Just as we were preparing to tuck the day under wraps for the night, making our way upstairs to bed, Jackie and Jillie were distracted by something/someone outside on the porch and began growling and barking. We shushed them and watched as a large raccoon -- not the younger male raccoon we're more familiar with -- began settling herself comfortably on the porch amidst the last pile of peanuts that Irving put out for the night.

How did we know she was a she? Well, it took but a few minutes and then a very small raccoon appeared on the porch rail and seemed to be trying to climb the brick pillar the rail is attached to. Their movements are fluid and graceful, but that of a baby tends to be somewhat awkward and clumsy reflecting curiosity and adventurism. So, we thought, ha! a Mama and her kit.

How wrong we were. Not 'a' kit at all. Soon another appeared and another, both new appearances settling down on the porch floor beside their mother, all delicately handling peanuts and nibbling them. Three kits? Actually, no. Another two appeared through the balustrades and five kits and a large Mama had disposed themselves in a little feeding frenzy. 

We shooed Jackie and Jillie upstairs, and they watched us from the landing upstairs as we watched mesmerized while the little tableau played out before us. I had grabbed my camera and was hoping there might be enough light to photograph the scene, however dimly. I was disappointed today to discover all I got was black frames, nothing distinguishable at all. A short video I had also taken came out dark and it was difficult to discern any detail, but there were hints of movement and a faintly recognizable result.

 

Needless to say, this morning there was nothing left of an edible nature on the porch. But the goodies were soon replenished and the usual suspects -- black, red and grey squirrels and chipmunks popped up; several had been waiting for us to dispense the peanuts and they were soon rewarded. That 50-pound bag won't last very long, that much is evident.

After breakfast Irving went out to begin spreading more garden soil on the lawn in an ongoing effort to rehabilitate the grass. When I finally had the opportunity I went out to join him and it was hot directly in the sun. Jackie and Jillie, eager to be outside with us soon began to seek shade and were increasingly restless. I'd gone out to begin paring back the canes on one of our oldest and largest rose shrubs that had completed their June bloom. It took quite a while, and soon two huge compost bags were full. After sweeping up, we felt it was time for a ravine hike.

Jackie and Jillie enjoy their little conceit that we take our cue from them with respect to when to commit to an hour and more to the forest trails, but they're not too far wrong. Hot it is again, today, and humid, but no rain in the forecast. There are ferocious wind gusts that sent trees dancing and clacking at the canopy level in the forest. The cooling wind was strong enough to make its way through the forest interior and we were grateful for that.

The atmosphere that was so overwhelmingly hot (though just 26C at street level became breezily comfortable while we strode through the forest trails with Jackie and Jillie.