A Quiet Evening Walk Before the Snow

 Dixie Leading the Way as Daylight Fades

Walking the dog tonight, I caught a great photo of Dixie leaning into me, almost like she was saying thanks for one last decent winter walk before the snow rolls in. If dogs can sense the weather turning, she definitely felt it—she was buzzing with excitement the whole way. We stopped by the river to check the water level, and it was higher than I expected, the ice completely gone. This time of year, that water is deathly cold, so I made sure to loop the leash around her before we got too close. She listened right away, no fuss, just that quiet trust she always gives. She’s a good dog, through and through.

Up on the edge of the coulee, we paused for a quick photo in the last bit of daylight, the sky fading out faster than I expected. I’ve stopped tracking Dixie’s active minutes, but part of me knows it would push me to get out for more walks again. I might go back to a month‑to‑month subscription, though the tracker looks huge on her, and I always wonder what she thinks of wearing it for so long. Still, she didn’t seem to mind tonight—just happy to be out, taking in the cold air and the view with me.

I tried getting a photo of Dixie by the river and along the bank, but she wasn’t having any of it—she just wanted to stay glued to my side. Honestly, I didn’t mind; it made the whole walk feel even more connected. We had a really delightful time together, just moving through the cold air and checking out the water. Popson Park even surprised me with a parking upgrade since I was last there—at least a dozen new spots and a couple of handicap spaces too. It’s wonderful to see the place getting a bit of love.

On our way back, I snapped a quick photo as Dixie went off leash again—once we were well away from the water. She took full advantage of it, bolting up the trail so she could sniff everything and claim the lead like she always does. Watching her run ahead in the fading light felt like the perfect end to the walk, just her doing what she loves while I followed along behind.