Purple Finches

7 p.m. is dark enough that Whip is hard to see on the nightly constitutional.   Not usually an issue.  She likes to trot well ahead  but waits for me at the box elder tree.  Problem is if she finds an interesting smell before she gets there.  She stops to investigate and I stumble over her.   The albedo of snow lightens everything up but snow-covered ground is still a few months away.  Moonlight helps - unless it's New Moon or overcast.  Then I remembered the coat from Connie and Dan!  It has lights built into it.  Might be too warm for her yet but she'll only be wearing it when we go out in the dark.  Tonight the task at hand was to get her front legs through the appropriate holes, her head through the middle opening and zip it up along the side.  She was a wriggling mess but after a couple of failed tries she decided to sit and lick my face while I suited her up.  Then it was just a matter of pressing a button on top and there she was - outlined in running lights.  I let her outside while I put on a hoodie and grabbed my walking stick.  Usually I whistle for her to join me as I start out but was laughing too hard to successfully purse my lips.  Anyway, worked perfectly and, with time, getting her outfitted will get easier.