After over a week of summer-like weather we were abruptly plunged back into late winter. An utterly miserable day, heavily overcast, windy and bone-chilling cold. Our ravine walk was not quite as pleasant as it usually tends to be. After which we decided to drive downtown to visit Byward Market. with a particular goal, since in this type of weather strolling about the Market is no more pleasurable than strolling the ravine, with the inclemency of atmosphere.

The drive there, on the Eastern Parkway, was pleasant enough. Our passage along there two weeks earlier showed the Ottawa River frozen over, ice fishing huts still in place. Yesterday, the river was completely clear of ice; what a difference a few weeks makes, when nature decides to change the prevailing and anticipated weather for something completely different.

Canada geese were busy on the banks of the river, picking among the grasses for tidbits, grooming themselves; regal looking birds, fascinating to watch.

And we saw the usual area approaching the Governor-General's residence, which boasts the earliest show of crocuses, apart from east-facing lawns of Parliament Hill, in full bloom, with bursts of yellow and purple, not as full as they should be, the flowers reacting to the dark gloom of the day.

Striding through the Market, we carry our two little dogs in shoulder bags. It was busy enough, a popular area for people to walk about in, with a wide choice of boutique-type shopping available, as well as a large number of cafes, all popular with the young and the hip. For us, however, it was first to the magazine shop for art and antique magazines, and then over to a cheese shop we've long shopped at, where a wide array of specialty cheeses burden the shelves, at very amenable prices.

And then we headed back home, mission accomplished.