Though the bone-chilling cold has relented, the emphatically high winds have not. There's a plus side, since this day and the day before have been downright balmy, temperature rising to twelve degrees. The downside is that rain has been relentless, not the kind of weather that beckons anyone to go out and enjoy a brisk walk in the woods. In our woods in particular, given the long and steep hills which, thanks to their clay base, when wet become extremely slippery. Mind, if the forest canopy were still intact, they would provide shelter from the rain, but the canopy is now bare since we're moving steadily into December, and the combination doesn't guarantee a pleasant woodland ramble.

So, no walk yesterday for us or for our two little charges. And they detest rain. It's all we can do to persuade Jillie to come out for a pee break, when needed. She was given to hiding under the family room coffee table, and more latterly just turns over on her back, baring her underside apologetically, when we advise  her it's time to go out. And then one of us picks her up and carries her down the stairs of the deck to pop her under the deck where she can stay relatively dry. Jack dutifully follows, and then erupts out of the shelter under the deck and bravely performs. Neither of them are the least bit anxious to remain outside. Romp about in the rain? Are you completely insane?

Although, on the other hand, as soon as they're indoors, haircoat damp, their enthusiasm for dashing madly about has been renewed and they stampede through the house in a flurry of movement, one chasing the other, stopping long enough to challenge one another to a boxing match, before returning to the chase again.

As for us, we can always find things to do to keep busy and after I'd finished baking an apple pie, putting on a chicken soup to cook, and prepared a bread dough, I decided to go out to the front garden to do a little gardening. Yes, in the pouring rain. Wearing a hooded rainjacket, of course. Gardening? Well, since the temperature is so yielding, I thought to pull some weeds. Not weeds exactly, but fresh green shoots that have germinated thanks to the bird feeder above attracting fly-bys and area birds to take their pick of daily sustenance.

Yes, for certain the oncoming months of icy cold, snow and ice will put 'finished' to these new growing garden volunteers, but just in case they manage to somehow persevere and return come spring ....