a COLD winter's day

It is below freezing here as it has been all weekend, and Marielle is insistent on playing outside. After a bit of cajoling on my part to get her to wear a winter coat, instead of her "cape", she hustles out the door, to be greeted promptly by Buck, our big yellow dog. Meanwhile, Im helping Genevieve finish up her lunch inside, but watching from our big windows in the sunroom into the (fenced-in)backyard. When Marielle vanishes from my sight, I go out to check on her. I find her with her back toward me standing right up next to the fence. Though unable to hear her, I can tell that she is talking to herself, with her hands covering her eyes. Suddenly, she turns around and bolts across the yard, until she finds Buck at his frozen water bowl. After a few minutes of trying to help obtain some water, she returns to her post and begins this canine hide-and-seek game all over again. If only Buck knew how much this girl loves him. If only Marielle knew that playing with a dog all day long wasnt what all her friends were doing. Oh well, at least they are happy together.