November's more familiar and usual dark days have finally caught up to us. Hard on the heels of the departing high pressure system that gave us a week of delightful Indian Summer. For that week we had a plenitude of sun and mild temperatures. Just too good to be true, but true it was, and truly appreciated; we revelled in it, enjoyed it, made the most of it, and admired nature's superb judgement informing her elements to take a break from approaching winter.

Then, with little transition, as suddenly as it arrived, Indian Summer departed without so much as a backward glance. Absolutely shattering. But expected. It's one thing to accept the inevitable however, quite another to comfortably adjust to it. Nights are colder now, well into frost territory; last night was -6C, windy which of course has a positive side to it, since one tends to sleep well. So well, that popping an eyelid open first thing in the morning, the instinct is to keep sleeping in one's comfortable bed.

Jackie and Jillie won't hear of it, unfortunately. They're our little alarms and up we get. Puppies have to eat, after all, and get out of the house for they've business to attend to. Not in that order, of course. Once they re-enter the house they're well primed for gobbling up food. It is their habit though before breakfast is served to exact a price for good behaviour; soon as they're back in the house, their expected due must be delivered, an extended bout of playful rub-downs and pettings. 

Yesterday there was no ravine hike. The inclination to get ourselves out in bare nature declines notably when you're faced with  unending rain paired with a cold, windy day. Jackie and Jillie had no wish to challenge that inclement weather, and nor did we. So home we stayed and found plenty to keep us busy. There are often times when Jackie and Jillie will follow our example, but they consistently express disinterest in immersing themselves in a good read, as we do on such days. 

And when we awoke this morning it was once again dark, heavily overcast, and very wet. By mid-afternoon, however, rain had suspended itself even as it appeared as though it would resume at any time. The wind, with less fervour than yesterday's only reached 40 kmh, blowing and blasting the  trees in windbursts, evergreen boughs bending and waving and dancing. We needed not only warm clothing, but waterproof, and then off we went, the wind helpfully shoving us forward.

Jackie disgraced himself today in the ravine. Approaching an older man with a black Lab mix, Jackie suddenly lunged at the dog, and actually attacked it. The dog was at least four times the size Jackie is, but he was certainly startled and no doubt somewhat bemused at this display of abysmal manners. I scolded Jackie but he ignored me, straining at the leash to have another go. Jackie is usually hesitant and easily intimidated, such that he could demonstrate such aggressive behaviour really surprises us.

Later, when we came across a pair of friends with their three border collies there was no such reaction from Jackie. Later still, we spoke awhile with another friend and his large black Lab's presence elicited friendly interest from Jackie and Jillie because they know one another. Jackie's attitude is bewildering; a shy, elusive and fearful little dog suddenly becoming a fearless assailant.

We completed the circuit without any further episode of untoward behaviour. The day that had started out dark became darker yet as dusk set in, but we hosted no further rain. Walking back down the street to our house in the dusky atmosphere, a neighbour's lit-up Christmas decorations guided us gently back to our home, four houses distant from the bright, colourful lights of Christmas. And about six weeks' distant in time, as well.

Today dawned quite similarly to yesterday; dari