What a peculiar winter this has been, inordinately freezing in its early months, relenting to moderation in the later months which means of late we have been the beneficiaries of mild temperatures. No complaints about any absence of sun; if there's one thing that we Canadians living in Ontario can anticipate with confidence, it's ample opportunity to bask in winter sun.

Button and Riley

That's what all of our canine family members have known and appreciated as well. They have all, in their turn, sought out the winter sun to bask in its comfortable warmth. Indoors, of course, when the sun reaches that point in its daily swing over us so it is poised for hours pouring its light and comfort through the glass patio doors onto the floor and into one of Jackie and Jillie's doggy beds. Jillie usually makes herself comfortable in the bed and Jackie usually leaps up onto the sun-exposed pine seat of an old paneled Deacon's bench we have situated there, in the breakfast room.

Jillie enjoying March first's sun

Before them, these were the favoured sun-perches of their predecessors, Button and Riley whose memory never fades from our consciousness.

Jackie wondering what's going on...?

March has entered the 2018 calendar year modestly, as a moderate and beautiful day, unlike so many of years past when it storms into being, like the lion we usually anticipate it will be. Not this year. At the side of the house, near the foundation where snow has melted, bare soil can be seen and dotted in that soil are the first stirrings of green lily shoots, themselves anxious to make their annual springtime appearance.

In the forest across from our street it doesn't really appear as though much snow has melted. The snow build-up on the floor of the bridges still raises us about a foot in height from what is normal thanks to the snowpack. But that the snow is beginning to vacate its depth is becoming evident bit by bit with deep ice-cracks appearing in a few places, and on the slopes of the hills the trails dissolving their burden of snow and ice. Before long, if we don't have another of our usually frequent snowfalls there will be snow-free areas on the hillsides.

Clambering uphill becomes a little more difficult on our daily rambles in the woods because the snow structure is being altered by way of milder temperatures, so we slip and slide as our boots bite into the melting snowpack, even with the aid of the cleats strapped over the boots. It's all routine, repeated year after year. On the other hand, year after year places another energy obstacle in our way as we grow older.

Yet, never did I ever dare to think that past the age of 80 we would still be going out to the ravine for our treasured daily walks in the woods with our little dogs. Much to be thankful for.