Our feeding stations have continued to be busy. In the early morning hours, the mourning doves tend to come around regularly, about a half-dozen or so. We've been seeing the occasional downy or hairy woodpecker, usually busy at the suet, but going as well to the tall bird feeder. And then there are crowds of slate-back juncoes, and chickadees, occasional nuthatches and little groups of goldfinches. Once in awhile various sparrows come by, and redpolls as well. The cardinals come along regularly, so our daily visitors continue apace.

Jack and Jill haven't yet noticed any of our visitors. Though there's plentiful squirrel activity at the feeders. They haven't yet acquired a curiosity of what goes on outside the house, perhaps because there's so much to explore in the interior. I have tried to alert them from time to time, and on at least one occasion Jill was suddenly arrested in her frantic run-abouts in the backyard, watching a squirrel making its way along the back fence. Unfamiliar things tend to startle and frighten her; not so with Jack.

Twice this week so far we've seen a cottontail on the porch, nibbling at the feeding station there. It doesn't look as large as the rabbit we used to see last winter; this one looks smaller, and its ears look longer, but that could be illusory, the product of faulty memory. The raccoons haven't been seen at the feeders for more than a month. They're likely in hibernation mode.

Somewhat like us, in fact, since our daily excursions into the ravine for vigorous winter hikes have been curtailed with the presence of two small puppies when the daytime high temperature dips well below minus-ten degrees Celsius. Although we could very well just leave them secure within their playpen -- which they enter for rest periods on their own frequently, and don't seem to mind when we leave them at least once weekly to do the grocery shopping -- we don't.

They've gained a pound each in the short time they've been with us. A staggering amount of added weight for a toy breed, although they're definitely on the large side of the sliding scale size and weight for toy poodles. I've stopped giving them their kibble three times daily. I've added small amounts of home-cooked chicken in the evening to their dinner meal.

And instead of the mid-day meal I've given them salads, so far consisting of chopped broccoli, green and red bell pepper. They're so voracious they'll eat anything that's put before them. But at least with the salads, they eat far more slowly, taking the time to actually chew the small-size bits I've cut finely and placed in their bowls.