The Yorkshire pudding we had with sirloin tip roast for a change last evening resembled nothing so much as a lopsided hat. Thankfully, it tasted nothing like a hat. And just as thankfully Irving liked the asparagus we had alongside far more than I did. A sirloin tip roast, even a small one, is more than two mature adults and two little dogs can manage to scarf down at one go. So there's lots of leftovers, and making use of the leftover roast will represent a cooking challenge;  likely I'll end up 'stir-frying' it with onions and potatoes tomorrow. Tonight we're having pizza, so that's different enough.

 

 

We did the food shopping this morning. And were really surprised to see the supermarket we tend to frequent absolutely packed with shoppers. This store isn't usually all that busy and when we go out to do our shopping in the morning, it tends to be pretty empty. Not so today.. When our shopping was done with and we moved with our full shopping cart toward the check-out, none of the manual check-outs other than the express were open; only those where you service yourself electronically. The lineup at the cash express was impressive. And not in a positive way.

 

And then suddenly, we were beckoned to a cash that was in the process of opening. We streaked over and half the line streamed after us. The cashier was unbelievably efficient. A new cashier, not one we were familiar with and as a result not familiar with us, either, so we had to explain that the non-perishable food packed separately in a bag of its own was meant for the food bank. She whizzed the contents through in no time, repacked them into the bag and then processed our own food swiftly.

 

When we arrived back home, the usual pandemonium broke out with Jackie and Jillie, hysterical at our brief absence and curious as well about what Irving was hauling into the house from the garage. This time Jackie quickly forgave our absence and gracefully accepted all the tidbits Irving offered to them as he unloaded and put away the food with me.

The day was one of full sun again, but it also felt considerably colder than the registered -5C, thanks to wind and dampness. We dawdled over breakfast, read through the newspapers, did this and that and before we knew it we were into mid-afternoon and it was time to take Jackie and Jillie out for their daily tramp through the forest. Before the end of this week we should be seeing a more snow-packed forest with snow expected on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

 

We're still grateful for the snow we received several days ago; when though it snowed all day, not much fell in total, but its effect on the landscape was wonderful and much of it still remains on the forest trees, though it's wearing thin on the trails. This turned out to be one of those days when it seemed as though half the community must have thought it would be a good idea to have a leisurely hike through the forest. 

 

On a number of occasions, dogs familiar to us suddenly appeared, excited at the prospect of cookies, cozying up to Irving and even giving me enthusiastic kisses. One of the dogs we've been seeing on occasion lately was carrying about one of the thickest, good-sized pieces of fallen tree branch we've ever seen any dog busy with. It's this particular dog's passion, to find these huge pieces of wood and proudly prance about with them. He moves so quickly, racing up and down the trails, it's hard to keep sight of him. But when you do, it's impressive and entertaining.