There is always some trait or habit or something distinguishing in the characteristics most dogs inherit or grow into that is endearing to the onlooker, if not the constant companions of such dogs. Jillie, though she can seem aloof, is anything but and craves constant attention. She and her brother are both prodigious lickers; face, hands, any exposed body part where the skin is available they will make an effort to lick. Jackie in particular has a foot-and-toe fetish; bare feet beware!

And they will lick one another as well, sometimes both engaged at the very same time doing the very same thing to one another and it can be hilarious. Jackie's real terms of endearment are found in his propensity to gently bite. He nibbles at my clothing when he wants me to proceed with something and he's anxious that I'm taking my own sweet time about it. When they were younger and we stopped to speak with someone, he would take possession of Jillie leash and walk off with her to remind us there was a purpose to our being in the out-of-doors and it wasn't to waste time jabbering.

We were amused no end when we passed the first of several bridges fording the ravine's creek, to see on the top rail a miniature snowman someone with a lovely sense of humour had fashioned. Last year after a heavy snowfall the same person had produced a similar snowman at the very same place, and we certainly appreciated that little token of comradeship with the season and the place, to be shared by all who passed by.

Our ravine-walking friends Sheila and Barrie take their three high-powered sibling Border Collies out to the ravine two times daily. They don't live directly adjacent one of the ravine entrances as we do. They must drive over to access the ravine. They dedicate themselves to the well-being of the three dogs, all from the same litter; two males, one female. Maya, the female, seems to give a signal to her brothers when they may eat and until that signals arrive, they sit at their bowls, unmoving.

Carter, one of her brothers, likes to 'hide' his presence once they approach the end of their hike in the woods. He usually shows up just as the group prepares to exit the ravine, usually up on the flats where they park their vehicle on the street. In the interim, they have a vague idea where he may be and trust that he'll pay attention to rejoin them despite his pique at leaving the forest. Yesterday when we came across them Carter was nowhere to be seen and then suddenly his head popped up from behind a pile of fallen tree trunks. And he remained there while we chatted and were joined by Susan walking her two dogs. While the other dogs cavorted around one another, Carter remained firmly ensconced in his 'secret' hideaway.

It was a lovely day to be out in the woods. Still heavily overcast with the occasional flurry of snow but a mild 3C so that the wind hardly seemed to penetrate. Because so many locals had been out and about -- we passed quite a few people and their dogs -- the trails are well mashed down and in that mild temperature, beginning to turn to slush in some places. Jackie and Jillie studiously avoid the slush, making for the firmer snowpack alongside the trails.

Once home, they don't tend to relax immediately after their ravine hike. Instead they seem to be electrically energized and begin chasing each other madly around the house, stopping now and again to stand on their back legs and indulge in a little boxing match, Jackie accompanying their physical lunacy with a little song he uses only on these occasions as they spar and jostle, romp and defy gravity.