After a leisurely Saturday morning breakfast we made haste to get out into the ravine yesterday, under threatening storm clouds. The forecast was for 90 percent rain and we wanted to beat its onset. Although it was cool at 17C, with some wind, the high humidity made it feel very warm, so we discarded the idea of wearing raincoats, much less taking along Jackie's and Jillie's.

So off we set, for an earlier-than-usual walk in the forest not in any great hurry once we were there, and just ambling along the trails, enjoying the solitude and the peaceful atmosphere. And so, of course, were the mosquitoes. They always used to bother Button, and Jillie like Button before her, hates bugs flitting around her.

Jackie is more laid back about such things; he displays more of a curiosity toward flying things, just as Riley had done. Though if any fly or bug happens to blunder into the house these two pups are immediately alerted and do their utmost, lunging at them if they're at the patio doors, to capture and still their unwanted incursion.

In the dimmer-than-usual light of the forest interior the greens of newly-emerged leaves is intensified, the various greens -- some with a lime-shaded effect -- seeming to glow with energy and colour.The twilight interior of the forest did not deter us from all the newly emerging details in the back-to-life manifestations of a forest's awakening after a long winter slumber.

Among the oaks maples, beeches, hawthorns, cherry and other deciduous trees in a forest that also cherishes the presence of pine, spruce, fir, yews and cedars among other of the trees in which it is their natural home, there are wild apple trees. And those apple trees are now revealing their lovely blossoms in preparation for late-summer maturation and ripe, lovely apples.

We had gone about three-quarters of the way through our circuit on various trails, when rain began to gently descend. Gently is the operative word here, light, sparse drops of rain, but with no intention of stopping any time soon. Because of the newly-emerged leafy canopy we weren't getting very wet; more important to us, Jackie and Jillie weren't.

But by the time we completed our circuit and exited the ravine, they were a little damp. And when they feel wet some inner devilish streak makes its presence known by their antic-laden leaps and bounds and run-abouts, an entertaining and pleasant show to observe the amazing energy they can exhibit when the mood strikes.

After we had returned home, dried them off, and set about doing things in the interior of the house the rain deepened and swelled and came down in torrents. Good timing to make for a good day's leisure activities.