Yesterday gave us a bit of everything, starting off with a gloriously sunny day, so bright your eyes at first recoiled from the light, needing time to re-accustom themselves after a week of sun-deprivation, unusual for us in our geographic region. It wasn't meant to last. Snow clouds soon moved in, and with them the wind picked up enough to seem wicked at times.

But the temperature rose, and that was a bonus. And that boisterous wind swept away those pewter-white clouds from time to time, allowing the sun to once again glance its luminous rays down upon us, warming up the house wonderfully well. Yes, that warming sun.

The temperature rose to minus-2C, and we were tricked into thinking at one juncture in the afternoon that it was so much warmer than the day before -- another day of wind and minus-6C to make it seem all the more icier -- that we'd roast if we dressed too well for our ravine walk. Good thing I was primarily the reckless one, enjoying the kind of optimism that would only end with my also being the only one among us three who felt the cold wind whistle right through my too-light jacket.

Still with our son accompanying us, we tend to move at a brisker pace than we would ordinarily, so moving right along compensated for the undeniable fact that our trundle through the forest trails would be in conditions as icy as the day before. We were, however, wearing cleats over our boots and that helps enormously on the ascents and descents.

Moreover, the trails were in fine condition. Enough people had been out in the past several days to tamp down nicely the fluffy white stuff that descended on Friday and went on forever, giving us 12 cm with more being added throughout the day as flurries kept descending between the sun-breaks.

Jackie and Jillie were enthused, as I guess they will be every time there's a fresh snowfall and the forest floor becomes lofted with light crystals of snow tumbling onto one another weaving a comforter they found entertaining to plow through. We were surprised to come across Scott and Cindy and their two little terriers, Wilma and Buddy. Wilma always pleads with us for treats, and it is simply not possible to ignore her wishes. !Treats all 'round!

This was Buddy's first time out for a ravine walk after his surgery to remove a tumour that was at first thought to be simply one of those fat tumours called lipomas that we're far more familiar with. Years ago when Buddy was much younger he'd had a cancerous tumour that had been removed. Now a second had grown back right where the first one had been. But he's recovered well, and no longer wears that doughnut to keep him from licking his stitches.

His right flank is bare from the shaving he had pre-surgery and his stitches are very visible, the area looking raw still. It's only been two weeks since his surgery and I'm sure we would never have taken one of our little guys out on a day like yesterday post-surgery, but Buddy looked more than happy to be out and Scott and Cindy were careful to see he wouldn't begin running about.