Not this white stuff again!

I seriously think that is what my cat was thinking to himself this morning.
Yep, we got an additional 8 to 10 inches overnight and into the early morning, and by the time I got up around 7:30(both school and work either cancelled or delayed for everyone in the house because of it), the snow had stopped, but...

...this(above) is what awaited me outside.

Some heavy shovelling(unfortunately for my back, the snow was the wet kind) to make a path for the cat and dog so they can, er...do their morning "business" somewhere outdoors, without falling through the snow over their heads.

As soon as I get up, and even before I start the coffee, my dog and cat are right at the back door every morning, eager to get out and take care of their business, so I knew I had to take care of the snow situation for them first thing today. I wouldn't let either of them out until I made some sort of path for them in the snow. Without any fortifying breakfast yet in my belly, I was pretty wimpy out there and only got as far as a path cleared off the back deck, down the steps and then a small distance in two directions in the yard,

and I was done for the time being. I also knew the pets were dying to get out.

As soon as I got back in(after having taken a few photos), I let the critters out.

Pete the cat's response was dismayed surprise which quickly turned to feline crankiness.

He didn't even make it half way across the deck before turning around with this annoyed look on his face, and wanted right back in. I think he was really ticked off with the cold, white stuff. He got up on the couch to look out the front window right after being let in, his tail twitching. Which in cat-language means--"look out--I'm irritated".

Now, the dog's response to the discovery of yet another snowy morning was typical dog-behavior in comparison to the pissed off cat attitude. She went dashing out, then came to a tentative halt at the end of the deck right before the stairs and looked back at me with a look in her eyes that practically said, "Do I HAVE to go out in this..again?"

I told her, "Yes, Jewel, get down those stairs and go potty",

and she being a good little canine, sucked it up and complied with my order. She bravely trotted down the short path and then, as she always does, got off the path and into the deep snow, squatted down, sinking her butt into the cold stuff and made a little yellow spot. Then she came running right back to the door, all happy back inside --everything forgotten and cheerfully ready with a wagging tail(and cold wet butt and underside) for her breakfast.

Every morning--its the same old bowl of kibble and every morning, she is happy to eat it, as if it were the choicest cut of steak. Even if she has to go out in rain or snow, she is the same happy dog once again, back in and ready for her morning meal.

My breakfast this morning?

Two chocolate chip cookies and a cup of coffee.

I was at first ticked off and started to feel ornery with the world like my cat when I saw that the coffee canister was empty(I had forgotten to buy more at the store yesterday)!! And, then, I remembered that we had a bag of Dunkin Donuts Vanilla coffee in the freezer. It was a gift from one of John's students before Christmas, and we both don't like flavored coffee much, so it was stored in the freezer as a "back up plan" coffee. For days like this.

And, you know...even a flavored coffee is better than no coffee at all. And, combined with chocolate chip cookies(I had a mad craving for them and made a batch last night--something about a snowstorm always brings out the cooking and baking in me), it actually tasted just fine.

Later in the morning, Mr. F took it upon his brawny self to do most of the rest of the digging out(for well over an hour). The plows had created great walls of thick snow which had to be dealt with before any other shovelling of paths and driveways could be done. Somewhere, in the heap of snow above, is our mailbox.

And, just for the record, I did eventually eat something a little more healthy--some plain yogurt and chopped apples stirred in.