new bedroom set up...

We shook stuff up a bit here at campchaos and moved the bedroom around. The new setup is more space efficient and lets the boys have their beds beside each other as Mayhem can't stand to be far from Chaos (or us).

 This isn't to say that they don't end up on our bed still... both pups enjoy a good cuddle time.

Elvis goes to Mountain Magic at Sugarloaf

A few weeks ago my brother, Virg, came over to visit us along with his 5 year old daughter, Elvis. Virg hasn't skied in at least 6 years and was pumped to be back out on the slopes. They arrived to camp chaos on Friday night and we got Elvis suited up in a helmet and goggles for her day on Saturday.

Elvis jumped ski school for the day where she joined Coach Emily and other 5 year old never-ever skiers and mastered the art of slidding downhill and stopping. The program is called Mountain Magic and it certainly describes how the day went for Elvis. We skied by a few times during the day and it was obvious that she was having a blast with her Coach and teammates. After we picked her up at the end of the day we took a few laps on the Birches with her so she could show off her new skills. It was obvious from the look on her face as she clicked into her bindings that a skier had been made that day at Sugarloaf.

Elvis also got to watch me finish her pink sweater...

and enjoyed sledding around camp chaos with her furry cousins...

Elvis becomes a Sugarloafer

Adventures in winter wonderland

I'm happy to report that winter is in full swing here in Carrabassett Valley. While that means I now also have to shovel the driveway again I consider it a fair trade to be able to play in the snow.
This morning I dropped Dave off at work while temperatures hovered around the 10 degree mark. It's not really that cold but I wasn't feeling the need to rip at 35mph downhill so I headed north on 27 to Flagstaff Lake with my little furry buddies. 

We ventured out to Myer's Beach and enjoyed a great walk through the woods to the frozen lake. It was a good Chaos sized walk to the beach- about 15 minutes and we then enjoyed some time enjoying the sunshine that streamed over the backside of the Bigelow Mountain Range.

Mayhem even took a quick moment to enjoy the stillness of the morning at the lake. But just one moment... little dog doesn't stay still for long.

I bribed him with the promise of the tennis ball to capture another view on the frozen tundra. The lake was beautiful and we did see a few snowmobiles enjoying some playtime too. The lake had a false stillness, if I waited long enough and if the pups were quiet enough then we could hear the movements of the ice forming below us.

through the eyes of Chaos...

I've often wondered what Chaos and Mayhem see and how they think about it. Today, I got a glimpse of Chaos's point of view. I wish I could say it was enlightening but honestly it terrifies me.

In 2007 on a routine visit to the vet, Dr Taylor told us about Chaos's juvenile cataracts. We've kept an eye on them and watched them slowly grow over the years. Today, I took the boys on a walk on the Narrow Gauge trail today during low light and some soft falling snow.

The trails were soft and we followed a snowshoe trail along the river. The boys took full advantage of the leash free escapade and played hard. I'm pretty sure Mayhem even tried to climb a tree...

but he could have just gotten a little too much into sniffing it. Chaos had a nice break and ate some snow...

his brother joined him and it became a big rolling party...

We crossed a small foot bridge and Chaos struggled. This isn't a new path for us, this fall he zoomed over the little bridge and chased Mayhem. It appeared that he wasn't sure of his footing. This bridge crosses a small stream; it isn't high off the ground and the slats are less then an inch apart.  We emerged from the woods and Mayhem zoomed across the large bridge that crosses the Carrabassett River. I followed but stopped when I realized Chaos was still on the other side of the river. The bridge that crosses the Carrabassett River has a few slits in it where the snow has melted and created an optical illusion that stopped Chaos in his tracks. I went to the middle of the bridge and called him over. He started across then hesitated... it became clear to me that my pup was struggling to see. I walked to him and guided him back to the car with the realization that his life as we know it has changed.

We've joked about Mayhem becoming Chaos's seeing eye dog... we just didn't think it would happen so soon after Chaos's 7th birthday.

dreaming of snowy days at camp chaos

the best part about snow? Easy- that would be good days on the mountain.

like Dave's first day out in November

What's the worst? Realizing you have to shovel the whole driveway by yourself...

with a bit of help from furry friends and the motivation to wear cute Boggs

But at this point I'm ready... Mother Nature bring it on. I haven't shoveled the driveway in over a month and I'm ready for it to start dumping.

the new camp chaos

Life at the new campchaos isn't all that different... unless of course you factor in the 9,000 feet less altitude which has resulted in more oxygen and changed the game of gluten free baking. We now also "do wood" which as most Mainer's know as a super fun game that results in having a warm house all winter despite how low the thermometer drops.
The dogs wear blaze orange not just for Halloween but during the whole month of deer season as their bushy white tails may be confused with a deer a bit too easily. We enter camp on the first floor with all the bedrooms (yes- that's more then just one!) and head upstairs to the main room that gets great sunlight even with the shortest day of the year approaching.  A trip outside yields a dirt road and a great walk for the dogs each morning. So it's a bit different from condo life but we're all adapting well.

let two sleeping dogs...

really can these two get any cuter? Chaos was enjoying a nap on a chilly afternoon when Mayhem thought that he needed to curl up with his brother for some afternoon beauty sleep.