A flock of redpolls passed through our snowy backyard this morning. The neighbourhood-resident cardinals were up early, pleased with the dawn of another mild-weather day and trilling their appreciation. Overnight it was so mild that the rest of the snow remaining on the metal canopy over our deck from last week's snowfall, melted. Although the snowpack remains high we can imagine it is diminishing and will continue to as long as this weather holds out.

Of course, it's inevitable that as the month proceeds we're moving closer to spring. The occasional backtracking to icy cold temperatures and high winds does leave a bit of doubt in our minds, but that's quick to evaporate once we arrive at a spate of days like today's. Episodically, there's sunshine and overcast; seemingly sparring conditions.

Originally the forecast was for mixed precipitation but it doesn't appear that this is about to happen, at this juncture. The wind believes it should remain in winter mode, and gusts sharply, obviously trying to make the most of the winter atmosphere. When we exited the ravine this early afternoon after a prolonged hiking circuit through the forest trails, it gusted aggressively as we moved through a corridor and out of the forest; thick stand of trees on our right, the side of the adjacent house before the ravine entrance on the left.

Our boots now sink into the snow, the cleats on their platform hauled over the soles digging deep into the softened snowpack on the trails. There's a tendency to slip as we ascend and descend the hills so it takes a bit more of an effort. Even Jackie and Jillie have taken to slipping, wearing their tiny rubber boots. On our way up the street to attain the ravine entrance, we slopped through ice-and-snow-packed ruts on the road beginning to puddle.

This day is absolutely beguiling, calling out to be enjoyed, and we had every intention of responding. Jackie and Jillie know when I'm finished doing housework for the morning and follow me excitedly, anticipating the next moves to be involved with preparations to get out into the woods. It's a ritual no doubt reflected in many households in our community adjacent the ravined forest.

As testament to the value of our good fortune in the natural geology of our region, we weren't the only ones out on the trails this afternoon. Actually two of the people we came across separately were dog walkers, one with three dogs in her care, and the second with seven in his care. We've seen him and his borrowed pack often this year, all well-behaved, but the three were a new introduction for us.

One woman happened to be walking with a puppy, newly introduced to the ravine environment and being socialized. Since most mature dogs don't particularly care to be in the presence of lively, impudent young puppies this little fellow, a female Australian Shepherd eager to be introduced to the social scene and enthusiastic, had the misfortune to come across a large dog that had to be restrained for its hostility to the youngster; that was one of the three dogs in the care of the dog walker.

In contrast to that puppy's introduction to the varied mix of personalities she'll come across through the course of her life, was the very small and elderly terrier we've seen on occasion, determined to enjoy her course through the ravine trails, disinterested in sharing experiences with any other, and trotting along contentedly beside her human.