You run the risk of shelled nuts going rancid if they're not used fairly expeditiously. I was certain I had some pecans in a jar, waiting to be used, but they hadn't been refrigerated and I wasn't certain just how useful they'd be for use in the pastries. They were discarded, but I had another package of them, unopened, and they were put to use instead, the remainder placed in a jar in my crowded refrigerator. I had asked Irving what he would prefer, raisin tarts or pecan tarts and he said 'both'. And both he will have.

 

 

We were out in the ravine with our puppies this afternoon, for a relaxed foray through the forest trails. That in itself is not unusual, since we're out there every afternoon with Jackie and Jillie. What was different was that on this day the temperature high soared to 8C. That, and the fact that the sun was out for most of the day made for an extremely temperature-temperate excursion.

 

 

It's not just we humans who think this is unusual. We heard owls in discussion and surmise they may also have been puzzled at this unusual winter weather. Which is slated to continue for the next little while, at least in much of Ontario. This, just days after the East Coast had a weather event that was hugely unusual, but not in a delightful way, like ours. Parts of Nova Scotia were inundated with an enormous amount of snow; up to 150 cm in some areas over a three-day period. People could not even shovel their way out of their homes. Those that were able to, ended up with tunnels whose sides soared 20 feet in height. 

 

While we were out we had some visits from the usual suspects dropping by with cookie expectations. But we were also introduced to a dog we'd never before seen. It was being walked by a teen we've long known who explained that this was a neighbour's dog. He had agreed to look after the dog in their absence. So he drops by the house when he can to feed and water and walk the dog, an elderly Golden.

 

She was the most expressive dog we've ever been exposed to. She went directly up to Irving and me, pleading to be noticed, obviously wanting to be petted, moving as close to us as our bodies would allow. She looked appealing up at us, speaking all the while. Not whining, nothing like that, but clearly distraught over something. And that something was that she was left alone to her own devices, her people away, and she was distinctly unhappy.

The  young man's family has a dog of their own and they dote on it. It was generous of the boy to agree to look after a neighbour's dog. He told us he tries to spend a little time in the house with it, to calm its lonely grief, and that's so good of him. But obviously the dog needs a lot more reassuring arrangement. Even if its owners had taken it to a commercial operation that cares for dogs in their owners' absence, it would have been less emotionally disruptive than their decision to leave their elderly pet alone for a prolonged period on her own.

 

 

 

We've lucked in lately. We've been enjoying a succession of perfect winter weather. The temperature hovering slightly above or below freezing, and full-on  sun exposure out of a perfect sea of blue. The winter winds that seemed so constant have been tamed of late. The large windows of our house have welcomed the sunlight streaming through, warming the interior. But of course as soon as dusk arrives -- although it's coming along at least an hour later than it did in mid-December -- the light and warmth of that giant life-giving orb disappears, and everything cools down again. Night-time lows are still hovering around -10C.

 

When we were shopping, Irving picked up some beef liver. Reminding me we haven't had a meal of liver in a while. And he loves it dredged in herbed and seasoned crumbs and served alongside fried onions. He also enjoys the combination of sweet-and-sour beets with it, and mashed potatoes. So that settled what we were going to have for dinner last night. He never eats to excess, although I have a tendency to. We had little bowls of raspberries for dessert. An indulgence of bright tastes and colour.

 

 

I had an appointment to see a nurse-practitioner this afternoon at 3:00 p.m., so we managed to get out for our daily ravine hike with the puppies at one o'clock to give ourselves plenty of time outdoors. The high for the afternoon was 4-lovely-degrees under that cerulean sky that heals all psychological wounds; at least temporarily. We've got to continue wearing those wicked cleats over our boots, otherwise we'd be slipping and sliding and trying to gain traction where none is to be had. Even the puppies, wearing their little rubber boots against the cold, did a little slipping on the iced trails. The sun, glancing off the ice-slicked snowpacks makes it appear like a soft billowing wave of sheer ice.

