We went on a hike today, DD and her BF, DH and I. The other three did a long route with an extra hilltop included. I'm still struggling with inflamation troubles -- low hemoglobin, joint pains, and coughing -- so I walked into the woods with them, then took a shortcut up the second hill to a little café where I could comfortably wait for them sipping hot chocolate, nibbling on a gigantic cinnamon bun, and chatting with neighbors, colleagues, etc. -- everybody hikes up there on a Sunday or the like. Then we hiked down again together. Seen en route: The other three saw a squirrel wearing a "Santa costume". That is, it was carrying a load of lichen to its den and the lichen dangled over its chin like a fake beard. I saw a guy out training his sled dogs. No snow (damned global warming! go park those SUVs, folks!), so he'd hitched the dogs (2 Irish setters) to the stem post of his mountain bike. Boy did those dogs and biker make a fast team up the hills! And very well-trained dogs they must have been. He called out directions and they wove their way up through the hikers slalom-style with nary a quaver to the bike. Very impressive.