Winter walks and spring fever

 Zoey waiting in line

Quick sketch

Black marker on bond paper

12 x 14 inches

Barbara Muir © 2011

(You are probably reading this on

Sunday which is Zoey's birthday.

For a few years now our

joke has been that we were taking

Zoey on Letterman to do her

"stupid dog trick" which is

singing happy birthday.

Of course she barks it.  But

on Steven's birthday without prompting

she came upstairs from her bed in

the basement in front of the

TV and barked out Happy Birthday

while the rest of us sang.

So just the mention of her

birthday today got her singing and

got her an extra cookie before the

actual birthday. She is seen here

waiting for the day.  In line. (drawing).

In actual fact she kept moving about every

three seconds making it difficult to

capture even the quickest of 

likenesses.)

We took the dog for a short walk today -- a hazardous
pursuit.  I had my icers on, but Steven slipped and
slid over the icy path in regular boots.  Yesterday it
was around 11 degrees Celsius here or 51 Fahrenheit.
That's warm for winter.  The streets were flooding,
the sun actually felt warm on the back porch, and
then Bam!  The temperature took a nose dive, high winds
tore through the city, and just for good measure it
snowed, covering the promising patches of newly
exposed grass.  The result of course was ice everywhere.
Very few people took the risk of walking (those
who did wore icers like me.)  This meant the park was
almost empty except for a few dogs and some crazy
robins trying to rush the season.  Yep.  Spring is coming.
But March in Ontario can be a doozy.  So we
have to be flexible to play it either way.  I do love
February, but March holds the first day of spring.
Can't wait.

Have a-staying-flexible-and-liking-the-day day.
P.S. Happy Birthday to Zoey and to Ziggy her
sister.  Zoey we love you and we thank you for
being the greatest dog ever!!!!!