the sky.
Snowflake, snowflake, little snowflake.
Falling, falling, falling, falling, falling,
falling, falling, falling, falling...
falling on my nose. [Snowflake gesture landing on your nose.]

Snowflake, snowflake, little snowflake.
Little snowflake falling from the sky.
Snowflake, snowflake, little snowflake.
Falling, falling, falling, falling, falling,
falling, falling, falling, falling...
falling in my hand. [Snowflake gesture landing in your hand.]

Falling on my head.
Falling on my nose.
Falling in my hand.

Snowflake, snowflake, little snowflake... ♫

Photo of Dean and his little dog, Bellie.

Listen to the Silence

When Ronan Keating sings his beautiful rendition of the hit You Say It Best When You Say Nothing At All, he makes me believe that it's true.

Silence is Golden is another song on the subject.

The Proverbs in the Old Testament state in 17:28 -  Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.

Each person has a unique personality; some are outgoing, some are shy. There are those who love to be the center of attention in any setting and others who prefer sitting in the back, observing the ongoings.

I found this articles with a long list of advice called How To Be a Quiet Person on the Internet.
The articles is divided into three main areas:

• Having a Quiet Demeanor
• Being Quieter In Conversation
• Leading a Quiet Life

Each section has these undertitles:

Act more cautiously

Keep your body language approachable and gentle

Stay calm in volatile situations

Earn other's trust by being to the point and reliable

Learn to command respect through using fewer words

Rely on your face to express yourself

Know yourself - and do the opposite

Have a point when you speak

Let the other person dominate the conversation

Observe the body language of the person you are talking to

Stop interrupting people

Ask questions that focus on the other person

Lower your volume

Take a moment to open your mind

Meditate

Find a hobby

Spend more time alone

Spend more time with introverted friends

Consider seeing a therapist

Stay true to you

Sometimes closing one's mouth is a good thing, especially if unkind or hurtful words are about to escape and enter ears and minds where they will be kept in a drawer forever.

But words are also good, loving, and necessary.

The wisdom is to learn to balance words and action, and develop character traits that will do good instead of harm.

I have a good friend who says she loves to listen to the stillness.

There is also much wisdom in that.

Today's water color hangs in our cabin, Eljarbu, in the mountains. There is hardly anything more quiet than snow.

Silent Snowfall and Crunchy Footsteps

I found Sean's car this morning. All the while, it had been sitting there under the snow. The milder weather made it reappear. Magic.

The Christmas lights on the veranda of the Duck and Cherry had the same problem. There was so much snow on them, little flickers of light fought their way through the white, fluffy cold stuff to be seen. I had to go out and shove some of it off.

Snow.
I am sure there are both pros and cons for it - long lists with up- and downsides. E.g. my 88 year-old mother-in-law has a hard time maneuvering her walker in the snow, while the love of my life gladly shovels the driveway over and over again as long as there is enough snow to go cross-country skiing.

There are tests for knowing if it is a proper winter--cold and white.
1. Breath in through your nose- If your nostrils seem to stick together, then it is legally cold.
2. Listen for sounds when walking outside on snowy ground. Does it crunch under your feet? If so, then it is also quite cold.
My mother told me of her memories from WWII, how the trodden down, snowy roads made crunching, crackling sounds underfoot. Every time I experience the same, I think of my parents, young and in love, walking the streets of Oslo during the war.

Ergo, if the cold, white winter does not present itself as such--cold and white--you can test the above statements. To me, it's also beautiful when the snow falls quietly, and walking Hector, the Wheaten Terrier, can be done makng no sound at all, only the soft, hushed feeling of serenity.

The word snowfall seems to mean different things to different people.

“Is it snowing where you are? All the world that I see from my tower is draped in white and the flakes are coming down as big as pop-corns. It's late afternoon - the sun is just setting (a cold yellow colour) behind some colder violet hills, and I am up in my window seat using the last light to write to you.” 
― Jean Webster, (1876-1916), Daddy-Long-Legs

So poetic. I can see her there, writing, feeling lonely.
I also enjoy the following quote. Vivid pictures dance in my mind, two brothers; playing, teasing, laughing together.

“It snowed last year too: I made a snowman and my brother knocked it down and I knocked my brother down and then we had tea.” 
― Dylan Thomas, (1914-1953), A Child's Christmas in Wales

Today I have chosen two of my winter water colors.