Sometimes puppies, like young children, need to be convinced that on a perfectly lovely summer day it makes sense for them to be outdoors enjoying themselves in the fresh air when countless opportunities await them. And that's what happened with Jack and Jill this morning; they were encouraged to get out there and never mind that they seem to feel that when they're outside we should be, as well.

We had other things to do. Yesterday was hot and humid and being in the fresh air was more a thought than a reality, although such days never stop us from our usual hiking routine in the forested ravine we live next to. And it didn't stop me from setting up a temporary grooming station in the backyard to give both little dogs a needed haircut. By the time we return after our usual circuit we're well exercised, all of us, and heated up as well. There was compensation when the skies clouded over in the late afternoon, and even later when they opened up and copious rain fell, cleansing and cooling the atmosphere.

When we went out first thing this morning the landscape and particularly our garden, was completely drenched, fat globules of water sitting on everything and running down bright green foliage. But the air was dry and cool, just perfect, my husband thought, with the heat alleviated, to finish up a paint job he had begun at an earlier date, and left for the time being when other more pressing things intervened. The second coat completed on top of the initial coat, it was time to apply the third and final finishing coat.

As for me, our cookie jars have been empty for far too long, I sighed, and set about filling at least a few. Thimble cookies and plain old rolled sugar cookies, the former my favourite and tolerated by my husband, the latter his preferred option. There was still a buttertart left from the half-dozen I'd baked on Friday, but we needed something fresh. And I decided to put together for dinner tonight a type of salad that goes very well in the hot summer months and particularly with barbecued hamburgers, coleslaw.

The rest of the day will be ours to do with as we wish. Oops, once I finish cleaning the bathrooms.