Typical for this region, winter remains a shadow lurking in the background while spring slowly takes center stage. The temperature just can't seem to nudge above 8C and winter has obviously made a pact with the wind to stick around to see what mischief the two can get up to. We had a taste of that two days ago when the wind whipped up a dirt-storm of winter-accumulated particulate matter -- dirt and fine gravel deposited by the municipality to reduce the slide on icy roads -- when a dirty cloud came roaring up the street in a fierce wind bellow.

Last night when we went up to bed the temperature nudged down to freezing again on its way to an unseasonable -2C. By the time we woke up to start the day anew, it had risen back up to 2C. Today's afternoon high was 8C, with a blue sky and reduced wind so we  had a pleasant morning and afternoon. During which time this household was being deep-cleaned. We just cannot figure out where all the dust the vacuum picks up comes from. 

Two adults who pick up after themselves, never wear shoes in the house, and two little dogs somehow managed to drag into this house an unaccountable mess whose aggregate never fails to astonish us.Since we relieved Jackie and Jillie of the naive expectation that they would be pressed into service as cleaning agents, they decided to make good use of the time for themselves. While the sun was out they planned to be out, as well. But because it was also cool, they wanted to be invited back into the house repeatedly.

The sun has a bewitching effect on little dogs. Button and Riley reacted the same way every spring, anxious  to get out on the deck to bask in the sun. Irving used to put a little coat on Riley, get one of his beds out on the deck and cover him with a blanket, his little apricot-poodle head sticking out to soak up the sun, and he'd be there for hours happily dozing until we finally persuaded him that he'd had enough sun. He hated the cold and as soon as September rolled around would begin shivering until he was dressed in a little shirt, even in the house.

All good things come to an end, and finally the cleaning was done with, so off we went to the ravine. The warming microclimate that we enjoy in our backyard doesn't quite resemble what we get exposed to in terms of ambient atmosphere in the forest. We had a taste of what to expect as we walked up the street to the ravine entrance, with the wind blasting in our faces. Once in the forest the wind reduced, however and it was just cooler than at street level. 

A friend told us that  his big black Labrador, Farley, had 'chased' the Mallards and they had departed in a big flap of surprised panic. Likely they made off to a more remote part of the forest so they weren't around when we reached the area that had hosted them for the last several days. They'll be back. Invariably while they're around some dogs will view them as fair game for harassment. The ducks never go too far, and always tend to return where they first landed on their halfway return to the area in their return migration.