Marty’s photo of the day #4180: Nellie and I love the cold weather (anything below 20 degrees Fahrenheit), and we are disappointed that the temps are predicted to rise above freezing later this week. Cold weather means packed snow on the gravel roads for my early morning bike rides (instead of ice after a freeze-thaw), and it also keeps the snow powdery for the cross country ski trail we have that circles the upper portion of the Essen Wildlife Refuge.

Nellie also loves winter because she can select a stick for cross-country skiing. Yes, she will find a dead tree branch, yank on it until it breaks from the tree, and then carry it along. Hey, if Mom and Dad have sticks on their feet, why shouldn’t she have a stick too?

And who could possibly resist a rousing game of snow football with the Nellie?