New York Winter

That's it - it looks like winter is officially here.  No more of those fluke 65-and-sunny days are forecasted.  The wind has been whipping around like crazy, making it feel even colder than it already is.  More windy days are in the forecast, and tonight the RealFeel is estimated to be a whopping 6 degrees.  

Nevertheless, I suited up in multiple layers and even a hood and gloves (two things I barely ever wear) because Marge really needed a good, long walk.  

We extended our usual route to the beach, walking a little farther in almost all directions.  It was about an hour long, and spanned at least two miles. 

Marge pranced through the grass, completely unfazed by the cold and wind, and scoured her environment for things to sniff.  I cannot emphasize enough how different she becomes when the weather is cold and she's itching for exercise.

As we made our way closer to the beach, we passed the deserted swings, basketball courts, and playgrounds.  I'm pretty sure this is the only time in Marge's life where she's ever gotten to explore here, because, as you can imagine, there are teems of scary things here during the warm months.

Just minutes later, we reached the sand. It was so dry compared to our last few visits after rain storms that it almost reminded me of a desert. Marge was anxious to round the bend and run across the long strip of beach beyond that grass, but I always rein her in first and make sure that no one is there. It's a popular spot for offleash dogs.

We were in luck. There was no one in sight, so the fun began.

The water behind her looked wild, grey, and frigid.  The waves weren't high, but they looked very strong.

We walked along the beach some more, reaching a point where we could climb up the sand wall and reach the paved paths through the woods.  Though I don't enjoy it nearly as much as our secluded hikes, it's still a nice place to have within walking distance.

Here, she leads the way.  Almost all of my videos of Marge are from agility practice, so I thought this was something different.  

We reached the field just a few minutes later, en route to our house. Her ears stood straight up as I called her to me.

She lunged outward as I threw a treat for her into the grass.  It's one of her favorite games to play, and, during the summer, keeps her occupied so she doesn't focus on the activity going on around her.

One more shot before we crossed the street for home.

We reached home and I was frozen.  Marge, of course, still had more in the tank.  I'm sure that very shortly after this is posted she'll be jumping all over me, wagging her tail and poking me with her wet nose in an attempt to get me out the door yet again.