This has been some day for winter weather. No complaints at all, just wondering what was up with Mother Nature today. She started out well enough. We had a cool introductory -10C-degrees this morning. Somewhat cooler after yesterday's fairly benign weather day.  With that colder temperature came sun, lighting up the landscape, brilliantly lighting the house interior as it flooded the rooms facing its outburst. Such radiance bouncing off yesterday's newfallen snow. The ultimate in ethereal beauty.

 

We had decided not to do our usual Tuesday morning shopping. Just to pick up fresh fruits and vegetables for the remainder of the week. Which would allow Jackie and Jillie -- we thought -- a break from this once-weekly upset in their daily routine. But we had a few errands to run, first to ship off the modem back to Bell. And while we were there to pick up a 129 gigabite memory stick. To back up the voluminous files I've kept on my computer of photographs taken over the years.

 

We waited until early afternoon to make a quick escape. We figured the puppies wouldn't be as floored when we left since Jordan stayed home, and they could keep company with him. It happened that he was preparing a salad for his lunch and there's little they like as much as vegetables, so that, we thought, would keep them busy. But no, wailing and woefully pleading with us not to abandon them was still on their agenda.

 

We knew there would be snow today from the weather forecast. The sun had withdrawn behind a screen of snow clouds after breakfast, but no snow had resulted. When we finished our business at the electonicr store we went along to a supermarket to pick up a few items. From the brief time we were there we selected vegetables and made our way to the cashier, and glanced out the windows and all we saw was a whiteout.

 

When we took our bags to the truck it wasn[t just a matter of turning on the windshield wipers, but the need of brushing accumulated snow inches thick off the top of the truck, and the windows. As soon as Irving cleared part of a window, the snow tumbled right back on again, so thickly it was unbelievable. And then driving back home became quite the adventure. The cold plus the new snow made for slippery road conditions.

 

An hour later we geared up for our afternoon sally through the forest. It was by then still cold but the temperature had risen a few degrees to -8C, and the snow though still billowing down was far less intense. A bit of wind helped the atmosphere feel even colder. But once in the confines of the ravine and sheltered by the forest it seemed comfortable enough. Not many had been in to break trail, and it was surprising how much snow had accumulated.

 

The landscape was ravishingly beautiful. Jackie and Jillie were delighted to romp about in the new snow. Everything looks renewed, pristine, in a new snowfall. It almost feels as though you're bouncing along on the surface of the newly-snowed-in trail. Jordan wanted us to pose for a photo together, so we obliged and he took several photographs of  us and the puppies.

 

Several dogs appeared as though out of nowhere to greet us and wait for a reward for being so personable. When we first descended the initial hill into the ravine we could see off in the distance approaching from another trail and descending another hill, a black form bounding downhill leaving its person behind and we had an idea we knew where that dog was heading. Jackie and Jillie barked furiously, encouragingly at her and it took no time for a big black Lab named Evie to join us for a few cookies.

 

 

While we were out the clouds parted and the sun shone through, even while snow was still lazily drifting down in light flurries. Glancing off the snow-packed forest floor, filtering through the trees, the sun seemed to warm the atmosphere briefly before it bade us farewell once again.