Last night we had a very pleasant surprise. Not exactly a surprise, but it was pleasurable. Two days earlier a lovely little white-and-black-striped animal had visited us, but Jackie and Jillie, seeing the sweet creature, barked furiously at the 'intruder', who then hurried away. He/she was back last night, around midnight, cruising about on the porch, selecting bread squares to its liking. We kept the pups away from the door, and stood watching awhile, before going up to bed.

You've just got to know that things are seriously wrong when you begin to dread the very thought of going out to the supermarket. That you sleep fitfully the night before the assigned day to tackle the issue of diminishing food making your refrigerator look empty and the pantry deserted. We'd gone out shopping for food two weeks ago. And really stocked up on fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, cheese and a whole range of perishables.

This was the first time I can remember, actually, that we skipped a week shopping. But we had just enough to stretch into a complete two weeks of pleasing menus and by yesterday had run out. So, today was shopping day. This time to make certain I'd miss nothing, I had made up a list, something I never ordinarily do. I tucked several disinfectant wipes into a baggy and stuck them in my pocket, just in case. I had to remember to take my reading glasses, and gloves we'd wear while shopping to be washed on return home.

An extra bag for the food we'd be buying for the Food Bank, usually baked beans, tinned fish, soups, Kraft dinner, and this time a big tub of peanut butter. Extra cloth bags to carry the overflow from the rigid plastic carry-alls we use. Food for two weeks, after all. When we'd gone shopping last two weeks ago, the supermarket was almost empty, the shelves (almost) well stocked, no one but ourselves at the check-out.

A Griffin that Jackie and Jillie were introduced to today

This morning we got up at 7:00 am, fed the puppies, took them out to the backyard, then left them at home moaning that they were being deserted as we drove out to the supermarket. Absolutely dismaying to see that many people milling about in the store. I don't recall seeing that many ever, in 'normal' times. Some wearing face masks, some gloves like us. Most taking care to maintain a good distance from others, but it was awkward at times.

People seemed glum and out-of-sorts, no one spoke, just moved about like wraiths, pushing their needed food products in a shopping cart an attendant had sprayed with disinfectant. It's an eerie feeling. No one was exuding either good cheer or concern for anyone but themselves. Finally, plastic shields had been installed for the cashiers. None of them wore masks. An unenviable but critical job.

Finished selecting what we needed, we headed for the check-out, and at first glance thought how nice it was that there was only one shopping cart-and-person at each check-out aisle. Then we were informed we'd have to go 'to the back of the line'. Line? What line? Casting our eyes abroad we saw the 'line', snaking the width of the store at the front, then the length of the store and again the width at the back.

People were frantically jockeying their carts toward the end of the line, anxious to get there and in line before others. And then we found ourselves in a position we'd never thought about, and waited and gradually moved forward, maintaining a 'safe' distance between ourselves and the cart/person ahead. Until we finally gained the check-out desk and were informed of new imperatives, nothing you brought with you was to be placed on the conveyor, pack your food as best you could (ours is a supermarket where the customers pack their own purchases).

Back home again, we unloaded everything and calmed return-ecstatic Jackie and Jillie. Then, withdrawing objects one-by-one, everything got wiped down with a soapy sponge before being placed in the pantry or the refrigerator. Then it was the turn of the bags and the plastic boxes to be wiped down. Then we showered, prepared breakfast, and relaxed. Jackie and Jillie were rewarded with a chopped boiled egg divided between them to augment their earlier breakfast.

Soon afterward, more activity, but this of a variety we can live happily with, preparing Jackie and Jillie for a round in the ravine, across the forest trails on a superb spring day with a high temperature of 14C, wind and sun, and off we went!