Yesterday turned out an utterly dreary, dismal, dark and damp day. We'd prefer not to have all those 'd's together. And unexpectedly, in mid-December. It was so dispiriting, it seemed to take over our entire mood for the day. We felt like moping about. All of us, including the puppies. No energy for anything, so we gave the day over to just lolling about. Reading, mostly. Never a waste of time. The pups hesitated at sticking their little snouts out the door.

 

We watched as the snowpack in the backyard and the front lawn began evaporating under the rain. Of course, unrelenting rain in winter means no ravine hike. Which made us feel as though something vital was missing from our day. Yes, it's habit, but it's also pleasurable, and restful. I decided that under the circumstances a little comfort food cheer-us-up was in order, and since it's still Hanukkah, we had potato latkes for dinner. Along with a garden salad and fresh pears for dessert.

 

Today though, today we woke to a bright bedroom, sunlight streaming through the windows. We rose a bit early to greet the day mostly because we had an early afternoon appointment for Jackie and Jillie at the groomers. And we had anticipated a turn through the ravine beforehand. Our mornings are relaxing, we take our time with breakfast. We do, but the pups gobble theirs down. They had their usual half-egg apiece after their breakfast; they always anticipate a treat.

Once we went off to the ravine we were reassured that there was ample snow remaining, despite the assault of the rain. I had put on lighter crampons over boots today, while Irving wore  his sturdier ones. And I soon realized what an error in judgement that was. While the rain of yesterday did not after all melt the snowpack, it did create a situation of almost glare-ice on the upper layer of the snow on the trails mostly where the snow had been well tamped down from  use.

Irving had much firmer traction than I did in those conditions both descending into the ravine in the first long hillside, and ascending other hills. There were times when I began slipping despite the crampons and that's when he lent me a firming arm to control my sliding. No problem for Jackie and Jillie, but there would have been if they'd been wearing their little rubber boots. The temperature at 1C was mild enough that their tiny paws wouldn't freeze.

It didn't feel very mild, however, entirely due to  strong winds. Aside from the care given to footing it was a distinct pleasure to have a bright day. It makes for elevated spirits at the very least. As soon as we returned home from our walk through the forest trails, it was time to leave again, this time for the  groomers. While the pups were in the care of the lovely young women who operate the spa next to the veterinarian clinic we frequent we went off to do the weekly shopping.

On our return to pick Jackie and Jillie up after their grooming, they're always placed together in a little room overlooking the side of the building with a floor-to-ceiling window; they must sense or smell or hear that we're approaching before we're even in sight, since we can hear them begin calling to us as we approach. And then we saw them; they had both been festooned with brightly-coloured scarves for the Christmas season around their necks. And there they were in festive gear, leaping excitedly at the window, waiting for us.