It's hard to believe the amount of carrot that our little visiting Benji can polish off in a day, but he manages. Four largish pieces are placed out every afternoon on the porch and another four on the side steps of the house, and when Benji comes to visit, afternoon and evening, he gets right down to business. On occasion he will just sit on the porch, a contemplative little wild rabbit. He looks serene and satisfied and we take careful steps not to disturb him. He's a treat for the eyes. 

What wasn't much of a treat today was to discover how wicked Jackie can be, the little trumbelnik. We went out to do our weekly food shopping after breakfast and he was mightily unpleased. So much so that he left a symbol of his displeased state in what I can only surmise was a bit of vindictiveness. Not that we noticed for a while. 

It has been a sublimely beautiful late winter/early spring day. Mild, topping out at 4.5C, and with full sun and just a bit of wind. Truly an early spring day. The sun so enticed Jillie that she was determined that sitting by the patio doors in her bed full in the bright warmth of the sun, wasn't enough to satisfy her hunger for the real thing. So out she went, to sprawl out on the deck, soaking in the warmth and brightness under a beneficent disc of bright gold. 

When we decided to get out for our afternoon walk we discovered Jackie's little punishment. He had peed directly into one of my boots. I let him know just what I thought of that kind of antic although it was long after the crime had been committed. So Irving strapped cleats over my hiking boots and I wore those instead. It wasn't until we were actually out in the ravine during our hike on the forest trails that Irving realized one of his boots had received a similar treatment. Jackie is in the dog house.

It takes a lot, however, to blemish pleasure in a perfect day. The footing in the ravine was fine, part of the time we were hoofing it in an atmosphere approaching, but not quite reaching slush-state. Still, ascending hills was a challenge, for all the slip-backs. And when we reached the crest of the hills we stood awhile, resting before carrying on. 

Altogether, another delightful foray through the forest trails. Arrested now and again by tableaus of pure beauty with the sun sparkling off the still-beautiful snowpack, and seeing dogs, large and small, enjoying the atmosphere, thoughtful enough to include their humans in their uber-pleasant afternoon jaunts through this place of sterling natural beauty.