Ooch and Snow

I peeked out my curtains when I got up this morning, and said to myself, "Ah. No snow... It's just misty out." Then I looked at the edge of the patio, saw it was wet, and realized that the "mist" was very fine snow flakes falling. By the time I had fed the kits, cleaned up and dressed, you could see actual snow flakes coming down. So I put on several layers, took my Yak Trax and a shopping bag, and went first to the grocery store (for a Sunday paper, kitty treats, and canned and dry cat food) and then I hopped the bus and came to see Ooch. He is such a sweet old man! He is waiting for me every morning on the cedar chest beside the front door; if it's sunny, he's in a nice warm spot. He talks to me while I remove my gloves, boots, coat and hat; then he escorts me to his food bowl and on into the kitchen to supervise the preparation of his breakfast. While he is in the first throes of eating, I clean his litter box, and toss the bag into the trash in the garage. I usually stay with him for a couple of hours each morning, giving him several small meals and brushing him, and just allowing him to sit in my lap, or lay across my chest. He'll be 21 years old later this month; he's rather thin, and he has ceased to be interested in grooming himself (and he really doesn't like to be brushed, either), so he's got large knots in his long fur on his belly and sides and hind legs. But he loves to snuggle, and he is just an old love bug.
From there being no visible snow on the ground when I arose at 6:30 this morning, there is an accumulation of a good 1.5 inches on the grass, roads, and tree branches at the moment. While I was waiting for the bus (10 minutes) three people walked by me, and when the bus arrived, I could see only the vague outlines of one pair of shoes crossing my path. Here in North Boulder, where folks have large yards, the silence from the snow fall is impressive. I live on a well-traveled road, and I constantly hear the sound of tires ssshhhh-ing through the snow, and the occasional sounds of a snow plow passing by. I opened the back door early the morning - Nedi ran out, into the snow and onto the grass, and came right back in, complaining all the way on his return. Lovey looked out the door, sniffed the air, and jumped back in bed. So much for snow adventures early in the morning!