The day promised to be hot and humid. It started out warm and sunny. Perfect for dawdling about in the garden, for us and for Jackie and Jillie. The temperature actually seemed perfect, on its way to 30C, but not yet there. The sun brilliant, casting its gold light over the gardens, and warming the plants with its life-giving essence. For a change, Jackie and Jillie seemed happily inclined to bask in the sun. It doesn't take long before their black haircoat begins to heat to the point where their inner temperature begins to resemble a blast furnace, and then it's 'make way, we're coming in!'

Since it was fresh feeling and the sun began flirting behind clouds, Irving decided he'd cut the grass in the backyard. I had earlier looked up the air quality index for our region, and it wasn't particularly good, though we could smell no acridity in the air, and with the sun so prominent, there was no visible haze. But 27C, on a hot summer day isn't an ideal time to exert oneself physically at any time. Once he decides to do something, it's full speed ahead, though.

In the relatively brief time it took to cut the grass, heat and humidity had built to levels worthy of heading for the nearest air-conditioned interior. From that point forward the day gave itself completely over not only to rising heat and humidity, but the approach and finally the monopolization of the heavens by rolling thunder. When it became especially loud, rumbling straight overhead, Jackie and Jillie expressed their sentiments over the turn of events; barking back at the elements.

We waited awhile for the rumbling to subside, but it never did; just one wave after another came through with no pause between. The wind, instead of moving from east to west as it usually does, appeared to be moving south-west to north-east taking dark clouds in a direction that was unusual for us. We kept waiting for the run to erupt. And we waited.

Finally, after watching Jackie and Jillie tussle and wrestle and challenge one another in a lengthy game of excited anticipation heralding a walk in the forest, we decided to get out to the ravine despite the rumbling threats. Just as we stepped out to the driveway, a light patter of rain began, which stopped us in our tracks. At any other time we would proceed, but the type of storms that have been slamming through lately have been pretty vicious.

So again, we waited. Waiting around in the garden isn't the worst thing and for me provided an opportunity to do some weeding. The light rain had stopped though the thunder rolled on overhead and we finally shrugged off the potential of an uncomfortable soaking, and made off for the ravine. Definitely not intending to make a long hike under these conditions.

The forest interior was dark but the air touching us was as pleasant as usual, and we meandered downhill and over to a trail leading to one of the bridges over the creek. And then decided, in the interests of preserving all the pleasant aspects of the day, to return. At least we'd gotten out, we felt, most importantly our pups were out for a vigorous if short sashay through the forest trails.