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| my favorite pic of the month... he was just hanging out in the yard, nestled in the snow and ice, thoroughly unbothered by the frigid temperatures |
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| Avalanche couldn't figure out why we were just staying in one spot instead of walking around |
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| he certainly loved the weather while his humans were freezing... |
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| ...and happily accepted compliments from anyone who paid attention to him as they walked past |
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| we were worried the cars and the people would overwhelm him, but our fears were unfounded! |
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| a very moving experience to witness this |
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| absolutely inspirational |
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| the way he is perpetually confused by elevators in hotels is very endearing |
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| he's all about hotel life |
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| and always excited about hotel rooms |
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| my valentine |
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| the snow and ice stuck around for weeks - not at all normal for this area! |
Here's the usual assortment of random Avalanche pics:
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| he spotted a chicken in our neighborhood |
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| so judgy |
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| spotted a flock of Canada Geese on our walk; when the geese spotted him, they freaked out in a complete honking panic while he had no reaction whatsoever #veryonbrand |
I'll end with the best memory of the month, which may end up being the best memory of the year when all is said and done.
If you've been following along since we adopted Avalanche in January 2023, you already know that we have had to be exceptionally patient as he grew to trust us, love us, express affection, and accept pets and hugs and kisses. This happened much more quickly for C than it did for me, as the two of them pretty much spend every moment together because C works from home. It has taken much longer for my relationship with Avalanche to develop and I'm happy to be his spare human. As much as I immediately wanted to throw my arms around him and never let him go (I mean, how could I NOT want to do that...his fur is so thick and soft and beautiful that he is like a living, breathing teddy bear), it was clear that things were going to happen on his terms and his timeline. We attribute this to a combination of his breed, his unique personality, and his first eleven years of life before we found each other.
Every time he let me get a little closer, I celebrated, reveling in his acceptance!
Generally speaking, he does not get up on our bed. On the rare occasion he does, and it's typically just long enough for me to take a few pics before he jumps back down to the floor. A handful of times, he has dozed for 20 or 30 minutes on our bed and one time, he jumped up on the bed at a hotel and slept beside C for part of the night (I can't lie...I was so envious!), but for the most part, he avoids human beds.
Two nights ago, we were at the hotel in Pittsburgh and for the first time ever, he got up on the bed and SLEPT BESIDE ME!!! C had gone to brush his teeth and when he returned, this is what he saw:
Avalanche stayed beside me for part of the night before he overheated and jumped down to the floor to cool off. I will absolutely be riding the high of this event for the foreseeable future.
I'm so humbled that this beautiful creature, who was clearly never shown love, never cherished, never caressed with a kind hand, has grown to trust me to the point of settling himself into the crook of my knees and slumbering peacefully. It's an honor to call him mine.
Happy Tails to you!
