My walks with Zinnia have resumed, now that some of the ice has melted.

They have taken on a healing and spiritual dimension, we walk silently in beautiful woods and on a clear path.

Today, there was a lot of ice left on the path, the walk was tricky for me, but Zinnia was in her element. It was worth the dancing around.

We finally got out to the lake, and she just sailed out on the ice, dancing, and spinning, sticking her nose into puddles.

We walk silently, few words are necessary. It is a good way for me to think, to sort things out. My head is a crazy people, it rarely rests, but on these walks, I am as peaceful as I get.

She darts from one side of the path to the other, finding scents and signs I can’t see or know. She always keeps an eye on me, and never wanders far off.

When we got to the lake the sky opened up and I was surprised by the beautiful sky,  churning and stirring.

The sun was fighting to come, out peeking through the clouds, pushed by a heavy wind.

I expected an angel to come soaring out of the clouds in a chariot, racing across the sky.

We both love this spot, in the summer I imagine it will be full of people swimming and fishing, but today it was all ours. Zinnia loves to walk, every dozen yards or so, she simply takes off in joyous burst and runs a wide circle around me.

She is tired, sleeping in my study next to me, snoring peacefully in the gathering dusk.

In a few weeks, she’ll be plunging into that water, chasing sticks and rubber balls.