No morning is satisfactorily completed without a post-breakfast roundabout in the garden. Jack and Jill are taken out to the backyard multiple times every morning. They cannot yet conceive of asking to be let out, of going out on their own recognizance as it were, to conduct any personal business without our being present and themselves initiating the procedure.

They do linger at the sliding glass doors in anticipation of being taken out, not of being allowed out on their own. They wait at the door for us to exit alongside them. When we don't, their interest in exiting the house is extinguished. When we do step out with them they're joyously exuberant, anxious to examine everything in view and whatever isn't in view.

They've both taken lately to relishing the new growth on one particular Alberta spruce tree that grows at the bottom of the rock garden; its tender new green appears to them, evidently an especially delicious morsel. It's beyond difficult to convince them otherwise. Their appetite for the strangest things continues to baffle us.

So we did the rounds this morning, as we do every morning, other than days when rain is too intense to hazard such an inspection without becoming completely drenched. Besides which, neither of them is fond of the rain, and Jillie will do just about anything to avoid having to go out during a downpour; not that we can blame her.

They've now grown accustomed to anticipating a prowl around the front of the house, as well. Under fairly strict supervision, given their propensity to dash beyond the lawn if they see anyone walking down the street. They appear to believe that it is their given duty to apprise complete strangers of their presence, to be friendly and neighbourly. And it's this penchant we're on guard for, even though ours is a very quiet street, with very little traffic.

When they're in the throes of such excitement they're not all that likely to heed our instructions to 'stop!' and 'wait!', so while pleading with them to return to our property it's necessary for us to run after them, scoop them up and bring them back. Needless to say they have no trouble outrunning us.

And if we scold them they reciprocate by enthusiastically licking our faces.