The cold breeze felt good.

Cheating a bit, because we knew there was a warm fireplace back at home and home was only ten minutes from anywhere we’d reach on this walk.

We met a squirrel which followed us even though we did not climb a tree.

The bears were forbearing and left us to our own devices. They thought we were unlikely to rifle through trash cans left out for collection – those were theirs!

The driveways were so long we couldn’t see many of the houses. When we could, we were surprised by how tiny they were.

The sun witheld its full charms and just flickered softly.

And we were so right, the roaring fire dwelling at the heart of the marble fireplace replaced any chill feelings.

Then, we chilled, as they say.