hello winter

Sunrise in Madison Wisconsin is at 7:26 a.m. Sunset comes at 4:25 p.m.  This is our "shortest" day of the year, though you probably know enough to understand that minutes don't tell all, as, for example, yesterday's sunrise was also at 7:26 and sunset at 4:25. But the sun is with us for one second less today and so we have ourselves a winner: today we turn around and start the march (more like the slog) to spring!

Henry, this is your first winter solstice. Let's celebrate in our own way: how about greeting the sunrise from Squirrel Hill?

 

 

 

My pup, my prince... 

 

 

No squirrels today, but Henry does dig up a dead mouse. Which reminds me that I haven't done enough training on the new commands. Like "leave it!"  Workin' om it!

 

 

 A breakfast of oatmeal. Doesn't that seem more seasonal than granola? 

 

 

 

Good morning, finches! 

 

 

 

Henry, are you checking my email? 

 

 

 

Oh you sweet, loving dog! I'm so glad you like winter. I do too, you know. At least at its beginnings! 

 

 

 

I was to have a quiet day with Henry. No family, no Ed. But we changed things around a bit because I needed to make a delivery of Christmas stuff for friends of his, and so long as I was doing that, Henry and I may as well go for an off leash walk in the dog park close to the farmette. Ed comes with us. Henry is overjoyed.

 

 

 

 

 

There is almost no one else in the park. Why? Because everything is frozen solid. If yesterday there were rivulets of ice, today there is one huge sea of slipperiness. I have studs in my shoes, Ed has ice cleats and so we manage just fine. Henry is nimble and delightfully unbothered by it. 

 

 

 How he stays upright is beyond me. But he does. Fast as the wind!

 

 

The one bad fall we had was Ed's and it was not his doing: a big dog rear-ended him. Possibly not able to stop himself, he barreled into Ed and toppled him. We think Ed did not break his elbow, but for a few minutes we were not at all sure of this.

Ah, but it was a glorious walk anyway. So much so that we did the loop along the perimeter twice.

And then it is time for me to get home. So that I can finish my puzzle. Yes, my life seems very dog themed right now. 

 

 

 

Good afternoon finches!

 

 

A wintry welcome to the new season. Icy and cold. Not for long though. On the second day of winter I'm shedding my spiky ice shoes and reaching for anything that's good in mud. 

with so much love...