'Round Midnight

Yesterday, it snowed lightly all day.  We already had 27" on the ground from the Monday/Tuesday storm.  Lots of shoveling going on, but I don't mind...I love winter, love snow, love the dark, star-studded nights.  What is so fine as the light, cold touch of snowflakes on upturned face?


That particular night, at almost midnight, I was about to get in bed when I realized that it was a perfect night for snowshoeing. Though it was clouded over and still snowing, it was very bright outside from a near-full moon behind the clouds.  So, out I went.  It was indescribably lovely. All the trees were completely covered in snow, and the air was full of a white haze of moonlit falling snow.  The trees across the road and pasture were almost lost in it.  Everything glowed.  The house and barn were small under the deep blanket of snow.  It was so quiet!  I trudged up to the top of the pasture, and over the wall to my sitting spot.  There I sat a while and just looked.  Then I went on into the woods a ways. It was mysterious and magical among the trees...in the snow...so beautiful, it seemed unreal. Or surreal.  Alone in a glowing world that was silent and gray and white and black.  It is wonderful to see such things.


Finally, it clouded over more and got dark, so I went home and to bed. 

Into the Woods

Yesterday I took Joseph & Alice up into the woods for a walk. This was the first time Joseph had left the pasture to go up the woods trail.  He was delighted!  He and Alice ran along the trail ahead of me, scouting for interesting smells.  Joseph stayed right with us, and came to me whenever I called.  I can't wait to take him in the spring, when the snow is gone and there is so much more to investigate.
When we finally returned to the pasture, he raced back & forth across the fields.  He has a graceful, seemingly effortless bound, reminiscent of a deer's leap.  He seems to have boundless energy.  It's fun to have a young dog again.