Jackie and Jillie have been introduced to Labradoodles, often resembling themselves but many times larger on our daily hikes through the forest trails. They're invariably good-natured dogs, and playful as well. They're certainly graceful in motion and their appearance is beyond pleasing. For the most part when poodles are interbred with other breeds what seems to predominate is the poodle genetics.

Which is just as well since poodles are celebrated for their high canine intelligence, companionship and attractive appearance, all with good reason. Mind, Labs, though not high on the intelligence scale are quite wonderful family dogs reflecting their excellent, laid-back temperaments.

Yesterday, however, was the first time that we'd come across two dogs which, like Jackie and Jillie, look quite similar to one another. Another pair of siblings. A cross between an Irish Setter and a Standard Poodle. Just as with our own two little siblings. Both black, one was taller and more robust than the other. Jackie is taller than Jillie, but she's built like a tank and his conformation is on the thin side.

The two large dogs looked like poodles, their Irish Setter genes giving them long silky black hair however, not curly hair. Without doubt, it's likely that if they were groomed, their hair cut short, it would turn tight and curly, the poodle strain of genetics asserting itself. Despite their size, actually super-sized versions of our little pair, they looked quite cute.

Our introduction to the two was as brief as their interest in remaining in any one spot for an extended period. They were there, disporting themselves, challenging the playfulness quotient in two very small versions of themselves, then galumphed on. As large as they seemed to us, they have still time to continue filling out since they were only 9 months old.

We continued on, deciding to descend a bit further toward a deeper portion of the ravine, where a tributary of the ravine's creek runs. And there we saw the sole, lonely bit of meadow rue that seems to come back year after year, and it was in flower. It badly needs company. Originally there had been two, but somehow only one managed to survive and it's hanging in there, nowhere near as robust as the plant should be, its flowering top fallen over toward the ground.

Going off in that direction gives all of us a greater physical challenge of increased numbers of ascents, but we're so long familiar with the terrain, as are Jackie and Jillie, that it mostly fails to represent much of an extended energy output. It does tend to have a slightly different micro climate; usually wetter and cooler. Jillie has a tendency to run on ahead, while Jackie tends to remain closer to us, though nothing deters him from leaving our proximity and dashing off into the woods after an alluring squirrel, while Jillie usually just remains on the trail awaiting his return.

As usual, we stopped briefly in the front garden to assess the moisture conditions needing some attention before the heat of the day set in. It seems unmistakably that for this time of year, just approaching midsummer's leap into the dog days of summer, that the garden has filled in enormously, reminiscent of how it should look a month later in the season.