First things first, this morning. Right after cleaning up from breakfast, our two shaggy little dogs were due for a haircut, and that's just what they got. They could be happier about such things. Grooming is a relentless trial and a tribulation for them, testing their patience. Once they realize they're cornered and there's nowhere they can hide from their determined barber, they resign themselves to the experience. As do I, needless to say.

I keep threatening to take them to a groomer and have them properly done with proper grooming tools -- not the hair grooming scissors in an assortment of sizes that I use. Time-consuming and sometimes very frustrating. But I must give them their due, they were well behaved this morning and tolerated my ministrations and the job got done.

Immediately afterward off we went for our ravine walk, a little early today, but that's because we had other things to do as well. Just as well to give them the opportunity to romp about in the woods after they'd been so well behaved while I was trimming their hair. And now that the snow is fast melting there's so much for them to satisfy their curiosity about, sniffing and snuffling here and there, finding just-right treasures in the shape of twigs, perfect for gnawing at, that kind of thing.

And then, walk in the woods concluded, we set off for downtown Ottawa, taking the Eastern Parkway along the great Ottawa River, eventually linking up with the Western Parkway which brought us to the stained glass shop my husband buys his supplies from.

On the way we passed the National Gallery, Middle Eastern embassies, the Chateau Laurier and the Cenotaph, the Parliament Buildings and so much more. We also passed the newly opened Holocaust memorial, the Supreme Court and the National Archives, along with no end of other public buildings.

Alongside the park setting beside the Ottawa River there were runners out and bicyclists, couples walking pensively alongside the river pathways, and families pushing infants in strollers. Amongst them all were Canada geese, taking no notice whatever of the traffic, let alone people strolling by, too busy pecking for seeds and grass after their long reverse flight to welcome spring.

And spring finally has arrived here, it is redolent in the air with that unmistakable light and airy promise. It's a glorious, full-sun day, with a temperature high of ten degrees, destined to be warmer in the following few days. In some places, close to the shoreline along the Western Parkway, there is still plenty of ice in the river. Glancing across to the Quebec side across from Ontario, the landscape looks serene  and beautiful, the sun glinting off light wavelets in the river.