Day’s start

We woke up this morning, returned from a quick-as-lightning beach trip, to find a dusting of snow over everything, and sneaky flakes still falling from the sky. Sammy and I slid down the driveway to go for a walk in the early-morning light. We found the last of the zinnias, now just brown props for small caps of snow.

It was a quick walk. I slid over the ice to head up the road, but had to resort to my lack-of-snow-legs by walking in the ditch. Not fun. But we made it to the church, one of my favorite places in my neighborhood. I’ve never been in, but I want to.

We turned around and slip-slide back to the house. No one was around and everyone had their doors shut, window curtains drawn. There was just the wind. It pushed and prodded us back to the house. We climbed up the hill and up the stairs.

Snow clung to my shoes and jeans and I thought about making some tea or a pot of coffee. And the work ahead was easy this morning — fact-checking stories, scrounging around for some ideas, running errands. But Sammy! Always there’s Sammy, the dog on the hunt for a bone. Here, he’s using his doggy mind powers to get me to open the door and go to the treat box. It always works.

It was a happy beginning to a cold, snowy day. I hope yours is a good one, too.