This past Tuesday, New York was hit by a massive east coast storm that was supposed to bury us in snow, but halfway through, the snow turned to sleet and the world froze. I slid across the walkways in the dark, when the dogs had to go out to pee. The next morning, the maintenance guys came back and salted the sidewalks and broke up the ice in the parking lot, but they left the backyard as it was and we have had an ice rink ever since. Butterfly is in love. Cricket may be a snow bunny, but Butterfly, it turns out, is an ice skater. Her ice rink is bumpy and often runs uphill, and she has to skate around various impediments, but that only seems to make it more of an adventure.
Surveying the territory
Testing the ice
Going on an adventure
and returning
Happy.
Cricket has been more circumspect about the whole thing. She has found it impossible to dig into this strange version of snow, and has had no luck removing leaves from their icy casings. She sniffs huge clumps of snow for signs of pee and birdseed, but she spends most of her time on the edges of the ice, ready to return to solid ground at any moment. But every once in a while, she lets loose, jumping and spinning and leaping across the ice, while her sister placidly skates along nearby. They meet up to check in, sniffing each other’s noses and ears, before going their own ways again.
“What is this stuff?”
“Wheee!”
“Whoohooo!”
“And a two-footed landing!”
But it’s Butterfly who is loving this new ice world. No matter how far out she goes, and no matter how high she climbs, she leaves no foot prints, and I’m realizing that, for years, she must have felt unsteady walking on the grass, and now, with ice under her feet, she finally feels secure.
Butterfly, in her own world.
rachelmankowitz 
Love the pics of your dogs! Too cute!
Thank you!
Great action photos!!!
Thank you!
I can relate to Butterfly. I feel useless on my two clumsy feet at times but put me on ice on a sliver of blade and I’m good to go. Glad you didn’t get the horrific snowfall that was predicted but the ice can be just as dangerous. Sounds like you all made the most of it! The World Championships are next weekend in Helsinki… maybe the girls are channeling their inner ice queens in anticipation!
Butterfly is totally ready for Worlds! I’m thinking of strapping ice cubes onto her paws the rest of the year, to make her feel more comfortable.
This is your day! 🌟✨💫
Your dogs are darling!
Thank you!
I love the plunge into the snow. These are great shots. Looks like fun fur all.
Thank you!
Such beautiful post… the photographs are joyful and “warm” despite the weather 😀
Thank you so much!
We didn’t even get a single day of snow this winter… I’m going to keep all four paws crossed that we get some snow next winter! I blame mum for having her supply of grit & salt at the ready, she should have left it in the garage.
Your pups look like they have such fun in the snow, I’m very jealous!
Clearly, your Mum should have left the salt at the store. Better yet, go outside in shorts and a t-shirt, then the snow would come down hard.
Hi
Nice post! I’ve made a post about ice so if you have time and will please go and check it out! If you like it pls follow me, I follow you.
Thank you! 🙂