Weather makes such a huge difference in our daily lives. We know instinctively we're going to have an exceptionally good day when we wake to sunshine. And that's just what we did, this morning. The house was flooded with light, dazzling, blinding light. More than welcome after yesterday's ongoing rain. And we would make the most of it. Jackie and Jillie from early morning, out on the deck, absorbing the sun's warmth, even though the ambient temperature was 4C. It  had struggled up from -2C the night before.

Our woodland neighbours keep making a beeline over to our front porch. We've spoiled them for foraging on their own for their sustenance. Irving promised that the two 50-lb. bags of shelled peanuts he was going through would be the last. He was finished with feeding the chipmunks, squirrels, birds, raccoons, skunks and rabbits. And he was almost through the last bag. But he felt badly, he would be letting down their expectations. How about if he went over to the feed store this morning to pick up one last bag? To last until the trees are leafed out and the forest floor turns green?

Alongside the newspapers awaiting our attention this morning, there was a package. I had ordered a few light summer dresses online, and they had arrived. Size small, light-textured fabric, colourful. And a style I look for in vain at retail outlets ... to which, admittedly I have not returned to in the last several  years during the pandemic. And they fit just right. I tried them on after I had done my chores, just when Irving returned from his trip to the bank and the feed store. The single 50-lb. bag he bought now is priced at $79, when in March it cost $60; a reflection of a huge rise in the price of shipping.

Earlier in the day Irving had contacted the good-natured fellow who works as a technician for the RCMP and conducts his own vehicular repairs shop from his home where he even installed a hoist so he could do some quite complex work. He also makes home visit appointments to do things like change vehicles from their winter tires to summer tires. Our good neighbour Mohindar introduced us to Greg, affable, reliable and an excellent auto mechanic. 

That done, we hastened to leave the house, into the golden day of sunshine by which time it was slightly milder at 8C. Enough of our friends and acquaintances had made the same decision that we regularly came across others with their dogs making the most of a lovely spring day. Even though we're anticipating another -2C night. Slowly but surely, we're getting there.

Jackie and Jillie, particularly Jackie, take themselves everywhere on the trails, back and further, spurting ahead, nosing about off-trail, sniffing here, there and everywhere. And then, there are the reunions with their friends, lots of doggy-patter to communicate. In some flat areas in the upper parts of the forest, beyond the confines of the ravine and distant from the creek there are huge pools of collected rainwater. The presence of which is inviting to dogs passing through

But it's the creek itself that calls out to the dogs who likely cannot imagine a jaunt through the forest without dipping into the ravine where the creek, swollen with rainwater and hurtling over the small rapids calls out its refreshing invitation to them all. It's the Mallard ducks' misfortune that when the dogs dive into the creek, they evacuate. They don't go very far, though, just out of reach, awaiting the departure of the dogs so they can return to steam peacefully through the creek again.

On our return to street level, Irving emptied our slot at the group mailbox, looking for the latest issue of the art and antiques magazine he subscribes to. What was there instead was a huge, heavy-duty plastic envelope from the Red Cross containing their public relations advertising and their latest magazine featuring all the work they've accomplished. Which makes me think twice, and then again, before sending them future donations since I'd prefer to support actual work in the field where it's required, not the cost of publishing and mailing out slick invitations to donate more and more frequently. Bonus 'gifts' to donors of pens and colourful shopping bags simply don't reflect my values, sent out by charitable groups.