 

There are now little hemlock cones fallen everywhere on the forest floor, joining the spruce and pine cones that fell earlier. No shortage of food for the squirrels and other wildlife this winter. On a sadder note, the signs of a carnivore's feast are still evident on a small area of one of the trails and we wince every time we pass it. Jackie and Jillie have taken to nibbling on thin twigs newly fallen and revealed with  the snow shrinkage responding to the weather. Most dogs like to chew on wood, but their tracheas are so narrow because they're such small dogs. So last night Jackie was doing that kind of hacking cough trying to dislodge a sliver of the wood, and today Jillie threw up her breakfast along with wood slivers.

 

Later in the day, for my appointment, we were introduced to new concepts in shopping. The professional medical group where our MD practices is located within a Great Canadian Superstore complex not far from our home. This huge sprawling complex has closed off all of its entrances and exits but one; in an attempt, we believe, to deter shop-lifters, a 'sport' that has become all too common, along with an epidemic of car-jackings.

 

At the clinic, I saw a nurse-practitioner, not our general practitioner -- by choice. She was very good, an earnest young woman whom I really liked. My shoulder is slowly improving. The rotary-cuff damage I incurred a week ago on top of the harm I did a month earlier while shovelling snow, is getting a little better. There are certain arm movements I have to prevent for the time being. Otherwise, I'm able to move my arm fairly well, and I've no problem sleeping at night. She recommended a prescribed pain killer, but I don't feel I need a pain killer. And she also prescribed physiotherapy, although I'm not convinced I want to do that, either.

I'll just give it more time. I must admit having an aching shoulder isn't much fun. There are things I can't really do at the present time. Cleaning the house properly, for example. While we were out in the ravine one of the Goldens that loves Irving came loping by for cookies. He's a really enthusiastic fellow, and he gave my arm a shock when he leaped at me in a frenzy of joy the first time. The second time, after he ate a few cookies, he leaped again, this time driving his face into mine and licking my eyes before I could really react. No harm done.

 

Ground hog day. Will it be an early spring this year, or will winter insist on staying around longer than we think it should? Evidently Puxatawny Pete saw his shadow today. So early spring it is. We might have guessed it ourselves. We're into a spate of mild days -- which is to say milder than usual for this time of year, and considerably so. Yesterday's afternoon high temperature was 4C, not the -6C it is supposed to be. Yet we weren't able to enjoy/take advantage of the outdoors because it rained all day.

 

I didn't mind too much. Having a 'day off', although there was plenty that needed to be done in the house on laundry day. Mostly I didn't mind because my left arm continues to ache, and confine my capacity to fully use it as normal. That happened about a month ago, that when I was shovelling snow and suddenly it felt as though a ligament snapped. Next time I shovelled, about two weeks ago I did so carefully. I'm waiting for my arm to return to normal.

 

 

Its condition hasn't stopped me from doing anything; I can cook and bake and clean, just can't reach around with that arm toward my back. I can elevate it at the front of my body, and it can withstand weights, but it won't swing effortlessly around to the back without pain and deep aches. So, imagine this, I can do everything except dress myself. Irving has to pull up my pants and my tights at the back; and zip up my skirts. I'm fine with the front.

 

Trying to decide last night what to bake today, my eye fell on a bowl of bananas. One very ripe, very large banana caught my eye,and I thought: aha! I'd bake banana muffins. And add dates for extra flavour and zing. So this morning that's just what I did. Before breakfast I steamed about ten small dates, then mashed them. The same with that large, ripe banana. And now, we have banana-date muffins. I also thought why not add some crushed flaxseed for good measure.

 

By afternoon and time to get ourselves out for a ravine hike, the morning's sun had long disappeared and given way to a deep overcast. We assumed, with the temperature reading 2C, it would feel quite moderate, yet anything but. The overall damp atmosphere led to an icy reality. Even so, because we missed our daily walk through the woods yesterday we decided to stay out longer and go further.

Jackie and Jillie were all for it. The footing was good on the trails, a layer of ice-melt over the tamped-down snow resulted in crushing sounds as our cleated boots bit into the ice, giving us the traction we need to ascend and descend the various hills. On Tuesday we had come across a veritable multitude of dogs on our  hike and Irving was out of cookie giveaways well before we reached our departure point.

 

Today, none others to be seen. Until we began our slog up the last hill toward street level and there was Evie, the black Lab, sitting patiently at the top of the side-hill trail leading to the main hill-trail, waiting for us. Our furry friends have such spectacular memories for those they consider their cookie-benefactors.