So there's the puzzler, what happened to winter? It came in roaring like a demented lion that misplaced its invitation to arrive in December, thinking October was more suited to the occasion and finally left, miffed and puzzled at the universal rebuff from its unappreciative audience. To think; winter had pulled out all the stops; freezing rain, frigid  temperature, howling wind, snow, the full panoply -- no doubt convinced we would be impressed. Only to discover the impression made was unfavourable to lingering, so off it went in a hissy-huff.

Leaving us back -- way back -- in early fall, say around the first of October when it was still mild and sunny and pleasurable to be in the out-of-doors. Other than for the absence of verdant tree tops, it might have been early October. Yet here we are a day after we suspected that the ambitions of winter to steal the show on late fall collapsed and we discovered a changed world.

Mild enough to venture out without a jacket, much less a sweater, and none needed at all for Jackie and Jillie when they persuaded us to come along with them to the forest this afternoon. Yesterday it was still cold enough that warm sweaters were in order for them and for us. Sloppy underfoot from the melting snow of the day before.

Once again we came across a middle-aged couple gingerly making their way down the 'wrong' trail, grasping at saplings and shrubs to keep from slipping and sliding downhill. Just a few yards further, fully visible from the side trail they had taken was a gradual, safe trail, the original trail leading from the main descent over to the right-hand bridge.

They hauled themselves back up, gripping walking sticks, huffing and puffing, as we explained that the trail they were on was to be avoided. Obviously their first time out in the woods, unfamiliar with the landscape, just determined to get out of their homes for some fresh air and sunshine to improve their mood and their health prospects at this time of COVID threat. And off they went with a confident gait down the old trail, leaving the bypass bereft of new victims.

There was a brisk wind at walking level through the trails and a blustery wind high above, blasting the forest canopy. But the wind felt nothing but refreshing, gone the bite of the cold winds earlier in the week on this hard-to-believe balmy day, the sun caressing our heads and our backs. A while later another middle-aged couple came along dressed even more casually than we were.

Smiling happily, they passed us as we stood aside to give them the space needed to manoeuvre their way at a narrow passage point, he in shorts, his companion somewhat more conventionally dressed for early November. Surprisingly, no birds were about whereas during the bone-cracking cold weather there were chickadees and crows, nuthatches and woodpeckers and bluejays. Now, in this wonderful weather, we saw and heard none at all.

This is just the beginning. According to the longer-range forecast we're destined to bask in this warm and bright weather for days to come. Insects, thinking it's spring, will begin to emerge. We'll be on the lookout for ducks in the creek below in the ravine. Of course the trails, still in frost-stage, will thaw and become dreadfully muddy. And slimy-slippery. Even today, while most of the trails are still covered in layers of soggy-wet shattered foliage, it took forever to get our puppies' paws clean of the muck.

But the bonus is we'll finally be able to empty all of the garden pots that still await that final task. Store all of the garden furniture in one of the garden sheds. Cover all the stone urns with plastic bags to keep them safe from the freeze-and-that-process. And then everything will be ship-tight for winter.