We've been getting a bit of a break from colder temperatures this past few days with around -1C and 0-degrees Celsius taking the place of -8C and -20C, more common for this time of year. But we can still rest assured that sub-zero temperatures will make their triumphant return from time to time within the next two- to three-month period. The strange thing is, often even with the higher temperatures, it still feels icily wintry. And so, we appreciate all the benefits of comfort food.

The savoury beef and vegetable pie we had last night fit the bill quite well. And I could feel a bit virtuous about using leftovers from a beef roast we'd had several days earlier as filling for the pie. Along with tiny quartered roast potatoes, carrots, mushrooms and peas in an onion gravy. The pastry for savoury pies like this always come away tasting anything but neutral, picking up flavour from the pie ingredients. And the fresh quartered pears we had for dessert were perfect as palate-cleansers.

Of course the partial reason that it seems so wintry irrespective of the temperature highs for the day is because, after all it is winter. Often on the coldest of days the sun rides across a perfectly clear blue sky and wind is at a minimum. As for those milder temperatures, they usually come accompanied by a pervasive dampness and wind as well, both of which tend to counteract the mildness.

Today was another such day. Mild, heavily overcast, windy and damp. It's an error of judgement to think that what you see on the outside thermometer should govern how you prepare yourself for the out-of-doors for a prolonged exposure. We dressed Jackie and Jillie in intermediate-weight winter jackets and regretted it later, though they didn't seem to mind.

And nor did their Black Lab friend Evie, who detests warm weather and glories in icy-cold temperatures, laving herself with new snow, making snow angels in her happiness. She was out today and accompanied Jackie and Jillie for a while through the forest trails. Only when she was a puppy did we ever see her move so fast with the sheer joy of her surroundings.

The forest trails are in perfect shape, no sliding and gliding. And although the tree canopy has lost some of the slathered-on snow and ice that weighs down boughs and branches, there is plenty of it left to convey that wonderful impression of a winter wonderland. 

When we crossed over the last of the bridges fording the forest creek this afternoon, a flock of about a dozen robins flew out from under the bridge. There was a time decades ago when no robins would remain here, they'd all head south anticipating winter. Since they're mostly live eaters, it's hard to imagine how they could possibly find enough sustenance in this winter landscape, but they do.

We also saw, for the first time in months, evidence that the creek is still home to goldfish, the progeny of a large number of goldfish that someone years ago had released into the forest creek. The goldfish become fodder for Great Blue Herons that pass briefly through on their northward migration in spring, as well as pairs of ducks that do the same. We've seen some bright orange goldfish that have attained a considerable size. 

They tend mostly to congregate in another part of the ravine, but when they move upstream on occasion they can be found in little 'pools' formed at various places by the creek. Those of an orange hue are readily spotted, the far more numerous spawn are tiny, and black, swimming in little schools and difficult to detect from the banks of the creek.