Annie and Lily heading out to make tracks.
I’m not a winter person. I’d love to escape down south for the coldest months in New England, returning just in time to open the garden and start planning some kayaking trips on the Connecticut River. Ah, dream on…
Annie walks the trails.
I’m here in western Massachusetts that I love ten months out of the year. The next best thing to escaping winter is to come up with ways to enjoy it. Snowshoeing is one of those ways. I love putting on my snowshoes and getting out in the clear, crisp air after a really good snowfall (no sleet, ice, or rain, just pure white snow). A day just like today – and the sky is a beautiful robin’s-egg-blue. The exercise is invigorating. And, the dogs surrounding me have as much fun as I do. It’s a terrific activity to chase away the winter blahs.
The dogs and I were out again making more tracks in their back field. I surprised myself and tracked around the entire perimeter, up onto the dog’s wooded hillside and back down to home base. In my travels, Lily followed behind in my footsteps. Occasionally, she spurred off, creating some trails of her own. She was far more courageous in the deep snow today. Annie went her own way traveling on the trails created on yesterday’s outing. Violet bounced around and around from one corner of the yard to the other. Dear James opted to remain on the sofa in front of the fire (such a tempting thing to do!)
Lily blazes some trails of her own.
Annie ready to call it a day. Time to head in.
My trek around the perimeter served an additional purpose. It gave me a chance to check on the fencing to be sure no tree limbs had fallen causing damage that would need immediate attention. I started noticing pretty quickly that we have some rotting rails needing replacement. I began a count. At least a dozen. The cedar post and rail fence (lined with strong wire) was installed over 20 years again when we had our first Setters – two Irish girls, Breezy and DD, and our English girl, Beatrice. The fence has served us well. I’m always glad, especially in the winter with high volumes of snow, that we opted for the 5 1/2 footer. With a couple of frozen feet of snow on the ground, it would be pretty easy for the dogs to jump over when siting a wild turkey in the pasture across the street. Mental note made to do rail replacement come spring.