Just as well that we were able to enjoy long circuits in the ravine the last few days, thanks to the extraordinarily warm weather and full sunlight. The temperature rose to a balmy 16C yesterday and we made the most of it. We even, finally, shed winter boots for hiking boots. Taking the still-necessary precaution of strapping our cleats on over the hiking boots.

And just to prove that April was serious about facilitating spring's firm hold on the landscape, we were delighted to see our first little garter snake emerged from its winter hibernation, and not only that bit of excitement for us, but as well coming across a bevy of Mourning Cloak butterflies flitting about one another.

 

Today, a different story. But it's even more different in our Western provinces where Manitoba and Saskatchewan are facing a freak spring snowstorm, expected to leave behind 50 cm of snow through whiteout conditions. We've had a full day of rain, here in Ottawa. It was mild overnight and this morning the temperature stood at the high for the day; 9C. But it was also heavily overcast and raining.

 

One of those days when the house interior, due to lack of sunlight streaming through our windows, leaving the house both dark and chilly. During brief lulls in the rain Jackie and Jillie got out to the backyard, but our plans for an afternoon ravine hike went astray today. Just no opportunity presented itself to get out with any degree of confidence we wouldn't be inundated with a heavy rainstorm once in the ravine.

Jackie and Jillie found a bit of entertainment in catching me now and again agreeable to performing a good rubdown and tussle with them. Otherwise, they watched the squirrels on the porch confronting one another for peanut territory. And in the afternoon the appearance of the smaller of the two that we have named Junior Rascoon, established on the porch admidst the peanut offerings. 

 

Unlike Big Rascoon, Junior accommodates Irving's door-opening to deposit offerings of biscuits, by moving slightly aside, waiting until the biscuits are deposited, then moving back closer to the smorgasbord and making quick work of it to the disgust of the waiting squirrels.

I've decided to make a 'light' dinner again tonight. In one sense in the same culinary neighbourhood as yesterday's cheese blintzes, but different enough not to bore the palette. I have wraps in the refrigerator so decided that chicken fajitas would be a nice change. Earlier in the day I sliced up frozen chicken breasts and marinated them in a mixture of chili, cumin, garlic, paprika and pepper powder, along with a bit of olive oil.

 

They'll be ready for sauteeing up with onion and sliced bell peppers to be piled onto wraps for dinnertime. 

And here's hoping we'll have better luck tomorrow, finding a window of opportunity in another regressive-weather day of cooler temperatures and rain, to get out for our usual tramp through the ravine, wet and muddy as it yet is.