Another beautiful day. Maggie and I carried on longer than originally intended, and half way through I wished I’d worn a lighter coat. Or no coat at all. Walked up to the muskrat pond along the power line, although we failed to lure any muskrats from their swampy dens. The pond is frozen over, the cattails stuck in their autumnal repose. It was lovely.

Maggie, currently snoring on the couch beside me, pounced several times on some unseen creature in the tall grass, but thankfully came up empty-pawed. I suspect she would be as horrified as I’d be if she ever caught anything. It’s all about the chase, about exercising her inner coyote.

The spikes on my crampons continued their magical performance on the ice. There was plenty of clear path today, but I chose to walk along the slippery edges. It’s all about the invinciblity, about exercising my inner Edmund Hillary.

1:30PM/8C

What a weird winter. And how strange that I haven’t fallen on my face. A continual spray of ice on the sidewalks, melting and freezing in the above zero temperatures, crusted on the little snow we do have like cerulean crème brûlée. Today I unpacked my crampons, the strap-on kind. Strap-on crampons. They worked beautifully on the sea of pock-marked ice at the power-line. Maggie slipped more than I did, in spite of her own built-in crampons. After awhile, I felt so over confident in my ability to stay upright, I wandered onto a monkey trail, with a steep incline. I grabbed onto a kindly spruce for stability, but I let go quickly…I didn’t need it.

Even the downhill part was without incident. Why’d I wait so long to strap those things onto my boots? I even forgot I had them. Last year, there was so much snow the ice was a non-issue until much later in the season. It’s awfully nice to walk along the streets and not have to brace for a fall. Great workout for the core, but hellishly distracting. I forget to exhale.

Maggie and I spent about an hour in Whitemud Creek. She doesn’t seem at all distressed by the ice, or the knife-edged snow. Nevertheless, I’m hoping for some more of the white stuff…a lot more. This is stupid, and I’m annoyed that we’re having to deal with the worst part of spring in the middle of winter. Lovely day, though. Sunny, and warm.

Thank you strap-on crampons.

3:35/2C

A much-need romp in the woods with the dog. Nice day…yesterday. Lots of sun and warmth. Just getting around to writing about it now as my packed schedule of eating and visiting (not necessarily in that order) has interfered with my journalling. Was going to walk in the river valley along my old trails in Mill Creek this morning, but the wind is blowing something fierce and my skin is not in the mood for a dermabrasion. Good day to stay inside, ruminate about the closing of 2011 and make plans to do…oh I don’t know…better stuff in 2012. Also, eat. And visit. I despair at my lack of communing with nature in the latter months of this year. So few long walks, and almost nothing at all during weekdays. I’ve lost touch with the river. I no longer interact with the birds. From a walking/fitness/nature point of view, it’s been a strange four months.

I’m not who I was.

However, my temporarily altered walking life has improved in one major respect-I now have a dog to accompany me on my strolls through the woods. It’s hard to imagine a more joyful walking companion. Maggie, you’re the best.

Here’s to 2012!

-2C/2:10PM

The day before the day before…

A gorgeous day for a walk in the woods with my favourite doggie. Peace on earth, and parts of Whitemud Creek.

4:02PM/6C

No words can describe how beautiful it was in Whitemud Creek today. My camera could not capture it. And yes, I am blaming my camera. After a busy weekend, a walk with the dog in the woods after a night of fat-flaked snow was exactly the right thing for my depleted soul, as it was too early in the morning for another gin & tonic. With the temperatures hovering around zero for most of December, the ‘pretty’ snow was long gone, leaving exposed ice and brown grass. Nothing lovely about that, but the snow last night has made everything gorgeous again. In fact, the trail along the creek this morning was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen some fantastic scenery in my life, very recently in fact, but nothing stirs me more deeply than a forest in snow. All the branches were leaning in toward the trail, heavy with frost, creating a canopy of sparkling white against the blue sky. It was extraordinary. Maggie was in heaven leaping through the snow, plowing the fresh flakes with her snout. I was with her all the way, metaphorically.

2:00PM/-1C

Deep into the sloth portion of December. Not for lack of things to do, but because of it. Swamped, in other words, and the walks have been few and far between. Nevertheless, in between baking my annual batch of chocolate gingerbread, and preparations for a small get together tonight, Maggie and I slipped out for an hour’s frolic in Whitemud Creek. Wonderful. A little windy, but otherwise perfect for walking. -5C is my favourite winter walking temperature; no sweat, no slush, no hat. Had the creek to ourselves, so Maggie was off leash the entire time. Other than the peeing in snow and eating rabbit shit, I’d like to change places with her for a moment while we’re walking. She is just so happy.

Looking forward to 10 days off at Christmas. Oh boy.

-5C/12:30