Katie here.

It’s been a mild winter here in Michigan. There’s been hardly any snow which I personally find very disappointing. I’m a sheltie and I love the snow, as long as it’s not higher than my tummy. And as long as my folks plow me a potty path. I am, after all, a princess.

Anyway, the last couple of nights it’s snowed here! Just the perfect amount too! And then the most amazing thing happened. The sun came out! We haven’t seen the sun in weeks and weeks, maybe even 10 dog years! Mama got all excited and told me that we could not waste a day like this.

So she grabbed her camera and me and we hustled it over to one of my favorite parks!

I got to walk on my trail through the woods. We were the first ones out there that morning and I trotted off, nose to ground so excited to be out in my woods. Mama kept saying ‘easy easy baby’ but I ignored her. Especially when we were going down hills.

She finally just dropped my leash so she could protect the camera as she inched her way down the bigger hills. I had to wait for her a whole bunch. Mama is sort of slow.

I got to do a lot of running too. Mama didn’t always get great pictures of me, what with all the shadows from the big tall trees, but I had a blast anyway.

Oh – I have a new policy! I’ve let my mama know she’s only got one chance to get her shot. I’ll pose for her, cause I know she’s got treats. But once I hear that camera click I’m going to get right up and trot straight up to her and expect payment. One shot, one treat. That’s the way it’s going to be mama. Get used to it.

Anyway, after we’d walked a long way back into the woods mama said her hands were cold and we needed to turn around. I said ‘no way mama!’ but she turned around and headed back. I hung around for a bit but then I remembered she had all the treats, so I ran after her. I’m a smart princess.

We got to this one place where the trail hangs on to the edge of a sandy hill that has a big gouge in it from when it rains. It’s sort of tricky to get over in the summer and now it was covered in snow. I jumped right over, but mama hesitated, and then her foot slipped and she flung her bad arm up in the air to catch her balance and that hurt a bunch and she yelled, and I jerked the leash in her other hand just at exactly the right moment and pulled her over to my side safe and sound. She said ‘good job baby!’ But I could tell her shoulder really really hurt. She said she needed to get home to get some aspirin.

But that didn’t happen right away.

On the way out of the park there is a stop sign at an intersection at the bottom of a big hill. Mama slowed down to make the corner and then she couldn’t get the car to go up that big hill! So she figured she’d back up and get a better running start at it. And as she backed up she slid right off the road. So then we were truly stuck!

I suggested we just go for another nice walk until the snow melted. But she called my daddy instead and he came out with shovels and snow melt. It took a long time. I stayed very very quiet in my crate in the back of the car. I know when to keep my mouth shut, yes I do. Eventually daddy pushed and mama drove and we got going and crept up that stupid hill and made it home safe and sound.

It was a great adventure, even with the little misstep at the end. I’m glad we went. Mama is too, but we’re both pretty grateful to daddy for coming and saving us!

I know you are all enjoying any sun you get to see. We hope it sticks around here for awhile. Some people in other parts of the country have been hogging the sun and we’re glad they finally decided to share it with us!

I’m off to take a nap now, talk to you all later!

Your gal Katie.