Yes, we are lucky...

Like many places in our country, winter has arrived here with a roar. The past week has been cold, snowy, and windy. Both Shyla and I are adapting to the cold. It's always hardest during the first very cold days.

When the air temperature is below zero, we try not to stay still for too long. If we do, my fingers and her paws get cold.

So, we run and pedal, keeping the blood flowing to our extremities.

This is how Shyla tells me that her paws are getting cold. She holds one up off the snowy ground. When she does that, I know that it's time to get moving again.

There is something that I love about the harshness of our mountains in the winter. Although it's a silly thing in the larger scheme of the world, I love the challenge of being out in the elements and thriving. After all, the coyotes, bobcats, mountain lions, and even hibernating bears never can escape into heated houses like we can.

Ah, the warmth of a sun puddle after a run in the freezing cold. We know how lucky we are.