Quite a number of people in  the wider community weren't able to resist a late-winter tramp in the snowy woods today. Conditions couldn't have been more inviting. Snow remains in huge clumps on the trees, looking as though nature had invited a gigantic snowball fight. A peculiarity of mixed conditions a few days back when we experienced a large snowstorm.

There were intervals of snow of varying moisture conditions; large fluffed flakes and light and airy clumps, alternating with freezing rain, ice pellets, then snow again. It was the high moisture content that caused the snow-ball look of the landscape three days after the storm. In the interim there had been a change in the temperature from just hovering on freezing at 0C, to a night-time dip of -15 with daytime highs of -6 and -8C.

Those colder temperatures were accompanied by rough wind gusts making for a somewhat uncomfortable environment. But today, the high at -6 with little wind and full sun has made quite a difference. The air becalmed and warming in the full glare of a late winter sun along with the snowy landscape was just irresistible.

So we encountered lots of people out and plenty of companion dogs, some familiar, most not. There was a group of young people walking three dogs, a bull mastiff and two very large and muscular German pinschers. Monster dogs, really, with deep barrel chests, long, lean legs, small heads and ears cropped really oddly, almost resembling the sinister appearance of horns. Of course Jackie and Jillie are always quick to announce their presence.

The bull mastiff looked a little disconcerted and hurried by our two little yappers. The pinschers looked uncertain, even slightly overwhelmed by all the racket. They sidled past us as well, as we held our pups' leashes short and chided them. My husband has a habit of greeting all dogs with a soft-voiced friendly 'hello, puppy', irrespective of their size. His tone of voice seems to be reassuring to them. There are times when I have to wheedle dogs, large and small, to come forward and not be alarmed over the sounds emitting from our two toy poodles.

We do often come across other dogs that our two don't react to in a hostile manner. Like the poodle mix with a blonde coat of  hair and an eye-catching chartreuse winter coat we later saw. The three got on just fine together, keeping each other company for as long as it took for the dog's human to finally catch up and continue along with his dog. With so much activity of people moving through the forest trails today it's doubtful any of the coyotes felt disposed to make a presence.

We came across one fellow with a high-powered camera, taking his time with photographs, aiming his camera high on a group of tall old pines. His patience paid off handsomely. He showed me a perfect photograph of a pileated woodpecker. The bird was so high and so distant I was unable to see it with my naked eye, but he could, and used his camera's zoom lens to good purpose.

We're anticipating 'company' tomorrow, planning to pick up our youngest son at the airport late afternoon. He has another conference to attend, and he'll be staying with us rather than at the hotel where the conference is taking place. With luck, we'll have snow again while he's still with us, giving him the opportunity to get some skiing in, aside from ambling along the trails with us on occasion.