Our walks have become short and few, still we manage at least two in one day.   Willow and Nash on the bed in a heap grooming one another.  Nash grooms Willow’s back with methodical lics. He holds her in his paws as he does so.  Willow licks one of my hands while I massage her neck and ears with my other hand. Every so often Willow will fastidiously clean the sleep from Nash’s eye and Nash will lick my bare feet.  The room is bright with light which reflections off the snow outside.  The pine and maple branches sway in the wind.  Chickadees, nuthatches, tufted titmice and squirrels feast at feeders swaying in the wind.  We are content in this wallow as we feel the weight and warmth of one another.  I suppress thoughts of spring to remain in this warmth of tangled bodies.    I am in no hurry; it is still winter, still time to hibernate. I look forward to this time of the year, winter.

           After long days of summer and hot sun the long periods of darkness and short days are welcome.   Usually around late fall I look forward to this   where the dogs and I fall into a different kind of routine. We go into hibernation mode.    We move with the light of day.  The snow is too deep in the woods for hiking.