Thursday, January 23, 2014

On Guard

Official greeter or trying to scare me away?

This doggie was clearly watching me but never barked.

Cows and protector?

I'm pretty sure it thought it was protecting the cows. Or maybe not.  It was very friendly, eventually squeezing under the wire fence to silently check me out.

Friday Random 5
1. Friday the 24th is my birthday and I am proud to admit I am 19...AGAIN! Just how many times I have celebrated my 19th is difficult to say since it's definitely more times than I can count on my fingers and toes.

2. Perhaps one reason I like January is because it includes fond birthday memories: pretty wrappings, colourful ribbons, cake, ice cream and, of course, presents gotten at after-Christmas sales. I think "sales" were really sales back then.

3. I've never had a birthday party. Well, I'm an introvert so - to be perfectly fair - I have never asked for one.  When I was a kid, we usually had a family gathering, since my family had four January birthdays between the 24th and the 29th.

4. The only birthday presents I remember right now were from my grandparents. One was a sky-blue dress my grandfather chose for me when my grandparents were in Florida. I didn't get the dress until February or March but that was OK. The second was a little suitcase which had inside a skein of variegated blue yarn and included a promise from my grandmother to teach me how to knit.

5. Total change of topic: I don't like to shop (so please pardon my bad attitude), but last weekend I visited two large chain stores looking for ice grippers for my boots. Our January thaw did NOT melt the ice on a few of my favorite paths and I NEED to feel more secure to walk on them. It is January right? Even inside the stores? Then where is all the winter merchandise?  No I did not find what I wanted. I'm guessing the were sold out last August.

I am joining  Random 5 Friday Here

57 comments:

  1. Happy 19th birthday...it looks like the guardian took a shine to you.

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  2. Happy Birthday to you! I find the same thing in stores- trying to search for a sweater in a sea of tanks and short sleeved tops is like searching for a needle in a haystack- and this was just a week or so ago. Irritates me.
    The dog was sure watching you!

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  3. One can't be too careful when it comes to strangers bearing cameras. :-)

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  4. Glad you're getting "grippers." You do not want to fall on the ice and break anything.

    That dog is sweet-looking. A border collie? If so, very smart, and no doubt could sense you weren't a threat. Poor thing looks a bit cold and bedragled, tho!

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  5. The vigilant dog is alert and on guard. Stay away!

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  6. Happy Birthday to you for tomorrow. Up in Barrie beside the Lowes store, off the 400 I think it's the Essa road turn off, there is a outdoors super store next to it. They should sell them I'm thinking and it's not too far from you......

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  7. Happiest of Birthdays my friend. If I were nearby I'd insist on giving you a birthday party. Hope you get what you need to avoid slipping on the ice.

    Darla

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  8. Happy Birthday just in case i forget tomorrow...I had one party when i was 8 and the nursing home i volunteered at gave me a party with presents and cake and ice cream all all the residents, on my 64th birthday. so i have had 2 parties.
    i will be 70 in Sept and am thinking of giving myself a party.
    i am thinking those ice things for your shoes are even out at the factory with all this snow and ice this year. be careful walking. did you check amazon?

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  9. so happy birthday to you! I also never had a birthday party as a child. The day was always special though with my mom's angel food cake, and always a special gift from my parents and my grandparents. something small that i always appreciated so much. hope that you have a wonderful day, and give your self a big party! Looks cold there!

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  10. A very happy birthday to you in advance! :) Hugs!

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  11. Oh Happy 19th Birthday I will be celebrating that same one once again in March:)
    Oh the dress and the suitcase and the promise to teach you to knit had me tear up what a wonderful present that memories last forever.
    I was looking for those icegrips too could not find them someone suggested online i have yet to check that out for now I will use snowshoes they have plenty of grip. Keep warm sure is cold out there. Oh I love this post. Hug B

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  12. Happy 19th to you! We also have multiple January birthdays in my family - must be a good month! I love the cold captures and the sweet dog and cows to mark your Birthday:)

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  13. Happy birthday - sweet 19 again! Love the dog shot.

