Now that seasonal snowfalls occur with the regularity they are appreciated for at this time of year in high expectations for a white, very white-mounded Christmas, the forested ravine abutting our street has become a magical atmosphere once again. Far more impressive and appreciated than what light-technology can conjure up when people decorate their home exteriors in Christmas celebration.

And you never know what you can encounter in the woods, as you perambulate along looking here and there for micro-landscapes that delight. Our companion puppies delight in this environment even more than we do, judging from their exuberant antics, lending a comedic air to the awe-inspiring change we witness year after year in our natural surroundings at this time of seasonal change.

Watching them challenge one another to races up and down the trails, into the woods in chase of squirrels and in Jackie's case, anything that moves, including wind-driven dried foliage, would lift anyone's mood from pensive to hilarity. Jackie's light-weight frame carries him further, faster than Jillie, although she does her best to keep up with him, and cannot. His frolicking leaps of joy and expressions of liberty from the bonds that keep us fully anchored to the forest floor have him leaping gracefully into the air covering amazing ground. Despite which he never gets carried away to the extent that he isn't aware where we are, looking back regularly to ensure we are still in sight.

Several days ago I came across a vision of winter-beauty owing more to human perfection than the snow-bowered trees. A young woman, no more than 17, I would judge, walking with grace and elegance despite toque, mittens, scarf, knee-high boots and snug winter jacket. Her dark-blond hair descended in endlessly long curls around her angelic face, her perfect lips wide in smiling greeting, her eyes sparkling with mischief and life. She looked like a Norman Rockwell rendition of a Winter Faerie, but it would have embarrassed her to be told this, though later I regretted in our conversation not remarking on her appearance.

A day later, an even more remarkable sighting that made my heart leap with joy. As we exited the ravine, there was the most beloved sight in the world waiting to greet us. My husband, concerned that we were longer than he thought was usual to traverse our usual circuit, came out wearing his season-red jacket, cap, gloves, boots and scarf to meet us as we approached the street.

And yesterday, after a lovely walk shuffling along the snow-laden trails and coming across friends and acquaintances similarly engaged in their daily routine of outdoor pleasure, Jackie and Jillie suddenly broke away from their near presence to me to leap across the last of the bridges over the creek and up and over to the last long hill to ascend before leaving the ravine. My eyes followed and there, halfway down the hill was a large red smudge in the distance, slowly edging downhill.

I met him halfway, since he halted when he saw me hurrying to come abreast, while still at a considerable distance and he wanted me to stop rushing toward him, to take my time, as the uphill effort required. We were both rewarded with a long, warm hug suffused with the love we have for one another, before trudging up the rest of the hill, and home.