So, it's Saturday, our proverbial day of rest. A lovely day not to be wasted. It's far cooler for a summer day than is usual, nudging 20C and firm about it. A hefty breeze, so with clouds hectoring the sun now and again it's perfect for a meander through the woodland trails with Jackie and Jillie, and come to think of it, catch up on the chores in our neglected garden afterward.

So off we went -- first things first, insist Jackie and Jillie -- and took our turn in the ravine. The breathtaking vision of a meadow of Himalayan balsam in generous bloom against the background of bright summer green deserves a pause before we even get going. The small flowers, bright pink and insouciantly poised are beautiful, on their stalks easily as tall as I am, and more. This year the compass plants and the Himalayan orchids are in a competition to see which will grow taller.

For that matter, goldenrod and ragweed have grown to monumental size this year, and clumps of them appeared early and everywhere. Good thing it is that we're not allergic to them. And nor are Jackie and Jillie. Our little miniature poodle Button used to have allergies in early spring but nothing would stop her from enjoying her daily jaunts through the forest trails, just like Jackie and Jillie.

They met up with some of their acquaintances while we were out strolling along the trails drying out nicely from all the rain we've had. At one juncture Jackie and Jillie came across an unfamiliar dog they hadn't met before. This was a huge, energetic and curious-about-them year-and-a-half-old Newfoundland breed. Restless and curious about everything, taking up most of the room on the trails because of its penchant for striding along very close to everyone, leaving the impression of an imminent collision.

The dog wanted to play with our two cranky little dogs who prefer to make their own choices and they definitely weren't about to select this colossus as a playmate. The Newfie followed them closely every time they tried to evade it leading to their trying to leap into our arms for comfort and support. When the dog's companions chose another trail, it refused to follow them, preferring instead to follow us, to Jackie and Jillie's alarm. Eventually, the man ran after the resisting pup and led it off. It wanted to play with Jackie and Jillie and that was that.

We decided to cap off our ravine hike this day with a visit at the opposite end of our circuit's meadow. No wild orchids there, but lots of Queen Anne's lace, fleabane, daisies, purple loosestrife, Black-eyed Susans and -- we keep our distance from these -- wild parsnips. 

 On to the garden, snipping here and there, to provide some order and tidiness in the garden. Pulling weeds, noting the surprise presence of two tomato plants, obviously from the compost spread in the spring. I yanked one in an inconvenient spot, and left the other because it will have room to grow.

The crow, we note, that has been hanging boldly around the porch of late who doesn't react with alarm as do the others when it sees us through the glass front door peering out at it, doesn't appear to be house-trained and evidently doesn't care, though we do. I sprayed its leavings with a vinegar concoction before beginning my usual sweep up of the mess left on the porch and the walkways.

There's always more to be done, but after that workout and watering the garden pots I felt that to have been enough for the day, the day of rest, and went into the house to start a cream of broccoli soup for dinner that we'll have alongside sandwiches for dinner tonight. Friday-night dinner is always so filling and so is Saturday breakfast; a lighter repast is sometimes in order.