Everett always accompanies Emil to the schoolbus in the mornings, at my insistence. It's not that Emil isn't perfectly capable of getting there and back on his own, but it's always possible he could have a mishap with his walker; it could get stuck or tip over or something. It's never happened, but in Saskatchewan's winter weather we don't take chances and so this is the routine. It kickstarts Everett's day and gives him an unavoidable reason to get up early in the morning. He's got a "job" to do.

Today he came in after the bus left and told me there was very unusual hoarfrost that I should see. Then he announced "I guess we're not getting spring."

On the way to town last night for supper and a concert, we spotted a pair of animals — one standing, one laying—out in the field about a mile from here. At first glance I thought they were coyotes, but in two seconds realized they had rounder heads ... they were big cats! We all (there were five of us in the vehicle) figure they must have been cougars. Unfortunately they were too far away to get a picture with my digital camera. As soon as Rick stopped the jeep and backed up to get another look at them, they were off and running toward the bush to the north.

Cougars are not common in this area. Maybe these two are the reason the dogs have been going crazy barking every night. Or maybe it's that friendly deer that's moved into the garden. Today on my walk home from Golden Grain Farm I happened to glance into the garden area here and saw just this head and ears sticking up from the snow. It's made itself quite at home.

Have I mentioned that my baby sister Joan has started bloggin'?