Jack and Jill appear to have adjusted their inner rhythm to travelling in the car. They are now permitted to sit with us at the front of the truck, since there's more room there and it's an automatic. That accommodation to their tender feelings of not being isolated from us has led to better behaviour on their part. So one might say with a fair degree of accuracy that they're training us quite well.

Having them in the front with us in the car isn't quite as comfortable, since it's a gear-shift and there's less room, but again, they behave quite well, so today we allowed that for the first time. Trouble is the 'first time' always sets a precedent that they don't forget, after which they feel it's an entitlement. That being said, it's a relief now that they no longer respond to riding in either of the vehicles by being nauseous. So it's a true bonus that neither one of them now brings up, distressingly, in the car or the truck.

We had a pleasant drive downtown, after our morning ravine walk. After yesterday's relentless all-day rain the sun has dried everything off. And though it still felt humid, there's a nice breeze. It is hot, though, no doubt about it, approaching 29 degrees, so they prefer not to be outside where the sun beats down in the backyard. The coolness of the house interior is far more appealing to the spoiled little black urchins.

They're not totally unfamiliar now with being carried along in over-the-shoulder bags when we go into shops as we did on our Byward Market expedition today. They're not all that well behaved, but they'll learn to accept being confined in a bag for the length of time it takes us to peruse a store interior for whatever it is we are in the market for.

Today it was art and antique magazines, as usual. We bypassed the cheese shops because we've so much cheese in the refrigerator right now, but did drop by the Rideau Bakery for some of their fabulous bread products. And at the market we stopped at one of the outdoor stalls where I acquired small pots of red basil, tarragon, and chives. I forgot to get parsley, but will have to attend to that on another occasion.

Ottawa most certainly is a green city, with parks running throughout the urban area, adding to the quality of life in so many ways, from freshening the air we breathe, to providing for recreational activities -- we always see lots of people bicycling or boarding or skating -- not the least of which is walking along within a natural preserve.