It's back. The Polar Vortex returns.

As if someone wrote a script, right on cue this afternoon we just started having another snowstorm. I just read this morning on Accu Weather that the Polar Vortex was coming back. The same thing that brought us sub-zero temperatures only a few weeks ago along with 25 inches of snow higher than our annual averages. 

Polar Vortex to Once Again Grip Midwest, Northeast

By Kristina Pydynowski, Senior Meteorologist

February 23, 2014; 9:45 AM

Wednesday and Thursday look to be Rottweiler weather. Our boys love the cold and the snow. I took these pictures a little while ago when they were outside covered in snow flakes.

Is that a confused look on Axl's face?

Yesterday we all went for a walk down to the back and the ground was very soggy from all the rain and melted snow. I don't think they have gotten used to this winter yet. We had ice and snow on the ground continuously for almost two straight months.

5 more inches of snow. But who's counting.

It sure is great to have wonderful neighbors. Last night around midnight I heard the sound of a snowblower outside. I looked out my window and saw my next door neighbor had come over and was cleaning my driveway just after it stopped snowing. As soon as it warms up a little bit so I can work in the garage, I'm going to try and get my own snowblower working again.

Well, the weatherman was right again. We woke up this morning to a beautiful, clean blanket of snow 5 inches deep and the sky was clear and the sun was shining. What more could three Rottweilers want?

So we all went out before breakfast and this is what it looked like.

Do you know how well insulated their fur is? Sassy can lay in the snow and it won't melt on her when she gets up. I hope to get back down to the backyard later to take some more pictures. I'm sure the boys would like that as well.

Correction: Yesterday I mentioned we had about 30 inches of snow so far this winter. I was wrong, I just checked. Including the 5 inches we had last night, the total accumulation so far is 42.8 inches.

IT'S BACK. We are getting More Snow.

I must be the only one in the house who is beginning to hate this winter. Certainly the Rottweilers don't hate it, they love going out and I always have dry towels waiting for them when they come back in covered in snow. My wife has a lot of trouble walking now so the only time she goes out is when I help her to the car to go shopping and we've pared that down to once every two or three weeks. We did get to enjoy one day this week when the temperature just barely got above freezing. Now we are looking forward to 4-5 inches of snow tonight and another storm coming Sunday or Monday.

Like I said, the Rottweilers know how to deal with it whether they are inside or out.

Here is Ruff sleeping on the couch while he was supposed to be babysitting his Mom yesterday afternoon.

And here is a picture of Axl laying next to his Mom on the couch. I took this a few hours ago. You should know that I was sitting on the couch next to her a few minutes before I took the picture. Axl started making a lots of complaining sounds so I got up to see what he wanted – like maybe he had to go out – and as soon as I got up off the couch, he climbed up where I was sitting and laid down. He just wanted to be next to his Mom and he made me move. And then he gave me a dirty look when I took his picture.

And it wouldn't be complete without a picture of our beautiful weather. Taken from the comfort of the kitchen window. That's Ruff in the background, going for a walk by himself. This was also a few hours ago. Tomorrow the scenery will look a lot better after the snow stops.

I estimate we have gotten some 30 inches of snow this winter and every time it snows I think of the unfortunate people in the northeast. We have gotten all of our snow in a dozen little storms while they seem to have gotten about the same amount in only two or three big storms. Like the saying goes, "It ain't over 'till the fat lady sings."

Yesterday when the sun came out for awhile I noticed the yard was full of Robins. They must have traveled back here expecting Spring to be around the corner. They looked sort of confused and were all gone today.

Real Christmas Trees

Finally had an opportunity to take Ruff for a walk down to the back of our property today. I am so glad we did. The weather is still icy cold but the sun was shining and the sky was clear. It was strange walking on top of the ice-covered snow. It made crunchy sounds and in places my shoes broke through the ice. But when we got to the clump of fir trees I planted years ago it was like walking into a Christmas display. The ice storm left long icicles hanging from every branch. Words cannot describe it so here are some pictures.

Click the pictures for a larger view.

And Ruff took his red rubber ball with him.

My neighbor's back yard.

And not a single footprint in the snow.

With and without a Rottweiler, it is still a beautiful sight.

The bad news is the below-freezing cold weather will be around for at least another week. The good news is we get to enjoy the beautiful winter scenery. And the ice storm on Tuesday has produced a candy-coating on every branch, bush and twig. Tonight I happened to see what happens when the sun sets behind the ice coated trees. The ice glowed with the color of the sunset and lit up like Christmas trees.

One of these two pictures does have a Rottweiler in it so it qualifies to be here. The sunset photo is just an added bonus.

2-6-2014 time: 5:55 PM

2-6-2014 time: 5:45 PM

Frozen. Adding an ice storm on top of our snowy Winter.

I'm beginning to think our Rottweilers are getting a little confused with our weather. We seem to be having one to two small snowstorms every week and it started in early December. The Rotts love the snow and are eager to go out in it. But then within the last two weeks we have had some brief warm spells that melted all the snow and they get disappointed when it is gone. Then a few days later we have another storm and the snow is back. There are some advantages to this in the old snow gets all dirty and the new snow is like starting all over again.

Take yesterday, for instance. The sun warmed things up a little and the snow almost all melted. I took the boys out back and they did some exploring.

Then the ice storm hit late in the evening. By 11 PM when I took everyone out for their last pee before bedtime, we were in full sleet mode and freezing rain. It made for a very quick potty visit.

Our flag was covered in ice and stiff as a board.

Then this morning the world was all different. We had gotten about 3-inches of snow followed by an inch or two of sleet followed by freezing rain. The first thing that got the Rotts puzzled was they were walking on top of the stuff and not in it and it was slippery, to boot. Let the pictures tell the rest of the story.