We just don't seem to be able to escape the rain. True, there are breaks in these incessant rain events when the skies grudgingly convince dark clouds to move over a trifle to enable the sun, eager to prove it still exists, to shine down and dry out the excessive moisture that envelopes the earth, but soon enough those clouds, heavy with rain, aggressively claim priority and begin dumping again.

Monday's record rain event, the volume that fell throughout the day eclipsing records going back to 1899, was barely done with when more rain loomed on the horizon. It didn't just loom there for very long, it moved briskly along to once again inundate our landscape. Not really complaining all that much since perhaps the alternative of drought is worse.

On the other hand, area farms are experiencing crop rot and fungal infections, and there will be no harvest this year in many nearby locations. Contrast that to the fields of crops withering and drying up unable to come to maturity that will be ploughed under in places of drought, where wildfires have entered the environment to disastrous effect.

When we set out yesterday for our usual daily walk in the forest, it hardly seemed that we would come away unscathed. The atmosphere was dim, since the sky was clamped down tightly with low, dark clouds. Everywhere we looked in the sky the clouds moved along well enough, but those that were replacing those directly overhead were just as dismally dark, promising more rain to come at any time.

We were fortunate, however. It wasn't rain that disrupted the pleasure of our usual ramble in the forested ravine. By personal good fortune, for the hour we were sauntering along the trails, no rain fell and the initial gloom actually lifted somewhat. In the stead of being drenched by rain, however, we were literally being eaten alive by mosquitoes. The period of weeks we had enjoyed with a paucity of mosquitoes appears to be over, damn!

Our two little dogs, though, had reason to enjoy themselves. Twice we came across a year-old miniature Apricot poodle we've become familiar with. This is a bumptious, energetic little dog who loves to challenge other dogs to races and tussles. And that's just what he did with Jackie and Jillie. Who themselves exhibit similar characteristics but aren't too thrilled when other dogs echo them.

But they did share an enthusiastic run-about even if most of the enthusiasm was elicited by the other little dog, considerably more robust in size and weight than each of ours. Jillie doesn't mind being chased by Jackie and when that happens they engage in the most acrobatic of happy hijinks. When another dog chases her she is decidedly lacking enthusiasm. Jackie welcomes the challenge, outrunning and outfoxing his momentary adversary. And when the heftier little dog slammed into Jackie once, he responded by disciplining it, resulting in the other little dog somewhat curbing its behaviour in the direction of restraint.

And that rain that withheld its presence while we were vulnerable? It did recommence later in the day and throughout the evening into the nighttime hours.