We were up early this morning intending to get out to do the food shopping even a little earlier than usual. Leaving two disconsolate little dogs whimpering and yowling to look after themselves in our absence for we had, after all, explained to them time and again that we were going out to bring back all kinds of edible goodies for them, so we set off with a good conscience.

There was less traffic on the road than we usually see. We assumed that the frantic Christmas shopping rush hadn't yet taken over the morning. And then we drove into the parking lot of the supermarket we shop at and were amazed to confront an unusual spectacle. Even at any time of the day that parking lot is never full. And when we usually arrive early morning to do our shopping it's almost empty on most occasions.

Not this time. We soon approached near enough to see a long line of would-be shoppers snaking two meters distant from one another the length of the store exterior, continuing to take in all the other storesfronts, none of them yet open, that comprise the bulk of the shops in linear fashion on that side of the plaza. All.those.people.waiting.to.get in.

This, we know, is a Toronto thing. We aren't in Toronto. There are supermarkets galore in our neighbourhood, plenty of venues where people can shop. And rarely are there such lineups. People were panicking, we guessed, as a result of the provincial premier having announced yesterday a province-wide lockdown to begin on Boxing Day for the following three weeks. Or was it that everyone was intent on getting their Christmas food shopping done three days before Christmas? Or was it the general impression that early morning shopping isn't just for seniors seeking to avoid the human, virus-vending crush?

My husband turned the car around, headed for home. Not so fast, said his wife, we're shopping. So we waited, at first away back of the line, but it moved steadily ahead as people were being admitted while those who had already completed their shopping left. It took about a half-hour before we entered the store, and by then the line had regrown itself behind us to about the same length as when we had originally joined it.

The idea was obviously to avoid bottlenecks. The gradual admittance ensured that people would move steadily forward, welcomed bit by bit, each taking possession of a disinfection-sprayed shopping cart. We were apprehensive that the shelves would be empty, and some were, but not most. We had no difficulty selecting what we needed for the week although in several instances had to be satisfied with substitutes when confronted with a wide, yawning shelf empty of its offerings.

What a joyous reunion when we returned! No longer abandoned our puppies generously forgave us and nicely obliged us by gobbling up a few treats. They followed us around while we re-distributed the food into the refrigerator, the pantry, this shelf and that shelf until it was all completed. They take their supervisory role in this household quite seriously.

The temperature for the day hovered around zero, so it wasn't very cold. Light snow was falling, the sky was heavily overcast, and there was wind. By the time we emerged again led by Jackie and Jillie who recommended that we hold the leashes and follow their direction, the wind had picked up substantially, clearly bringing in another front. It was damp feeling and colder than it should have felt thanks to the insistence of the wind raking our faces.

We discovered today that someone had snapped a photo of a fisher standing on one of the bridges. He'd had a swift response on seeing that ferocious little creature, snapping it before it left the scene. So now we know that small animals like squirrels, raccoons and foxes have fishers to contend with. We stood for a short while discussing the critturs in the forest while five dogs patiently waited for four people to get on with their trail hikes. One fellow had seen a wild turkey presumably killed by coyotes; if so why wasn't it eaten?

Another a large beaver corpse which, he surmised had been confronted by at least two coyotes, since beavers are well known to be able to look after themselves when attacked. The population of the forest has taken quite a turn with the introduction of coyotes. The abundance of small wildlife we once saw regularly years ago is no longer in evidence; partly responsible is that around the top of the ravine more houses were built in the past thirty years, and part of it is due to the presence of alpha predators represented by coyotes and fishers.

Jackie and Jillie will just have to remain content to be on leash forever now, it seems. Although truth to tell they haven't complained about the leash restraints on their freedom.

It seems we've been enjoying fewer sunny days than normal so far this winter. Today may be the shortest day of the year, but we've been in the thrall of short daylight hours for quite awhile; and now the long slow reversal begins. Meanwhile, we live in a kind of perpetual dusk and in the forest interior that light darkness prevails.