In the mornings these January days we tend to tidy up the backyard walkways from the snow that has fallen overnight, clearing the way for the dainty little paws of our two toy poodles that are 'toy' in breed identity only. They're pretty robust for little dogs and certainly much larger than is assumed for their breed.  It's only when the temperature plunges for any prolonged period to -20-degrees Celsius that they don't care to be out on the snow. And they do require protection for their paws when newfallen snow is present at a temperature exceeding -6C.

 

Once the day dwindles toward evening, on comes the fireplace. It had been converted from a log-burning fireplace to a gas fireplace over thirty years ago. It's a comfort to look at and the additional heat it pumps into the house (two-sided, it faces both the family room and the living room) is appreciated. It's on every evening and will be, until late March.

 

We've been given another perfect winter day this Saturday. A reasonable -2C, with no wind and clear blue sky, the sun pumping its own heat into the atmosphere and brightening the house interior. Jackie and Jillie were all for an earlier afternoon run through the ravine. The footing was improved over yesterday's when the two-day snowstorm had ended, leaving an ample amount of snow underfoot. It was far less arduous climbing the hills in the ravine today.

The sun filtering through the tree canopy also makes the landscape appear particularly beautiful, although this is a timeless scene that looks hauntingly lovely in any circumstances. Because of the lack of wind, not much snow has tumbled off the forest trees. The boughs of evergreens still hang low with their burden of shining white.

 

There are areas of the ravine where the terrain is particularly unstable around the banks of the creek. Old trails that have lost their distance from the little chasm leading to the running water.And where warning signage has been erected, along with wire fencing to ensure that people don't take unnecessary risks, given the propensity of the Leda clay hillsides to slump, and the banks of the creek to slide away. In some areas the trails have become very narrow, where it's prudent to take alternative trails rather than risk a slide into the water.

 

The creek has remained open so far this winter. There haven[t been enough sustained days and nights of really icy temperatures in the range of -20C yet. It's been a relatively mild winter so far. The current is too strong for the temperature to influence the water to freeze over, in these conditions. Long gone the winters when the creek froze completely and we could walk along it safe from plunging into the icy interior.

 

When we were up on the main trail we came across a new acquaintance walking two large-breed dogs. He and Irving began a conversation, while I walked ahead to keep Jackie and Jillie from bothering the two big dogs, one of which is recovering from surgery. Evidently the dog had surgery on both front legs; odd since large dogs often have problems with hip displacement and their hind legs. Evidently the cost of surgery on enquiry was $10,000 for each leg, but the fellow finally found a rural veterinarian surgeon who did the work for $3,500 each leg. And his dog's mobility is coming along nicely.

 

While I walked ahead, I came across two of our old ravine friends, Barrie and Sheila. I did a double-take when I saw only Maya, the smallest of their three sibling border collies with them. Late last year they had lost one of the 15-year-olds, and now suddenly the ailing second male border collie suddenly collapsed and died last week. And Maya, their sister, is slowly recovering from the shock of being the only dog in a household that thrives with the presence of three.