We knew that snow was expected to return some time today, and so when it began this morning we weren't surprised. What did turn out to be surprising was that the snowstorm became an all-day affair. It began around 7:00 am and is now set to continue until 7:00 pm. Not that there will be much of an accumulation, likely no more than 6 - 7 cm in total. Although the snow looks dense as it flecks the atmosphere, it's light in nature. It took little time in covering everything though.

We had sad news from our granddaughter this morning, that their rescue dog, one of ten they actually had at one time, is gone. She was our granddaughter's special companion, coming home with her when she was nine years old and the dog, a rescue, between one and two years of age, according to the vet who examined her. So she's disconsolate, miserable with the loss, haunted by the sight of Sarah peeking around every corner of the house, even while she's no longer there. She was a German-Shepherd mix, intelligent and stubborn and friendly. 

The emotions are raw soon after such a loss, and there's not much that can be said to alleviate the pain of parting. We know that, because we've been through it ourselves. The old bromides of it'll get better in time don't serve much purpose when someone is steeped in the pain of loss. When the other dogs went in their time she took it stoically although each loss was a shock. This time, however, the loss is too close to her heart. And it's not something she really wants to talk about. It happened, it was expected, since she had reached 16 years of agedness and it was time for her to go.

Sarah left, Lily right

Our two little rascals were truly excited this afternoon, turning about in circles of anticipation when I'd finished washing the floors on cleaning day. They know the ritual; as soon as the house-cleaning is done, I clean myself up, and change my clothes and that's their signal that we'll be heading out to the ravine. And we did that, into a windy atmosphere of snow being whipped about, and having to drag our boots through the accumulation on the road before we got to the ravine entrance.

At least a few other hikers had been out before us breaking trail, though the oncoming snow had continued to fill in their tracks. And the thing about this snowfall is that it's quite different than the several that had preceded it. Those snowstorms had taken place in a much more icy temperature which affected the texture of the snow. Which was why we were slipping endlessly in the days following the earlier storms. Today is a mild day by comparison, with a high of -4C, so the snow isn't as dry.

Although the snow isn't clumping, and it's light in character, it's not the least bit slippery and traction is good despite the new depth of the fallen snow. All of which made for a really pleasant jaunt through the forest trails. On a perfectly lovely winter day. It was mild enough that though the wind was intrusive it lacked that icy bite, and we appreciated that enormously. 

We also appreciated that since it's a Monday we didn't encounter too many others out on the trail. We did come across two boys around thirteen years old, one of whom we've seen out before with his yellow Lab, a big, loping, inquisitive and friendly dog. The boys had obviously arranged to meet one another in the ravine to share a tramp-through on a beautiful winter day. When they came to a junction of trails, a minor trail leading down from a major trail, they parted company, each to go their own way.

The odd thing was that the dog followed his human's friend, rather than remain with the boy he lives with. The boy waited at the top of the hill for his dog to return, as we took that trail ourselves, descending to yet another trail that would ultimately lead us over another bridge and a long hill to ascend to street level. When the dog failed to return, the boy followed us down the hill, over the bridge and up toward where his dog had followed the boy's friend.

Finally, when the boy reached the dog and put him on leash to lead him back from where they had parted with the boy's friend, the dog balked, wanting to continue following the friend. A puzzling little scenario but likely one with a rational explanation. The boy patiently returned to the direction the dog insisted on, and as we gained the top of the long hill, we looked back and could see them down far below, preparing to ascend the hill we  had met them on when the parting of the two boys unleashed that little puzzle.