A Three Dog Day

We just go five inches of snow last night. That's hardly an earth shaking event but for the dogs it was fantastic - running like mad in the open fields, side by side biting at each other and then diving into the tall grass and trees along the field to hunt for birds and rodents of all kinds.

The sky was absolutely clear and the air had the just snowed freshness that is an unmistakable sign of winter. With the warm sun on our backs and a slight breeze out of the north west that gave the ten degree temperature a little bit, Barb and I knew that this was one of those days when everything had come together at the same time to make this walk with the dogs perfect.

They sure thought so. Running ahead of us, snow fly in their wake, puffs of steam pumping from their mouths when they stop and turn to check out where we are before the continue their flights of fantasy in a world that nature has prepared just for them.

And what's really neat is their dramatic entrance back into the field. Crashing out of the tall grass, their whole bodies covered with snow, tails held high and wide eyed, they are ready to continue the hunt for the beasts that lurk in the next thicket of tall grass and trees.

They know that mother nature has planned well for them, because when they finally trot back to the house, they are covered with snow balls and sticktights but smiling as though they had been to a special place for the first time, when in reality it is the same route that we take every time.

And that is what's so cool, they don't care because every time they go out into that field, it's all new. New scents of pheasants to hunt, new chip monks to roust out of their nests and ground hogs sent scurrying back into their holes.

A simple life for sure, but in that simplicity is the true pleasure of living for the moment. Like the saying goes, ' live today to it's fullest and leave tomorrow until tomorrow'. I know the dogs don't give a rip for tomorrow. To them it doesn't even exist.

We humans have a lot to learn about what it means to 'enjoy the day'. Confucsius said that even the longest journey begins with a single step. I have taken the first steps in the journey to enjoy the day. I know I have to make an conscious effort to do this. I look forward to a job well done.