Snow | Open Space Practice, (AKA: A Thousand Shades of Gray)

We woke up to snow this morning. I knew it was coming, they’d predicted it so I wasn’t surprised. In the minutes before you woke, whined to be let out to go potty, I wondered if the ground would be too cold for your tiny feet. I started to worry, “what will I do if he won’t go potty outside?” I make elaborate plans involving the garage and a pee pad that end up being completely unnecessary.

As soon as I put you down, you bury your face in the cold white, stretch out on your belly making an upside down puppy snow angel. After you go potty, you root your nose deep like a little piglet, making crazy paths in the snow, hopping around the yard like a tiny fox, a true Colorado boy.

When you pause, sit and look up at me, I notice your ears are working hard to stand up, that you are bigger than even last night. Tomorrow it’s supposed to be 52 degrees and sunny. Both this snow and your time as a puppy will be over so soon.

1. Snow. I could do without the negative degree temperatures and ice, but snow on the ground and blue sky above is one of Colorado’s best features.

2. Snow tires and snow plows, boots and hats and gloves, Wool and Down and Gortex — all the things that make it possible to get out and around in said snow.

3. Reverb13. Such a good practice, reflecting on the year that is passing, honoring & letting it go and then contemplating where I might be headed, looking forward to the new year on its way and considering what I want.

4. Space heaters. When you want that little jolt of warm right where you are without having to heat the entire space.

5. Whoever it is that decorates the two Blue Spruce trees on the Poudre Trail at Lee Martinez Park every year.

Bonus Joy: it’s a three way tie this week between my Intuitive Eating book group, Nia (a movement, dance class I finally tried and am loving), and Sam sleeping under my desk this morning while I wrote.