We left yesterday earlier than usual for our ravine jaunt in the forest. The temperature was supposed to nudge up to four degrees, but when we left it was  just at freezing, but we'd left early because my husband had an appointment to take his truck in to have it oil-winterized, that underspray oil coating that makes the metal resistant to rust caused by salt sprayed on the region's winter-icy roads. He has this done every year and we've never had a rust problem as a result.

Though we meant to have a pretty quick walk, that isn't the way it turned out.  There were so many people out with their dogs, and it's just not possible to come abreast, utter a greeting and move on. People want to stand about a little and discuss all manner of things, from the most mundane to the only slightly pedestrian.

Besides which, the interests of the dogs really can't be ignored; after they greet one another they too have much to impart one to the other. Sometimes it's carried out by action through a chase sequence, sometimes by companionably finding irresistible twigs to gnaw on side-by-side.

Yesterday we saw Benji again, happily making the most of the fast-shrinking snow. Two little pugs came along as well and as we stood talking there was a general melee of greetings and rompings-about.

Later on we saw another person whom we see only occasionally though we've known him for years, and his dog, a German wire-haired Pointer with such a graceful comportment, nature having granted him as well the most precise and astonishing coat patterning, he's a pleasure to watch as, from an excess of joy, he raced madly back and forth along the trails, this time Jillie accompanying him, while Jackie held back.

Finally, we came across Jasper again, this time being walked by the woman whose adult children we always so admire. She used to work for a Swiss chocolatier, she is German or Swiss-accented and is another of those really sweet-natured people, her son and daughter amazing copies of her. With all that positivity it's little wonder that Jasper too is a laid-back, friendly dog who never fails to recognize us, trotting over with the confidence that his greeting will be reciprocated.

There was wind, it wasn't as icy as the last week or so, and because the temperature had moderated somewhat, the trails, particularly on the uphill and reverse, weren't as slippery with ice as they had been. The sun came out occasionally illuminating the forest and creating a brilliant backdrop for the naked canopy, a striking scene notable only at this time of year.