We were up earlier than we prefer this morning to nip out to the supermarket for our weekly shopping trek. With the specific intention of avoiding crowds. We weren't really surprised to see that it was snowing. Light snow, mixed with rain...we call it sleet. The temperature had risen from overnight's freezing mark to all of 2C, and it was still snowing. 

Or course Jackie and Jillie reacted predictably. Their version of euww! Do we have to go out in that inclement mess? They're not impressed that we go out with them. Content for us to go out and leave them in the house. We have other ideas since the intention is for them to toilet themselves. They clue in pretty quickly that we'll be leaving the house without them. Jillie went back upstairs to bed to sulk, and Jackie followed us about pleadingly.

And then, when we put on our jackets there was a well-orchestrated howling. Heads held high in misery, yowling at being abandoned. The little drama matched the weather to perfection. And off we went. Some empty shelf spacing, but for the most part everything we wanted/needed was available. And that special bonus; few shoppers besides ourselves.

The collection area in the supermarket foyer for the food bank was stuffed with donations. The large crate that is supposed to hold everything completely overwhelmed, so shopping carts were parked around the crate, themselves brimming with offerings, ours included. The Food Bank trucks always come along on Tuesday afternoon, the day we choose to do our shopping. The community responding to those in need in another instance of caring for others.

Our oldest son will certainly miss the occasional company of a colleague whom he's known for many years, an amateur astronomer with whom he shared uncommon interests. His friend three times scheduled a MAID appointment (Medical Assistance in Dying). He suffered from end-stage cancer.  On the way to leaving this mortal coil, he opted for unconventional treatments, along with the conventional, at great expense, and each time he felt restored and cancelled his appointments. 

He was declared in remission but the cancer felt otherwise. Finally, he was in too much pain and had come to the end of any further prospective treatments that might help him survive. The third MAID appointment was his last. He was 75, a successful small-town businessman and had lived a rewarding life. Married, but with no children. This too is life.

After breakfast when all our shopping was put away we anticipated the rain/snow would stop. But it persisted, so I did a little more spring cleaning. Bit by bit I'm getting it done. Frankly, if I didn't extend the effort to do it all, it wouldn't make much difference. Once I empty a shelf to sponge it down with soapy water,  there's little to be seen to be sponged down. But it does give me a a\feeling of satisfaction: there...done for another year!

And still it rained; by late afternoon the temperature had risen again, this time to 4C, so it was pure rain, the snow had departed. At the earlier temperature, the snow that speckled the air melted as soon as it hit the ground, in any event. And since the rain by then was light, we felt that raincoats would keep us warm and dry, and off we went for our afternoon hike through the forest trails.

The trails that were so comfortably dry yesterday are once again swamps. There are puddles, large and small everywhere on the forest floor and across the trails. Jackie and Jillie take care to leap over them or sidestep them, sensibly enough. Although poodles are supposed to be 'water dogs' these two definitely are not in that category. They see other dogs, mostly the large breeds, head directly to the creek at every opportunity. If we could read their minds, they would be musing: these dogs are insane!

Could be they're right. Heavy overcast with just a few degrees north of freezing, the rain-swollen, murky creek is ice-cold. But there are those dogs, happily plunging into the creek, immersing themselves completely, becoming soaked to the skin under their raincoats. Soaked with cold water, exposed to the cold of the ambient air on a rainy day. But they love it, so who's to judge?