The result of our having cleared out our clothing cupboards and the kitchen cupboards, one of those ritual spring cleaning exercises, where we discover excess, redundant or outgrown things, or books we could dispense with, we ended up with a considerable number of bags to donate to the Salvation Army thrift shop. So we went along a few days ago to deposit them and while we were there saw a pair of Rockport mint-condition hiking boots exactly my size. I'm their proud possessor now.

I've still got quality-produced hiking boots we bought from Mountain Equipment Co-op thirty years ago for several hundred dollars, but they're heavy and I wanted something lighter and more comfortable. The Mountain Co-op boots were used extensively for mountain climbing, hiking, canoe-camping and they're sturdily built, but something lighter, more reflective of our light hiking now that we're in our 80s was my goal, and it was attainable at $10; unplanned, serendipitous.

They're waterproof, got a good gripping sole, and judging from the interior as well as the exterior likely little used, if used at all. I'll give them a good workout. They passed with flying colours when I wore them the last several days for our woodland hikes in the ravine.

Which continues to be heavily penetrated by ongoing rain events. Since spring and fall are the mint months when rainfall is generally copious, we've been on the lookout for mushrooms. Over the years we've seen some spectacular colonies of mushrooms in the ravine, notable for their size, texture and architecture, and amazing colours, from purple to bright orange and all shades in between.

We've noted the last few years for some odd reason a dearth of mushrooms in the ravine, however. But there are other fungi that are also fascinating, mostly of the shelf-fungal type in various shapes and colourations and yesterday's hike introduced us to a few more specimens that we found interesting.

No sun yesterday and continuing cool at 17C, with a prevailing wind under heavily overcast skies. Not that the sun didn't make a few feeble attempts at entry, just that a brief glimpse now and again manifested, but no break-through whatever. Which didn't bother Jackie and Jillie one bit. Our jaunt along the forest trails is interesting for them, presence of sun or not, because it's the odours they detect everywhere that attract their attention and when the atmosphere is so humid that tends to be magnified.

We did see that a pink-blossomed wild hydrangea shrub is now in bloom. It's the first we've yet seen, though a few days back we did come across one of its near cousins, blooming in white. And as well, the dogwood shrubbery of the forest understory are beginning to flaunt their compound blossoms, always nice to see.

And when we finally arrived back home, there was the garden waiting for us. With our gracefully ageing Weeping Jade crabapple tree in full, blazing bloom!