The bone-chilling cold stubbornly refuses to leave us. In the news this morning there was note that watermains have burst in some municipalities. It's far too cold to insist that our puppies remain out of doors when they haven't performed on schedule. And as a result the danger of treading where we would rather not increases. Doesn't help that we so love our dark marble and ceramic floors; they absorb the colour of what is left on them and we aren't always, alas, sufficiently vigilant.

Our son in Vancouver innocent regales us with stories about blossoming cherry trees. Their daytime high yesterday was 8 degrees. Unimaginable for us at the present time, when the thermometer refuses to be nudged above minus-17-shivering degrees. Toronto, usually much more weather-moderate than here, is miserable with the cold.

Decided to give the little black imps another hair shearing. Their hair grows so incredibly swiftly. Their bulk is comprised mostly of their flyaway silky hair. After their haircuts when we cleared away the mess of scattered black hair and put their little sweaters back on them, they just hang on their delicate little frames; small as the sweaters are, they themselves are still much smaller.

They're not the easiest little fellows to have becalmed and still while I'm snipping at their coats. They'd far rather romp about, and who can blame them? Although they do come running every morning when they hear me in the powder room because they don't want to miss having their eyes swabbed with cool water. That ritual is usually followed by a brushing of their haircoat, but this morning the brushing was preempted by the more intensive grooming I decided they required.

The differences in their personalities continue to be demonstrated through their actions and their antics. What they do have in common, however, is a huge eagerness to snuggle at my feet when I'm in the kitchen, chopping vegetables. Hoping for something to fall, or better yet, my hand to offer them thin strips of bell pepper. They've learned early to appreciate fresh vegetables.

Oh, who'm I kidding?! They would eat just about anything; they're ravenous scavengers par excellence!