Up to four days ago we were sweltering in high humidity and high temperatures in the 30s. Canadians indulge in speaking primarily of how the weather affects their daily lives. In the Ottawa Valley it is always humid, regardless of the temperature. It is what makes excessive summertime heat unbearable and frigid winter days no less so but for obvious differences. In Canada, exposure to inclement and cold conditions can kill; excessive heat less so, since there are always opportunities to enter cooler spaces. We shed our clothing as much as social decency will permit and go about our business. Alternately pile on more layers in the cold season to keep from utter discomfort.

We've now bid farewell to the heat and humidity of late summer as we prepare to enter the autumnal Equinox. We may before the next two months have passed, enjoy some respite from impending cold, in what we call episodes of brief relief: "Indian summer" days, but from here on in, winter will make its gradual presence an unavoidable reality. We can see all the signs of die-back responding to short light-days and the difference in the strength of the sun. Not only are perennial plants exhausted and shrubs subtly beginning to turn fall shades, but the shrinking of the green mass on the forest floor has begun in earnest and foliage on trees has begun to turn colour and descend from their perches.

Yesterday's all-day rain in a high temperature of 15 degrees was cool and miserable. There was just enough of a window around four in the afternoon to take Jack and Jill out for a ravine walk. Though the trees were steadily dripping with the weight of the rain that had fallen overnight and throughout the day, no rain descended while we were out, for which we were thankful. The dim light penetrating the canopy reminded us that in several months' time there will be far fewer daylight hours; a trend that has been impossible not to notice. Despite that dim light it always surprises us that the prevailing green after a heavy rain is so intense and bright, amidst the gloom.

Shortly after we returned from our hour's foray in the woods, the clouds once again relieved themselves of their watery burden. And then continued to rain through the evening hours into the early morning hours and beyond. Beyond of course, means that today is yet another day of constant rain and few opportunities to enjoy the out-of-doors.

We're stunned, as usual, at the rapidity with which summer faded, can't imagine how it could be possible that the summer months streamed by so swiftly. Didn't we even notice until now? Were we so busy enjoying the leisure and comfort of relying on sun and breeze and showers that we forgot the passage of the season? Or were we just so busy criticizing nature for all that she threw our way in her little surprises that we lost track?