Roxie is unbothered by the cold, unless the temperature is under 25℉. When it’s that cold, she heads out with her typical full head of steam but without the booties she refuses to wear. Roxie trots about 40 yards and stops, right foreleg raised, as if she is a pointer. She will not put her paw down, will not move. The only solution is for me to carry her back inside.

Roxie has never minded snow but this is the first time that, when she squats to do her business, the snow touches her butt. She leaps up and cancels her plans. There was one 24-hour period I thought she would burst.

The benefit of two weeks of cold and deep snow is that Roxie has been forced to adjust. We both have. When she positions herself to squat, I reach the toe of my boot between her rear legs to flatten the snow. Now, she not only tolerates her booties but lifts her forelegs as I pull them on and pull the Velcro tight. Lifts them again as I unwrap the Velcro and pull them off.

We’re proof that it’s possible to teach an old dog—two old dogs—new tricks.

It snowed again today, big fat flakes. It was nice to be able to appreciate it, knowing Roxie and I can both handle cold and snow.

Chewing the Cud of Good

Thankful for these, on my kitchen counter, so improbable in this cold.