We knew it was coming, just not so soon. It's still October, after all. But there it is, so icy cold that rain is mixed with ice pellets and when it falls it turns to snow. First thing this morning, looking out at the roofs of the houses behind  us, we saw  how nicely those roofs were iced with snow. It was, after all, 0C. Up somewhat from the overnight low of -4C. And to think that a mere three days earlier we were basking in a day of 22C, and sun! 

So, that's final; meals henceforth are to be comfort food. Hot spicy soups and stews preferentially, with fresh-baked bread when appropriate. Yesterday it was braided buns to go along with bowls of steaming, thick lentil-tomato soup. Stuffed with celery, carrots, tomatoes. Spiced with garam masala, fennel and cumin seeds. My husband also had smoked salmon, while I enjoyed chunks of cheddar cheese, and then we had giant fresh and sweet blueberries. That's comfort!

Eventually the temperature rose today. All the way to 2C. And the rain became just freezing rain, then very cold rain that refused to stop. We could have taken a short circuit over the top ridge of the ravine wearing raincoats. In the knowledge that the trails would be a morass of muck, slippery and problematic on the descents and ascents required even to access the ridge.

And since it was a busy cleaning day in any event, we decided to give it a pass. Jackie and Jillie assented to accompany us out to the backyard a few times for necessary business transactions, but were definitely not happy with the rain. Mind, if it had been a few degrees colder and we'd had just snow to accumulate they would have been ecstatic. As it was, a slick of ice formed over the deck, the steps leading to the garden, and the walkways.

Once again I was persuaded we would absolutely require a rib-sticking, interior-warming dinner. We haven't had Kasha in ages, so that would accompany a meatball stew with garlic, onions, mushrooms and carrots. When preparing the stew I thought I'd use smoked paprika for a change and some sumac so that should be interesting. To preface dinner, a small salad of fresh vegetables, and at the other end, a pear compote.

So what did Jackie and Jillie do all day? Snooze, that's what. They did have some play time with us tossing about a few of their stuffed toys, but with cold, miserable weather comes a sense of lassitude shared by all. That's when you want to curl up on the sofa with a good book or the newspaper (which will most certainly give you mental indigestion; the latter of the two, that is) It'll continue raining tonight and the temperature will fall to -5. Winter's a-comin'. 

Now, when we look out the front door the form, texture, colour, bright cheerfulness is all gone. The garden pots have been emptied of their beautiful occupants -- and just in time --  and the garden beds and border perennials trimmed in preparation for their winter sleep. It looks absolutely dismal, dark and bereft of life. The weeping mulberry has shed almost all its foliage, the sargenti crabs are on the way to losing theirs and the magnolia stubbornly clings to it's, but soon will be bare.

Tomorrow the cold will continue but we hope for the opportunity to get out for a brisk walk through the forest with Jackie and Jillie. That will likely be after we pick them up at the spa where they're scheduled for a grooming they badly need. It's been a great relief for me to no longer cut their hair myself, deciding to have them done professionally. The outcome is so much more preferential as well.