Pongo and the patch of snow

There is a patch of snow in the corner of the garden that, according to all available evidence, is the most interesting patch of snow in Switzerland. I have done extensive fieldwork. I can confirm this with some authority.

What the snow contains

The snow contains: a stick (exciting), some other dog’s smell (concerning), a single pinecone (mine now), and — on one memorable afternoon — a glove that presumably belonged to a child but has been reclassified as “evidence”. I’ve been guarding the evidence for three days. Nothing has happened yet. I remain vigilant.

Methodology

I approach the patch slowly, from an unexpected angle, so that it doesn’t have time to rearrange itself into something less interesting. Then I do a thorough perimeter sniff (anticlockwise, always anticlockwise) and finish with what my humans call “the dig”, which is a highly scientific technique for revealing what is underneath the snow. Mostly it’s more snow. Occasionally it’s dirt. Once it was a frog, and that was an absolute day.

I have filed this report from inside the laundry basket, where I have retired to consider the findings. More updates as events warrant.