A Walk in the Park

We took the dogs for a long overdue walk in the park today visiting our favorite area known as Cottonwood Meadows. We go here because it's only used as a reservable picnic site, mostly in the summer, by families who want a big space for a family reunion or whatever. When it's not being used the rangers keep it locked up so visitors can't drive back into the parking area. Over the past few years this site has become known as an unofficial dog park - by word of mouth, dog lovers have begun to use this out-of-the-way quiet place as a dog-walking area. Many of us let our dogs run free without leashes and nobody much minds. Once in a while we come across someone who freaks out when they see the dogs running towards them - what they don't realize, however, is that our dogs could care less about THEM, they're only in pursuit of the sights and smells of the park. We come across many of the same people with their dogs on our visits and all the dogs seem to get along just fine as they roam in the great outdoors.

The 3 T's (dogs) have an uncanny sixth sense that tunes them in to our preparations to go to the "P" (we can't say the word "Park" out loud - they know what it means). When they hear the rattle of the leashes it's all over - they get whipped up into a canine frenzy, yipping and yapping and dashing around the house like fools. They know what's going on! They pace and jump and bark by the side gate until I let them out to run to the car.

On the way to the park the chaos continues - three dogs in the back of the Tracker, whining, yelping with excitement, trying to look out the window. We must look somewhat like one of those circus cars as we make the (thankfully) short drive to Cottonwood Meadows.

As we pull into the drive to Cottonwood Meadows the dogs get really spastic, so we get out of the car as quickly as we can and set them free. They take off running, sniffing, dancing with glee because they're at the park! We hike up a side path that takes us through the woods and eventually into an enormous open field that's kept partially mowed. This is actually privately owned property adjacent to the park but it all blurs together and makes a great walk. The field is mowed around the perimeter, so we can walk a couple of laps around, the dogs racing ahead, then behind, dodging in and out of the woods along the path. They're in doggie heaven!

As much as I dislike winter - the cold weather, the sunless days, the bare trees and empty gardens - I have to admit that's there's still some natural beauty to be found. When we walk through the woods in the winter there's a whole new landscape to ponder - we can see all the way through the trees for quite a distance, we notice the gentle slope of the terrain, up and down ... it's all in shades of brown, gray and silver, with the occasional moment of color to be found. Bright green moss, yellow and red berries, purple-blue vines, a blue winter sky. It's all there in the small places that you really have to look for ... not the "in your face" colors of the spring and summer seasons, but there to be enjoyed nonetheless. Here's what I saw today.

There's beauty to be found everywhere, in every season, if we just slow down, open our eyes and enjoy what's right under our noses. The simple things in life, like talking the dogs for a walk in the park are really the best things in life.