It's Doggone Cold

Because the outdoor temperature today mostly stayed in the single digits (it may have reached 10 degrees Fahrenheit when I wasn't paying attention), I have spent most of the day inside, looking through old photos and making a weak attempt at organizing some research files. The few times I have ventured outside with my dog, Waffles, he's agreed with me that a quick, brisk walk was adequate.

One of the photos I came across got me thinking about my great-grandparents, G. Oliver and Islea Riggs, and their habits as dog owners. They clearly loved dogs; the family photo collection includes pictures of several different dogs they had over the years. I don't imagine they took their dogs for walks back in those days. It's more likely they let their dogs loose outside, and trained them to come back when called.

I wish I knew more about this aspect of their lives. For instance, I have questions about what's going on in the photo below. Is this one of their dogs? If so, what's his or her name, and what's the dog doing on top of the snowbank?

G. Oliver Riggs in St. Cloud, Minn., in February 1937.

The back of the photo only tells me that it was processed by Guys' Studio in St. Cloud, Minn., on February 17, 1937. Although I don't know what day the photo was taken, I do know, thanks to an online search of the St. Cloud Daily Times, that on February 10, 1937—exactly 81 years ago—St. Cloud was the coldest spot in the state. The temperature had plunged to minus 33 during the night, and by 8 a.m. that morning had climbed to a balmy 27 below zero.

So, OK, I guess it could have been worse here today in Northfield. But I sure am happy to see that it's supposed to get up to 18 degrees tomorrow, to 24 on Tuesday, and to a mind-boggling 41 on Wednesday. That will feel like a doggone heat wave.