Ottawa is enveloped in an atmospheric lake. So deeply that the sun cannot find us. It is dark and it is extremely wet. Although the temperature is below zero, heavy rain, not sleet, not ice pellets, not freezing rain and not snow descended from last evening extending overnight and prolonging its presence throughout the day. Grim.

Irving left the house early, before breakfast in fact, to deliver the truck to a garage in Vanier where they will do an oil change and oiltrell the undercarriage of the truck against rust this coming winter. While they're at it, they will also look into the 'emergency light' and replace the emissions control device. 

 Jackie and Jillie were decidedly displeased at his leaving the house. They stood with me watching as he drove off into the dark morning rain. They they departed themselves. Upstairs, back to bed. The house very quiet. My explanation failed to assure them that he would soon be returning. Driving a loaner car. 

I started the laundry and poked about a bit. Didn't look as though the rain would relent any time soon. Didn't look as though J&J would be getting out for a walk any time soon. There was some correspondence I meant to catch up with, and did. 

When Irving returned he told me what a madhouse it was out on the roads this morning. From the state of traffic it seems clear that most businesses have recalled their employees; only government offices not yet in full operational presence. But government is, in fact, the largest employer in a capital city.

Trouble was, the major road en route to the garage was closed off and detours, unmarked, were the order of the day adding to the confusion of driving around a place not frequently visited. When he'd called to make an appointment at the usual outlet, they were all booked up, everyone anxious to get their vehicles prepared for oncoming winter. Same thing happened last year, and they recommended an appointment instead with the larger establishment, further away from our own area.

By early afternoon the puppies were restless as usual, wondering what the hold up was in our usual preparations to get out of the house and away to the ravine for a forest trail hike-through. Their consternation was mollified to a degree when a small vegetable salad for each of them miraculously appeared. Before that, I was cutting up a pineapple for tonight's dessert. Jackie was hanging around, and this must have been the first time I've ever tried him with pineapple. I thought the acid in it would repel him, but no such thing; the sweet flavour quite satisfied him.

Unable to take photographs out-of-doors, I took snaps of the colour that appears on our windows in the stained glass that Irving has produced over the years. Our garden may be gone for the season, but the stained glass offers permanent gardens, a presence for which I am grateful. We enjoy those windows and appreciate all the colour nuances that emerge at different times of the day, the seasons and the prevailing weather.

When the sun it out in a clear sky streaming through the windows, the colours gleam and scintillate and warmth passes through them. But at those times what the eye sees the camera exaggerates; extreme light conditions make for poor photographs. And when it is cloudy out, or darkly overcast and the stained glass is muted, then the photographs come out well, undiffused colour and clarity of form..