Winter twilight, with the tall pines dark against the sunset, the Bay frozen quiet below, is a fine reason to live along the shores of the Great Lakes. I understand why people might prefer to be in Florida or Arizona wearing shorts. Heck, a couple of days ago I wanted to be in Florida myself. But there is something fine about a night like this one.
The light was fading fast, and it was hard to see. But the air blew fresh across dunes of fluffy snow. The dogs were having a wonderful time, just happy to be here.
I processed the next photo to within an inch of its life so that you could glimpse Miss Sadie leaping like a porpoise. The Cowboy was right behind her, tumbling ears over tailfeathers.
They got ahead of me, naturally, and bolted up the stairs at the circle access while I was still puffing along the beach below, cussing them. When I got to the top, there was Ken Shepley, stopped by the side of the road, trying to corral the runaways before they could take off into the swamp. Shepleys have heard coyotes yipping back there lately, and we all know that wild always wins.
It’s good to have neighbors. I need all the reinforcements I can get. It’s good to have a little wildness, too. A little time off-leash. Good to have a cold, fresh wind blow away the cobwebs. In the winter twilight, anything seems possible.
Torch Lake Views 
Fee
January 31, 2010
That’s a good sunset – “red sky at night, shepherd’s delight”.
Gerry
January 31, 2010
I wonder if I’m a dogherd? Which begs the question, do I need a border sheep to help me with my flock? And will a coyote try to sneak in and wreak havoc?
Preston Surface
January 31, 2010
I really enjoyed the middle photo.
Gerry
January 31, 2010
Thank you Preston. That was my favorite part of the walk.
Kathy
January 31, 2010
What a beautiful night…we are lucky to live in this place of gorgeous sunsets and white snow. (Although Florida sounds good, too.) Anything seems possible. Yes…
Gerry
January 31, 2010
There was an interesting conversation at the market tonight. Apparently there was a TV piece about a family that got tired of natural disasters, researched the subject, and moved to Michigan. I gather for them snow trumped earthquakes, mudslides and wildfires.
Cindy Lou
January 31, 2010
Your crew sounds like mine…four of them and they bounded through the woods in the sunshine yesterday. I do despair living through the depths of winter, but evenings like your and our walk in the trees make it worthwhile!
Gerry
January 31, 2010
Four?!?! I can barely manage two. Of course one of mine is a spaniel.
Katherine
January 31, 2010
Love the twilight photos!
Gerry
January 31, 2010
Thank you Katherine!
flandrumhill
February 4, 2010
Were those white pines in the first photo? We have so few of them here.
I’ve heard there’s nothing like a pair of snowpants to shake off those pesky dreams of Florida at this time of year.
Gerry
February 4, 2010
Yes, those are white pines. I love them. I wish we had more, but I’m glad we have the ones we have. My snowpants are in the wash–it’s a long story–but I have longjohns and powder pants and a good attitude. I don’t really whine about winter until March. Usually.