
In my defense, I have to say, "I've been a bit walkie deprived as "It is the Season". You pups know what I mean. It happens at every dogs house that celebrates Christmas. It starts off with all the crates and tubs littering your living room floor to where it becomes an absolute maze trying to get from one end of the room to the other. It progresses from there to the rest of your home. Go ahead tell me it's like this at your house too right? The holiday season even spills over into our walkie time. Meaning we can sometimes get less of them, or at least I have been shorted on that front here lately.
So when I say I slid down part of the trail on my nose you understand why. I was anxious to catch up on what had been going on in the woods with my friends. Mom and I startled a doe and her fawn looking for bits of something green to eat on the edge of the forest. In the distance we could hear the raucous voices of the crows, squabbling over who knows what. I found a wonderful fragrance in the dead leaves I wanted to wear. I smeared it on the side of my face so I could catch a whiff every now and then when I moved my head just right. So far things were perfect.
My walk carried me out into the field where the warm sun was like a welcome blanket after the cool of the woods. The sky the beautiful Carolina blue that NC is famous for. I soon found the trail of a rabbit and was far too absorbed to notice the pair of geese gliding across the amber water of the pond. The trails of their paddling making a silver path in the deep dark waters. The gentle lowing of the cattle a few farms away lost to my ears as well.
I cast to and fro frantically searching for a clue as to the location of this elusive tormentor of my soul. I was certain I could feel him staring at me from some hidden location with a wry smile on his smug face. This only served to spur me on to search harder for my nemesis. After determining that Mr. Rabbit had left no real clues to his current location I told Mom it was time to take our hike deep into the forest.
This is our favorite time during our walks. Moving closer to the head of the trail suddenly there's a "leaf dance" that begins as we get to the edge of the field. Mom says a "leaf dance" is the sign that Angels are walking by. As suddenly as it starts the leaves fall to the ground. Now we hear the rattle of the dead brown leaves hanging in the trees blowing in the gentle breeze. Indeed the Angels were walking through the forest.
It's peaceful walking the trail through the woods. The sunlight making a dappled pattern on the leaf covered forest floor. The antique beige leaves of the Birch tree a beautiful contrast to the deep rich tones of winter evergreens. There was the occasional nervous chirping of the snowbirds that visit for our warmer winters.No doubt refueling after their long flights.
It was a long slow walk as I knew that once I get back to our little house in the woods Mom's Christmas preparations would start again and I Molly would take a much needed nap. Dreaming of doggy treats under the tree, and new toys to destuff.
Love, Molly and my Mom