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  14. Cute dog. Happy birthday to you! My b-day is in February and yes, I think I'm going to be 19 again also. :)

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  15. Have a great birthday. My best birthdays have been by myself. Only an introvert would understand. Am glad I live where I don't need ice grippers. Enjoy your day.

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  16. Happy Birthday to you! I've got one myself coming up at the beginning of the month. Like you, I don't have birthday parties... I prefer to spend the day quietly.

    Outdoor shops or hardware shops ought to have something like Yak Trax. Or a shoe store.

    And that's a good doggie!

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  17. i love that dog. :) and i hate shopping, too.

    and a very happy birthday to you!

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  18. A very happy birthday to you! Like you, I never had a birthday party but my birthday is on Christmas so who would come? I am also an introvert so didn't want one either.
    I have some of those ice grippers that I rarely ever need around here.

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  19. Happy birthday!! Shopping for the current situation can be maddening. They are putting up the swimsuits already around here. :/ Hope you find what you need!

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  20. Sweet dog just keeping tabs on what's going on. Nice he's not a barker.
    My daughter's birthday is also the 24th. Happy 19th!!!
    I am not much of a shopper either and that is alright with me. I have some of those trax for the shoe or boot---should I send them over to you? We have no snow or ice here.
    Be careful--no slipping.
    MB

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  21. I do as much shopping online as possible. I don't mind shopping for household items, but I hate having to try on clothes since manufacturers don't seem to have sizes that are common to all. And why do stores have summer stuff in the dead of winter? It just is not logical!
    BTW, happy birthday, although belated.

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  22. Happy Birthday to you!
    Sweet dog :)

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  23. He's actually rather sweet!

    After the winter sale is over, we'll have tank tops and bikinis everywhere. Who wants tank tops at the end of January???

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  24. I have 2 pairs of ice grippers from Lee Valley, I think, or possibly Mark's Work Warehouse.

    Love the dog - just interested, probably!

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  25. Oh what an adorable doggie for sure, and I bet he wanted to just have some play time. Dogs are very smart and they know as a rule who is naughty and nice, they do a better job than the elves of today. Great photos, of real winter!

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  26. Happy birthday-tomorrow, EG. I rarely have birthday parties for myself, either, because I'm just not into them. (I'm a "functional introvert," meaning that my true person needs some quiet time but I have taught myself how to "act extroverted.")

    You are in luck about those ice grippers. About an hour ago I got one of those incessant emails from stores I once bought something from, and happened to notice an ad for those things. Here it is: http://www.herringtoncatalog.com/fs311.html

    You're welcome!

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  27. Love the shot of the "guard" dog. He was doing his job.

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  28. In case I should forget tomorrow,Happy Birthday to you. I love the picture with the cows in it.It has a very pleasing look to it.

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  29. Maybe the pup was just happy to see someone. Happy Pre-Brithday!

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  30. Oh, I hope you have a Happy Birthday. I hope you get to take a good ramble and shoot lots of pics.

    Just so you know, Sarah wanted a new pair of snow boots for Christmas...she told me about two weeks before the day...there were hardly any to choose from even then.

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  31. Happy 19th Birthday! A fellow Aquarian, my birthday is early next month. I have noticed when we are in the season of needing to buy for that season, it already has stuff for the next season out on the racks. I liked the dog and cows shot.

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  32. Happy birthday! I just learned so much that we have in common--introvert and hating to shop. Yep!

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  33. Ah, shopping - at best a necessary evil, a worst …. well, I won't go there.

    Nice post.

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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  34. Love that dog shot ! And Happy Birthday !

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  35. Maybe that is where the expression "Christmas in July" originated then...in stores!! Where you stock up for winter items...and in late January the Spring stuff comes out! Try a sports store like Academy of Dick's Sporting Goods...they may have 'em year 'round.

