In an unusual winter such as this is proving to be, when it seems infinitely more sensible to admire the out-of-doors  through the windows of a warm and comfortable home than to forge out into it, you can easily slip into the trap of valuing comfort above the existential need of getting out, moving about, using your physical faculties and treating your aesthetic ones by confronting the cold and the wind, in the process admiring the landscape that is a vital part of your very being.

Looking out to the exterior world from the interior of personal comfort lends itself to remaining indoors. After all, what are you really missing? You can see the glory of nature, the winter sun electrifying the atmosphere with its faint hint of warmth, casting its bright essence on the soft puffiness of new snow, the street you live on cushioned in  the latest layer of snowfall, and all is still, not a person to be seen anywhere, just puffs of white smoke lifting into the blue sky from rooftop chimneys. Why bother exerting yourself?

 And then, a glance at two little dogs' perturbation over enforced indoor stay when they're bursting with enthusiasm to be out there, in the snow, negligent of the wind that, together, in the space of less than five minutes has them lifting their tender little paws when you do take them out to the backyard where  you've assiduously shovelled snow off the walkways to make getting about more convenient for them. So they can race madly after one another, stop to tussle and emit their little grunts of satisfaction at landing a 'punch' here and there in their puppy way.

Finally you look inward to realize that you're restless too, something integral to the day's satisfaction is missing and that element is your daily jaunt in the woods, so accessible, forever beckoning, and you decide it's time to head out. Girding yourself against the cold you put on everything of your winter outdoor garb needed to make the cold and the wind tolerable, along with cleats strapped over your winter boots. Winter boots for the little dogs too, along with their winter jackets and harnesses. And off you go.

To note happily that the incessant rain of the day before last hadn't at all diminished the snowpack measurably, and that the 18 cm of snow that had followed as the temperature plunged back to what has become 'normal' this year in a flash freeze, returned to -20C. The excursion is pleasant, your little dogs are enthused beyond measure, flashing here and there as they race about, their black haircoats against the pure white snow commas flashing on another page of another day. And the bonus, only losing two boots apiece in the process!