Paw prints in the snow…

January 11, 2010

The snow that came down a few days ago was light and fluffy, landing as soft as feathers. It covered the dirty snow and pathways, the black driveway and the car’s tire tracks. I love that kind of snow; it makes everything look clean and sparkly.

 My husband was eager to get out and shovel snow, but I told him to wait, or to shovel the neighbour’s driveway first. I got dressed warm and grabbed my camera and headed outside. First to the backyard where small animal prints made a pattern across the yard next to the cedar trees.

Being careful not to make too many tracks of my own, I walked along the side of the workshop as close to the building as I dared, then figured out my site line so I could get enough natural light and capture the prints. The snow is not nearly as deep as it seems. I think some small rabbit with long legs made the trek across the yard, in search of what, I don’t know.

 After getting backyard photos, I walked to the front yard  and took one with the sun behind me. Standing in that place, my body cast long shadows across the yard, making me look the giant that I’m not. The snow is deeper here, for these plants in my raised bed were nearly 10 inches high.

 Once I had all the pictures I wanted of the clean, unprinted snow, I resisted the urge to make a snow angel and opted for shovelling the driveway. By this time, my husband had already cleaned one of our neighbour’s driveways and was on to the next one. I shovelled the light snow easily and tossed it across onto the bank alongside the driveway.

 The air had a bit of nip to it, but not as bitter as it had been a few days previous.  The snow was indeed as light as it seemed; the task took some time but was quite enjoyable.  When I finished my task, I went indoors refreshed and ready for breakfast. It would have been a good day for a walk, but I had other tasks awaiting. There’ll be more snow like this.