Looks as though our days while February comes to a close are being sandwiched between miserable and awful. We're experiencing uncharacteristically 'mild' atmospheric temperatures and ricocheting between days of snow, freezing rain and plain old winter rain. The latter is an anomaly in this geography, actually. But if and when copious rain comes pouring down in an ambient cold one has little wish to venture out of doors for any length of time.

The outdoors for prolonged exposure in snowfalls or freezing rain is fine; you don't get soaked through and nor do your companion dogs. Yesterday was a raw day, just on the cusp of freezing but with a whipping wind that made it seem much colder. Still, it was compatible with getting out into the forest for a nice long walk on woodland trails. It's beginning to look as though we won't get that opportunity today.

Yesterday the trails were negotiable, though some of them were pretty icy and required care. The snowpack is beginning to melt in places and in some areas the melt is pretty visible. Jackie and Jillie slide around nonchalantly for the most part, though our boot-clad-cleats keep us fairly secure. Even so, my lesser weight means I don't have quite the heft to indent the snow and ice that my husband does, so I try to sidestep if possible the really icy portions.

When we miss even one day getting out into the woods we feel slightly out of sorts. Our two puppies appear to adjust more philosophically than we do. They take to cavorting about the house, indulging in some pretty physical acrobatics with one another, with challenges to wrestling thrown in for good measure. Their antics serve nicely to lighten our spirits.