A special day of memories despite a physical, geographic distance. It's our older son's birthday today,  he's 62 years old, and we can scarcely believe it. We're not entirely certain we're that old, ourselves. Our daughter is 60+ and our younger son now 59. Just so hard to credit that time passed so quickly and we hardly noticed. Guess we were just too busy living it at the time to realize whatever we were experiencing was a one-time event.

The temperature nudged itself up to 8C this afternoon, after a night-time low around 6C. With wind, and a streaked, overcast sky it was a cold day. We were expecting sun but it was not to be. Because we had a spa appointment for Jackie and Jillie we went out with them earlier than normal to ensure we had plenty of time to enjoy a lengthy jaunt through the forest trails.

Just as well we wore sweaters and jackets, because we needed them. Light gloves came in handy, as well, though Jackie and Jillie thought they could do without -- gloves, not light jackets. The trails still sparkle with colour as we swish and crackle through fallen foliage. Crystal drops of water remain everywhere from yesterday's afternoon downpour. 

\It was one of those days where not many people came out to the forest, likely as a result of the cold, but people we haven't seen in many months; in one instance for over a year, were out and it was a surprise on each occasion coming across them With the exception of an older woman and her daughter, companion dogs were there to re-acquaint themselves with Jackie and Jillie, and claim their cookie due from the Cookie Man.

The forest interior now has longer sight lines as bracken dries up and permits one to see further into the forest. I keep looking for more of those giant mushrooms, but we haven't yet come across any. The fallen apples from the wild apple trees are now disintegrating, decay taking their fresh red appearance, but the cold atmosphere has dampened their decomposing odour.

By and by we left for the spa appointment with Jackie and Jillie. We still must ring the doorbell, step back from the stoop masked, and await an attendant's appearance. The attendant scoops each of our puppies up in turn and whisks them into the interior which was once the veterinarian service clinic, coverted from a bungalow on the corner of the conjunction of two busy area streets. 

When the animal hospital constructed a large, purpose-built building beside their old clinic, it was then transformed into a grooming salon; the enterprises are linked, which is why we like to take J&J there just in case anything happened and veterinarians are right there to look after things.

While J&J were being groomed, we set off to do our weekly grocery shopping.The hour-and-a-half interval works out perfectly; by the time we've finished at the supermarket, Jackie and Jillie have had their bath, their hair trimmed and are ready to return home.