Playing in the Snow

We woke up this morning to about five inches of fresh, soft powder on the ground. We had snow when Duncan first came home, but it was an old snow, crusted and hard from freezing and refreezing. It was hard on a little Sheltie's feet. But when I let him out this morning he was nearly playful, a mood he has not shown except when his friend Hannah visits. Normally when I let Duncan out, he makes a sweep of the perimeter of the fence. But this time, he stepped down off the deck and immediately buried his little face in the snow. He wiped his face back and forth, feeling the soft powder roll over his muzzle. And of course when he came up for air and looked at me, his little furry face was highlighted with white flakes. He shook himself off and began a trotting zig-zag up the hill, hip deep in the stuff. As he moved he would dip his head into the snow and take three or four steps, plowing straight through. I wish that I had a digital camera with a zoom lens so that I could post a picture of him playing in the snow here. The picture I was able to take with my cell phone just doesn't show very much except white.

I watched him through the window longer than I probably should have (the roads would be horrible on the way to work and I should have left early) but I was having so much fun seeing him play. I laughed each time his face came up covered in white. His tail was up and wagging, and with his mouth open he looked like he was smiling - also things he has not done unless he is playing with Hannah. I stood there smiling and laughing as I watched him. It was the first time I had seen him acting truly happy without the aid of another dog's company.

Hope is strong today.