This weekend, not only do we have a Friday the thirteenth, Faithful Reader, we have the Ides of March of which the ancient Romans were wary. Julius Caesar was not and we all know what happened to him. Or we should. He came to a bad end.

There is one last patch of very dirty snow left in the garden. After so much rain I am surprised. By the time you read this it will be gone.

If no more falls to replace it, there could well be flowers. The yellow winter aconite looks like a buttercup with a short stem has appeared along with patches of snowdrops. Hordes of squirrels are active, digging vigorously for small flower bulbs.

My studio workspace has a window overlooking the garden where a walnut tree is squirrel access. I tap on the window, raging and threatening as they dig for flower bulbs. I rush out like a mad woman. They are undeterred.

Last Saturday I impulsively decided to walk from the bank at King and Sydenham Streets to look for the new shoe store in Dundas. It was a fine day with a soft misty rain. The trusty old English raincoat I recently discovered was made in China (along with other treasured garments) would keep me dry.

The shoe store is in the red brick house at the corner of King and Cross Streets. David William Anderson has transformed the interior into a fashionable shop for fashionable folk looking for highly fashionable footwear. It takes something special to leave me speechless and this shop did it.

Not a sensible black walking shoe in the entire store. Just luscious colours and designs. If you like pretty shoes beautifully made, make a visit.

I made a stop at the tea and chocolate shop, on the north side of King just up from Cross Street. The owner will brew you a sample of a tea you may fancy and the handmade chocolates are made by the owner's mom. This information is delightful for some reason. Imagine having a mom who supplied your shop with delicious chocolates.

Further up the street, I stopped in at a children's clothing store that has been in Dundas for several years. Not currently having little girls in the family is a plausible reason.

Once again, a shop with character. The owner's mom was in charge but the owner is very definitely involved. The fashions are all for little girls, made especially in the shop in small batches from original designs. The name of the shop is a configuration of the owner's name, Holly Dolly.

Of course, I could not pass the bakery and was fortunate enough to 'bag', so to speak, the last three cinnamon buns of the day.

Later this week I took time to visit the Carnegie Gallery's current exhibition. I could not pack that visit into anything other than a day of its own. Enjoyed a gossip with Barb, between her attendance to paying customers. Duncan Aird and Christie Gruppe have a delightful exhibition of pottery. Entitled Naptime because small persons occupy their time. No, Christie and Duncan are not under one roof.

The exhibition shows no signs of stress or distress. Duncan has a luscious glaze that runs and stops, miraculously, just short of the kiln shelf. I made copious notes but they have mysteriously vanished. Perhaps they will turn up for next week?