    The Sheep dog is very handsome!!!!

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  36. ...dang...forgot to wish you a happy birthday on the 24th

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  37. Very happy birthday to you -- but I would never want to be 19 again! Just sayin'. ;)

    Thanks so much for joining in R5F this week -- so neat to learn more about you. xo

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  38. Have a happy cold and snowy birthday !!! !:) :) :)

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  39. Greetings from frigid Oklahoma!

    Go to Amazon.com and do a search on Yak Tracks. I hate to shop too and do a lot of it online.

    If the doggie isn't growling or barking, then he's friendly. All you'd have to do is say hello to him and he'd come to you for a pat on the head.

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  40. Nice looking pup. He probably wanted a hug. xox

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  41. And, I forgot to say Happy Birthday!! May your day be VERY special.

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  42. ok, if you are 19 - then i am sticking at 10 or 9 forever. ( ;
    ha. ha!! i am turning - gosh it is hard to say this ... i feel a itch in my throat. here goes ... i am turning 36 this year. & i fear because i will be even closer to the big 40. nuts!! i thought i would be in a totally different place in my life ... & it is not so. nuts!! Happy Happy Birthday!! enjoy it & celebrate a lot. ( :

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  43. Brilliant, Bright Birthday to YOU!!!

    Gotcha about the party thing. years ago some chums let themselves into my house to surprise me with a party . . I went to my room, climbed out the window and didn't return for three days.

    Love that dog.

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  44. Visiting on R5F from your link on ARJ. I think you can order those ice grippers from Duluth Trading Company. I know they have had them in the past. Good company to deal with too.

    Nice pictures of the dog, and the cows. It looks colder there than here, even though it was only 16*F this morning.

    Vic303
    http://themonkeywranglersblog.blogspot.com/2014/01/random-5-friday-012414.html

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  45. Happy 19th birthday! Love the dog image -- intent he is. I'm not much for shopping either -- although I enjoy watching friends shop! When I need something I hardly ever find it in a store -- have to hit the internet. Guess I'm shopping at the wrong seasons!

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  46. The older I get, the less I want to celebrate my Birthday. I'm afraid if you haven't bought all your duds by the end of August, you're out of luck!

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  47. We very much celebrate birthday and with a lot of gifts. I always had birthday parties from childhood on !
    I don't like shopping either ! I only go when it is absolutely necessary !

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  48. Happy, happy birthday to you, CG! I hope you're enjoying being 19 again this year. :) I love the photos of the cows and the dog. Gorgeous scenes!! In my family 3 of us have birthdays between July 19 and 26 so, like you, it was a joint celebration. Have a great weekend!

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  49. Well, Happy 19th Birthday to you!
    I hate shopping, too.
    Unless its for craft things.
    Then I'm good with it. LOL

    diane @ aug's blog

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  50. ah, we share the same birthday! 19 is a good age to be! sometimes I like to tell people 'I'm old enough to drive, vote, drink, sue people all in the same day.'

    happy birthday!. here's wishing you great joy in everything you do!

    have a great day.

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  51. If somebody was smart they bought up all the ice grippers and are now selling them on e-bay or Craig's list for a profit.

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  52. Happy 19th birthday! That was my favorite age ever, so I could see just repeating it over and over :) Maybe one of these birthdays you should ask to have a party. Maybe when you turn 20 :)

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  53. Well, I'm a day late but at least I made it in time for your birthday! If I ever get a chance to meet you, I'd love to throw you a birthday party. On another note, have no fear of these dogs. They're more likely to lick you to death than do harm!

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  54. Hope you had a fun day yesterday! Happy belated.

    =)

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  55. I need a pair of ice grippers, really need to figure out where they sell them as I've seen people use them but have never seen them on a store. I looked for boots at probably the same store, and found nothing. My Uggs, that have lasted me for three winters ripped so I wanted a replacement slip on (my other option are lace ups that are a teeny bit too big. I was very disappointed.

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