We're on a weather roller-coaster, not unusual in our region, but here we are. Yesterday so cool and windy that I regretted not taking gloves along when we were out for our afternoon hike. Today so warm we hardly needed light cotton jackets. The day warmed up so quickly we could hardly believe it when the thermometer in the back read an astonishing 20C, but our backyard tends to have a micro-climate verging toward a hotbox, and can't really be taken seriously.

Jackie and Jillie did, from breakfast forward they wanted to be out on the deck, and that in and of itself is unusual for them. They have long ago declared themselves pampered little house dogs. If we're in the house they're in the house. If we're outside puttering around in the garden they'll last outside for all of five minutes ordinarily, then agitate to go back indoors. But not today.

They splayed themselves out on the deck, contentedly, happy to be idle, embraced by the warmth of the sun, and who could blame them? Our winters are so long, and so very cold. And two days ago we were blasted by winter winds accompanied by unceasing rain. Today is a treat for all of us.

And we enjoyed part of that treat out in the ravine. On such a spectacularly beautiful day we expected that, given the lockdown, the closure of all area parks and playgrounds, people told to shelter in their homes, no public entertainment available, no sport venues, no exercise clubs open, people have become desperate.

So today, not by particular choice, the community surrounding the forest we all share decided in small part, to venture out into the woods. Last we heard the wolves were told to behave themselves, not to frighten those who would take the risk of exposing themselves to the great out-of-doors, under normal circumstances.

And bicycles, young and old, scads of bicyclists out on the trails ripping about, hauling bicycles uphill, some spills and some thrills. Most people had no idea which trails to take, where they would be taking them to, and just puzzled things out rather than asking others who might have a better idea of direction and location, but that's fine, it's how people learn to become resourceful and interested in possibilities.

We're coming across so many people who would ordinarily never venture into the strangeness of the natural world that Jackie and Jillie are beginning to calm down a little at seeing so many people blundering about. Could be, when this is all over and the forest returns to its usual state of regal calm and quiet that our two puppies will have learned to behave themselves better, and not be so certain that the ravine and the forest represent their special preserve.

On our return, surprisingly, they agreed to spend time outdoors, since I was busy out in the back doing some spring clean-up, and my husband was out in the front, puncturing the lawn with a contraption he has, and then raking up dead grass and detritus. So while I snipped back wayward branches of shrubs and trees and raked up an agglomeration of the winter's impact, Jackie and Jillie spent time on the deck, monitoring the situation.

As good a way to spend such luscious weather as any, given the options available to us in a crazy world that has become ever more unpredictable and dysfunctional.