Birds and Dogs in the Snow

I know, snow is not a newsy worthy event by now, with the many snowstorms we've been having this winter, but I am still loving it. Today the snow is falling with large, lazy flakes, making for a muted, serene landscape. The view may be quiet and peaceful looking, but the birds are full of vim and vigor. Twenty or more Goldfinches vie for the best spots at our feeders, chasing off larger birds and getting in repeated airborne spats with one another. Our local bully, a large, confident Mourning Dove is back, claiming a one yard length of the deck railing. Whenever another bird ventures onto "his" section of railing, the Bully fluffs up to almost twice his normal size and rushes at the other bird, which hurriedly leaves. The Cardinals started their spring songs this past week, and the Titmice have been filling the air with their clarion notes for a while, so even though it looks like winter, it's starting to sound like spring.

 Stephen and I have shoveled pathways through the snow-- our "Cat in the Hat" paths, which encircle our yard, so that I can walk and the dogs run around. Petra is usually dashing full tilt ahead of me, careening off the paths to leap up trees or just plow with delight through the deep snow, while Milo trots steadily behind me, around and around and around, wagging his tail the whole time. Rowan spends much of his time "grazing" on bird seed that has spilled beneath the feeders, but he comes running any time he thinks I'm going to throw snowballs. Both Aussies loves to leap at the snow I toss aside when shoveling, and there's been plenty of that to amuse them, and even Milo gets in on the shoveling fun sometimes.