Well, we've had quite the day today. Up early, wanting to get a quick hike through the forest trails on a short circuit before heading off to the veterinarian clinic with Jackie and Jillie for our 9:00 a.m. appointment. We'd be seeing a veterinarian we've trusted for well over twenty-five years. He looked after our two little poodles, Button and Riley. And now he's taking care of the second generation of poodles in our home.

The sun was just making its way over the tree tops when we prepared to exit the forest. And we'd see the sun off and on -- mostly off -- for the remainder of the day, taking turns with the low cloud ceiling of striated dark grey clouds. It was 0C when we set off at 7:00. We hadn't expected that it would snow. But snow it did, and there was a light layer over the trees to lighten the dreary aspect of late fall.

Jackie wasn't certain he wanted to be out and about. Jillie is a lot more laid back than her brother and though she was in some discomfort, she plodded along. Eventually Jackie became more interested and involved in our hike. And so did we, over the frozen leaf pack now tipped with snow and more slippery than ever, as we descended the entrance hill to the ravine. It's early for snow to fall here, though not unknown.

Usually, on Remembrance Day -- which isn't that far away, on the 11th of the month -- there are light snow flurries, and the children who sing in the choir of elementary school students usually shiver in the cold, the wind and the light snow dusting the atmosphere. Evidently snow began falling during the early morning hours to leave us with early winter's gift.

When we returned home, we showered and gave Jackie and Jillie their breakfast, then headed off to the veterinarian clinic. The waiting room had one other patient besides our two. We discussed the situation with both our puppies with Dr. Streib for it was an emergency vet, Dr. Ranger, who had examined Jackie a week and a  half earlier, and at that time Jillie's problem hadn't yet evinced itself.

After explaining to him what had occurred with Jackie, as he examined the notes left by Dr. Ranger, he commenced a physical examination. When he pressed against Jackie's sides, almost at his hips, Jackie reacted; clearly that pressure was uncomfortable enough to really bother him. Some medical deduction took place and he said it was his convinced opinion that Jackie had a sciatic nerve that was acting up, a not-uncommon problem with small dogs.

As for Jillie, a physical exam revealed that it was not impacted anal glands that troubled her, rather one of the anal glands had become infected. The abscess had burst and that accounted for the discomfort she was feeling. She was otherwise in good physical condition, just as Jackie's physical examination had revealed him to be. Jillie's wound needed to be disinfected and the gland cleaned out, so we left her in the doctor's care for a half-hour, and it was done.

Medicam was prescribed for both Jackie and Jillie. A kind of experiment, their doctor said for Jackie, to determine whether the painkiller would restore his usual equanimity, easing the discomfort of that nerve that had driven him to distraction. We feel immensely relieved to know the cause and the course of action to be taken with them, even while we feel how odd it is that both little fellows became ill at the same time, albeit with different ailments.

As a reward for their patience and perseverance during the lengthy appointment, they shared a scrambled egg between them as a treat, while we were finally eating our own breakfast. We have to take it easy with them for the next few days not to exercise them too vigorously. And we hope that we've found the solution to the dilemma that inflicted itself upon  Jackie.