Henry surveying one of many pools in our yard

The January thaw couldn’t last, and we wouldn’t want that anyway. The snowshoe trail deteriorated to slush. Snow banked against the house melted down and down, and the driveway became an icy mess. In the midst of winter, the dog tracked mud into the house.

Then came the cold. COLD. Night after night, temperatures dipped far below 0 degrees. We closed the curtains and covered the windows with blankets to keep the warmth in and the chill out. Day after day, with thermometer readings still below 0 and the wind chill colder, even Henry ventured outside only when absolutely necessary.

Cold, but beautiful

Today, unable to tolerate the confinement any longer, we strap on snowshoes and take to the woods. It’s cold, but we’re well bundled, and the trees protect us from the wind. We can’t keep up with Henry, who races ahead, then runs back to see what’s taking us so long. He’s a happy boy. By sunrise tomorrow, the wind chill will be minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit, but that’s tomorrow. Today, for a little while, we are free.

Are you coming?