After a week of truly morose weather; gloomy, overcast, freezing rain mixed with ice pellets and miserable winds, the temperature dropped last night to minus-7-degrees Celsius, capping off the week in winter-style.  But then, this morning, we awoke to bright sunshine, and the ambient temperature at the freezing mark.  An improvement over what we've gone through in previous days.

And our little Riley was beside himself with happiness.  Happiness for Riley is luxuriating in the sun.  The moment he is aware that there is sun, he seeks to bathe himself in it, whether in the house, or outside.  For a period of time sunshine streams into the house through the dining room windows and that is where he parks himself.  As soon as the sun is gone from the front of the house he agitates to be allowed out to sit on the deck, in the sun.

And that's fine if it's mild enough, but the temperature had only risen to plus-two-degrees when he insisted on being allowed to go out on the deck.  So, out he went, finding himself a comfortable, full-sun exposure.  He was, it is true, wearing a little orange coat to retain his body warmth, but even so, a light wind ruffling his ears, it was much too cool yet to be out there.  So he lasted about ten minutes, then reluctantly agreed to re-enter the house.

This ritual will continue throughout spring, but balmier days are ahead and he'll be afforded the opportunity to bask in them.