Anyone who has ever been fortunate enough to see a snowy owl knows this is an encounter that will never be forgotten. Those piercing yellow eyes, majestic stature, and striking variations of white coloration sear themselves into the mind and heart of onlookers. When I was around eight years old my mom and I took a road trip with a church friend from Seattle all the way to Saskatoon in Canada. To my surprise and delight the Amish family we came to visit had a full grown snowy owl named Ule (pronounced You-Lee). One of the boys had found the hatchling on the ground after it had fallen from its nest. As children are prone to do, he scooped it up and carried it home. Ule was completely domesticated and I was able to pet him and put my finger safely in his beak. Good thing fingers are not part of the owl's diet. Buried somewhere are some priceless slides of two of the younger Amish girls, me, and Ule perched on the rung of a ladder next to us.

NOW is the time to prepare your dog’s quarters for winter. If you follow these ten simple steps, your pet will be able to enjoy the winter months:

1. If you have to leave your dog outside during the day while you’re at work, now is the time to build a roof with at least three sides over or around your dog kennel or yard, with the dog house or sleeping quarters inside the sheltered area. Doing this will give your pet a windbreak and will enable it to use its own body heat to stay warm. You can obtain materials from Harding’s and Hall’s. State law requires you provide proper shelter for your dogs.