Just as we were setting off with Jackie and Jillie for an afternoon hike in the woods, the rain picked up again. The previous twelve hours represented catch-up time for rain; we'd enjoyed an entire four days previously absent rain, rather a refreshing change from daily cloudbursts throughout this past spring and summer.

Although rain events had darkened the interior of the house while I was busy cleaning yesterday morning and I wasn't finished house-cleaning until mid-afternoon, we both felt the rain had sufficiently subsided so that with rainjackets we'd be all right under the forest canopy. We stepped out to be greeted by a light, persistent rain, difficult to see, but there all the same. So we put their little raincoats on our two little companions and prepared to make our way up the street to the ravine entrance.

In the brief period between hauling back our intentions for the purpose of covering Jackie and Jillie, the rain suddenly spurted into a heavy downfall. So we stood for awhile, waiting for it to subside again, in the shelter of the garage interior. From where we could enjoy the spectacle of the downpour sliding hurriedly down the street in elongated pools of rainwater. An even more pleasant sight was that of our garden, relishing the rain, the colours of various flowers absolutely scintillating, in deeply enhanced, rain-drenched hues.

I find those times irresistible, as though my eyes just cannot be fully satisfied in absorbing the richness of the picture they receive of the architecture of the garden, its textures and the many micro-landscapes presenting themselves, blazing with extravagant form and colour.

The rain did noticeably decrease eventually. We figured we might as well give it a try, that once we made for the woods, the canopy would do its thing and keep the then-lighter rain from inundating us as we proceeded along the trails. It's a funny thing; Jillie detests water, and she balks at having to go out in the rain, however gentle and light it might be, even momentarily. Her brother is always unconcerned with the presence of rain, and simply goes about his business with no fuss whatever.

Yesterday, however, as we made our way along the trail to the first of the bridges crossing over the creek, it was Jillie who purposefully trotted along, and Jackie who seemed nonplussed. We were comfortable enough because the ambient temperature due to the high humidity was warm. The sight of the forest in the rain with its own enhanced colours is fascinating.

However, we were all getting thoroughly soaked. Which convinced us that as far as we'd gone under these circumstances was far enough for this day and we should simply call of our intended extended hike. So we informed our companions that we were turning back, toward home. At which signal, Jackie immediately broke into a greyhound-inspired run, determined to get home as swiftly as possible, while Jillie obediently turned, walking calmly back beside us.