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.