For the most part we don't tend to hang around the front door at night to see who might be coming by. It's when Jackie and Jillie raise their frantic barking alarm that we take a stroll over to the door to see who's there. And to quiet them down and lead them away so whoever is there can nibble away in peace and quiet. When this happened early in the evening last night there were four good-sized raccoons ensconced on the porch undeterred by the alarm and calmly munching the offerings. They were assembled there comfortable in one another's presence, so we could assume them to be sibling juveniles.

In one sense, it's nice to see them so comfortably gorging themselves, on the porch. On the other we really want to know that they're still cautious, remaining vigilant over the possible presence of any threats. Truth to tell, it's hard to imagine any threats to a raccoon, much less a passel of them. They can be pretty fierce in their physical defence and dogs do well not to challenge them. And from what we've seen of them in any event, there are times when they do become alarmed and they're adept at a quick-vanishing act when uncertain.

We too know what comfort feels like, and how nasty it is when we're reminded that outside influences are able to reach into our inner peace. Like early this morning, comfortable in bed, struggling with the idea of rising to meet the day head on, yet preferring to continue snuggling under the covers, me dozing, the puppies likewise and Irving reading by the ample light provided by sunrays streaming through the bedroom window. And then, the telephone. An offshore call, of course. Again. 

So, up and at 'em. Consultation resulted in an agreement to continue with comfort food -- looking ahead to meal preparation for dinner, long before breakfast has been digested. Dessert is up to my own discretion and I decided to bake a vanilla sheet cake with white chocolate chips sprinkled in the batter, then glazed with a blackberry sauce. For the main course it'll be chicken drumsticks in a mushroom gravy to be served over rice with steamed cauliflower on the side.

That done, off we went to the ravine. Unfortunately, that early morning sun long disappeared and in its place dark, streaked clouds presaging rain. The sun appears to have felt insulted over its summary dismissal and insisted on returning for a few encores. But by the time we entered the ravine with Jackie and Jillie the clouds had socked firmly back in and reigned supreme.

Cool, at 17C, and windy as well, it was still pleasant, the air scrubbed clear and clean. The creek was somewhat subdued from yesterday's mad rush, but still wide and deep and full, though no longer muddy in appearance. We were surprised when we reached the area where we'd seen an old ash split during the storm of the day before, with two leaders hung up before crashing to the ground, by neighbouring trees. Evidently that wasn't meant to last. Today the split was complete, and so was the collapse, with one leader lying flat on the inner forest floor, the other lying parallel to the trail, with its topmost portion directly on the trail, much to Jackie and Jillie's puzzlement.

We also began to come across the presence of a variety of mushrooms. Not an awful lot, just a number of different types, including fly agaric (amanita muscaria), some of which the squirrels had already been at, knocking them over but without, as far as we could tell, actually nibbling any of them. Most of the leaf mass remains bright green. Here and there some colour is beginning to appear, but it will be a while yet before fall truly manifests itself. 

There is a sprinkling of yellow and red poplar and maple foliage that have descended. And the pines appear to have been given a good shaking-up with this wet, windy weather. Under pine copses a thick layer of orange pine needles now appear, another sign of fall we rarely give much thought to. Just one other person besides ourselves out with his cocky little cocker-spaniel, both of whom we've seen often before, who live in a further-flung area of the community which is where we end up mid-way through our circuit, albeit on ravine trails.

On our return home Jackie and Jillie rushed up the walkway to the porch to see who might possibly be about. Birds usually rise, squirrels decamp sometimes in unison as their peace and comfort is disturbed there. Once the interlopers are gone to Jackie's and Jillie's satisfacton, they look elsewhere for action or entertainment. Today it was attention given to the proliferation of bright little red crabapples fallen from the trees adjacent the porch. Good for rolling about on the ground, a novel ball, and for nibbling. They nibbled.