White Chocolate

My new(ish) dog, Pip, learned about one of nature's oldest tricks today. That's right, it was her first snow! Always cavalier, she sauntered into the frozen back yard she had thought memorized just hours before, turned to look at me and then, in a sudden flash, took off bounding, hopping, digging, now digging out toys, licking, eating ice, jumping, jumping on me, inspecting snow noises, inspecting snow smells until, just as suddenly, she held up her half-frozen paws, first one then another, another and the last other and I called her to come into the warm apartment.

We are hosting a hot cocoa todo tonight. Sweet, wonderful hot chocolate.

We can hardly wait.