Snow Games

Winter is not yet dead. Five inches of snow fell here yesterday, and because the temperature is barely reaching the teens, it was the nice powdery kind of snow, not the concrete snow that fell two weeks ago. Dog and Baby Dog are both thrilled. For some reason, they seem to think that if it’s white outside, they don’t need to listen. Or in fact even hear me. They are so excited by snow that their doggie brains go on overload.

Last night Baby Dog raced from one end of the driveway to the other, back and forth, back and forth. She must have done that 8-10 times until she was panting so hard she had to stop. Dog, who is 6, is calmer but he still finds running with his nose under the snow great fun. I worry that he will run into a stick or a stone hidden by the snow and bang himself up, but so far that’s never happened.

The raccoons are out of hibernation, as they have been visiting the dish of cat food on the front deck, much to the outrage of Baby Dog. Cardinals, and even juncos, are singing in anticipation of spring. So far, the only sign of spring I see is in the lengthening daylight and the western march of the constellation Orion.