Just like yesterday, an overcast sky with moderate temperatures rising to -6C. Little wind to speak of, unlike yesterday, but much damper feeling, somehow, even though yesterday for much of the day soft, billowy snow tumbled down out of the sky. This morning, we sat at breakfast, watching the snow do that yet again. Lazily floating down, straight down. A little red squirrel took possession of a slice of leftover toast on the rail of the deck and magically whisked it away to be relished at some other time and place.

So much snow had accumulated that once again, as was done a week previous, my husband had to get out a ladder to ascend it leaning against the metal canopy atop the deck to clear it of snow. There's about three feet of snow on the roofs of our garden sheds, but the canopy isn't supposed to have more than six inches of snow-weight (usually mixed with ice) for safety reasons. We wouldn't like to have it collapse, hence the need to sweep the accumulated snow off it. Obviously, it wasn't a good idea to install it on the deck since the deck itself is so high, given our partial-ravine lot.

Before my husband installed it several years ago, we'd used a succession of canvass-topped canopies and in time weather destroyed all of them. Each would be tucked away during the winter in storage, taken out in spring, reinstalled and used for spring, summer and fall. And each lasted about five years before succumbing to wear.

Because the temperature showed a few degrees higher than yesterday's -8C, we decided not to put those useless boots on the puppies, reasoning that it was just on the cusp of what they can stand. So off we went, and they were happy bouncing along the trails. We felt despite what the thermometer read it felt colder than yesterday, regardless of yesterday's wind and today's lack of same. By the time we got the little fellows back in the house their pads were well encrusted with stiff ice. Laving them with warm water did the trick.

Otherwise, they had a good ravine walk. Since we're plunging again tonight to -21C, and Friday's daytime high and those of succeeding days will likely go no higher than -17C, it's questionable when we'll be able to get out again in the woods with Jackie and Jillie, sigh.