Yesterday morning when we came down for breakfast the  temperature stood at 4C, and it was still raining after an all-night rainfall. This morning, the thermometer read -14C, and the overnight snow had finished its work. As though to celebrate, the sky cleared to a piercing-bright-blue and the sun rode across it in triumph, illuminating the snow to a blinding ferocity of whiter-than-white.

What we lost of the accumulated winter's snowpack in yesterday's rain, we gained back overnight with the newfallen snow. Before we went up to bed last night, it had already been snowing for quite a while. The ferocious winds accompanying the snow made for a whiteout blizzard. Irving thought he'd be ahead of the game by shovelling out a portion of the backyard pathways so Jackie and Jillie could get out first thing in the morning. And while he was at it, he cleared some of the already-gathered snow off the porch and threw out a fresh lot of peanuts. The rabbit had been by earlier to collect his carrot.

Trouble was, so much snow had fallen, it completely obscured the peanuts and the trails shovelled out in the back filled right back in again. So we both went out and shovelled the pathways clear of the new snow, about a foot deep, to enable Jackie and Jillie to get out and do their morning business ritual. Where they detest the rain and hate to go out into it, they love the snow, just as all dogs seem to. So they had the opportunity to cavort about a bit, as well. But it was cold and it was windy and they didn't tarry long.

We'd had Spanish paella for dinner last night, so we weren't particularly hungry for breakfast. Doesn't matter what volumes of food our puppies eat they're always hungry. The paella was really excellent. Once again, Irving dug in and made me a happy cook. And the result of that meal was that once again we ate more than we really needed to -- but it was that good. We topped it off with sliced strawberries kiwis and for dessert. 

We've missed three days now going out to the ravine. The ankle that Irving had sprained on the icy forest trails feels a whole lot better now. And he was prepared to give it a go today, but I wasn't. He had already done some house vacuuming, gone back out to clear the snow off the porch and the walkways, and I figured he had taxed his poor foot quite enough for one day. He's just so anxious to get Jackie and Jillie out for their usual daily tramp through the ravine.

I decided to bake cookies today. Irving opted for rolled sugar cookies. Memories of his mother's baking. So I used half the dough to make strawberry sandwich cookies and the remainder just plain cut-out sugar cookies that he so much enjoys with coffee. While he was out shovelling, I was indoors rolling out cookie dough and using a tumbler to cut plain round shapes. And then I made a whole-wheat-cheese bread dough and put on a chicken soup to cook.

It is kind of getting to us, not having the opportunity to get out into the ravine. We miss not moseying about on the trails. But as long as his ankle feels better tomorrow, we'll catch up then. By then the trails in the ravine will have been tramped down well, smoothing out the bumps and ridges that rain and flash-freeze had caused and which was, we suspect, the source of Irving's sprained-twisted ankle. Slippery enough for me to lose my grip on the forest floor twice, despite wearing cleats. 

In downtown Ottawa police have begun seriously dispersing the protesters, having their rigs hauled off, arresting those who defy the orders to clear out of the Parliamentary Precinct and nearby neighbourhoods disrupting life for the residents. It is all so very sad. The protesters have a legitimate grievance, one this government is deaf to. Even though they were scorned by the prime minister whose response and general contemptible behaviour is the source of the problem, it's time for them to move on and return home.

Well, Jackie and Jillie may have missed their habitual walk through the forest trails, but there are other, almost-compensating rituals that we didn't miss. They asked and they received. As usual, I cut up fresh salad vegetables for them. They each have their own salad bowls presented to them twice daily. Once in the afternoon and then once again, representing their dinnertime 'desert'. By the way they anxiously await their salad after having their dinner, it's clear they do regard the vegetables as the most favourite part of their daily food intake.