Not only have we been treated to hearing geese flying overhead in their regimented formation returning from their winter migration of late, the lead calling to its follower to hold the line, but this morning at breakfast, looking out the patio doors I saw a Great Blue Heron flying high above rooftops en route to the forest, to take its rest at the bottom of the ravine, in the full, rushing spring stream bisecting the area.

Yesterday, during full daylight hours, much before dusk, Jackie and Jillie alerted us to the presence of one of our frequent visitors. This time a juvenile raccoon, appearing quite a bit earlier than expected, bold little fellow, and busy scooping up treats on the porch. Very aware, at the same time, of the activity passing before him on the road in front of the lawn. He's well shielded by trees in our garden, his presence undetected by anyone passing by, but he took no chances, pausing frequently to scan the road, before turning his attention back to the treats.

I decided, this morning to bake a cheesecake for a change, one of our favourite desserts. (Actually everything I bake represents 'one of our favourites') And I topped it with a blueberry glaze; that's when frozen fruit comes in handy. I prefer to use the fresh blueberries I buy for other occasions in accompany a meal, leaving them fresh, sweet and valuably nutritious. I pre-prepared a bread dough to be used later in the week, refrigerating it to be taken out and used for pizza, and then my husband took over the baking counter in the kitchen to make use of his bread machine for another bread-making venture.

In the early afternoon we set out for our usual turn in the ravine, on an overcast but temperature-mild and less windy day than we've been experiencing of late. Jackie and Jillie have been more anxious to get out into the woods lately for some unknown reason. Jackie in particular has taken to following us around, delivering that message.

We weren't long in the ravine, had just climbed the longest uphill trail to access a plateau in the forest environment, with the ravine falling widely away on either side, when we heard an exquisite double trilling and then our eyes located the position of the pair of cardinals that were joyfully celebrating this lovely spring day, high above on the branches of an as-yet-unleafed deciduous tree. It was a musical performance of pure rapture.

We were bemused but at the same time gratified to realize that there were very few others about in the woods. And then my husband remembered, that according to statistics Fridays are one of the most popular of shopping days. That, and the week-end days of Saturday and Sunday; explicable in normal times when people are busy during the working week, but now that so many are home, working from home while our universal lockdown continues thanks to the threat of the novel coronavirus, puzzling. Until it occurs that people are heavily invested in habit.

Habit motives us personally, spurred by the pleasure we receive from our constant exposure to so many manifestations of nature's vital role in our lives, to come out daily with our little dog companions. And habit also plays a large role in the comfort people find in doing the same things at the same time when they're confronted with unusual occurrences threatening to change their lives.

It's taking quite a long time for the forest floor to dry out. Some areas in part of the trails continue to be steeped in muck, and on some of the trails icy conditions continue to prevail. It hasn't been consistently warm enough for prolonged periods to prompt all the ice to melt. And until we do get those warmer days (every night so far has seen temperatures dip well below zero) we'll be looking to see the first popping-out of seasonal wildflowers only to be disappointed.