It's been a busy day for everyone in this household. Routine things, but they add up. But we had a treat first thing this morning. Glancing out the front door, there were two black squirrels, a grey squirrel on the porch and beside them, the tawny rabbit. One of the black squirrels who is a bit of a thug always chases away the other squirrels, and he did, as we watched, and then he settled down next to the rabbit, both placidly nibbling at peanuts.

We'd gotten up earlier than usual (groan), so that Jackie and Jillie just kept themselves snug under their blanket, knowing we were too early, reluctant to budge at first. But budge we all did, and out they went to relieve themselves, and I set the table for breakfast. They had the first treat of the morning and we left them to go out to do our grocery shopping.

We vastly prefer a partially empty-of-shoppers store when we shop for groceries these days. It's been so long now, we've become accustomed to early shopping and empty aisles. Everything we needed and more stacked on the shelves, nothing seemed out-of-stock. We came across one of the cashiers we've known for years, doing her own shopping and that was good for a five-minute talkfest.

At the check-out, the cashier who was new to us last week and this, packed all the tins and boxes back into the bag I put them in for deposit to the Food Bank receptacle in the store's vestibule. After all these years of contributing to the Food Bank, this was the first time we'd ever heard a comment from anyone. The cashier wearing a hijab said how much she appreciated shoppers who contribute to the community need to  ensure everyone is fed.

And as we were leaving the store we came across another cashier just awaiting his shift. We've known him only a matter of months, an older Chinese man who has always been friendly and helpful. He happened to mention what he was paying for blood pressure medication. He's in his early 60s and under the Ontario Drug Formulary seniors shouldn't be paying much, but his prescription was costing him $300 for a three-month supply. Because his MD prescribed a name brand even though generic drugs (expired patents) that do the same thing are inexpensive.

We spoke with him at some length and Irving gave him some good advice, to insist that his prescription be changed to reflect the very same formula prescription at a decent price. We've been shopping at this store for decades, and have come to know many of the personnel, some of whom are personable and tend to acknowledge the presence of a familiar face.

After breakfast we hurried things along and took Jackie and Jillie out for an earlier-than-usual trek through the ravine. The temperature had shot up to 2C by noon, and out we went, not bothering with their booties and changing their winter jackets for turtleneck sweaters, giving them a little more freedom of movement, though they've never been hampered that we could detect being dressed snugly against winter cold. The sweaters are actually hand-me-downs from their immediate predecessors.

And because we were so much earlier than usual, we met up with an old hiking friend whom we haven't seen for months, with her dog Millie. It's been about a year that her husband died and she told us that his brother had died died as well two weeks back, at age 60 from a heart attack. Her husband's second vaccination had been with the Astra Zeneca vaccine and things went terribly wrong. Two days after being inoculated she rushed him to hospital where he died. The cardiologist who looked after him had told her that her husband's heart had literally exploded.

She's a cheerful woman by disposition. Shaken of course and unbelieving when he died. Whenever we met she would talk about him and her adjustment to her new life. Fortunately one of their sons still lives at home with her and that helped. Now, the facade we see is that of a woman resigned to her reality, but bursting with enthusiasm for life and cheerful beyond measure.

At 2:00 p.m. we  had an appointment for Jackie and Jillie with the groomers. And off we went. They immediately recognize the route and the destination. And though they're not particularly pleased, they adapt to the inevitable. They're taken from us and we're told to return in about an hour and a half. And when we do, they're sparkling and spanking-new, and jaunty as well, with the colourful little scarfs the groomers have tied on them. They leap into our arms, and off we go, home.