Nature has decided to close out October of 2021 with a bang-up weekend of incessant rain. Morning to night. Saturday rain. Sunday rain.'Bye-bye, October.

Jackie and Jillie are puzzled. Yes they detest getting wet, and to think that Poodles were bred as water dogs... Button, our miniature, was an enthusiastic, inveterate lover-of-water. Riley, our tiny toy avoided it if at all possible. And our two little black rascals, sized like miniatures but bred as toys, follow tradition.

We've explained to them that while it's fine for us to get out in the rain-penetrated atmosphere, they would abhor it. So it's another indoor day. No hike through the forest trails today. I did see one of our ravine acquaintances who lives on the street behind us, walking up our street with his Rhodesian Ridgeback toward the ravine entrance, but big dogs tend to ignore such incidentals as rain, however heavily it falls.

Irving went out for hours running some errands and brought back the Toronto Star/New York Times for my reading frustration. And I had lots to do in the house to keep me busy. Sparing some time now and again to tussle with the two little bereft puppies.

Between us we agree that missing a day out in the forest rambling along the trails really disrupts the cadence of the day. We subconsciously seem to feel that something is seriously missing. We feel guilty on behalf of the puppies and cheated on our own account. 

Looking out the glassed front door, the rain plops into the puddles it's creating on the walkway and in the garden beds, utterly saturated, unable to cope with absorbing the deluge. Squirrels and birds are coming around to the porch anyway. There was some French toast left over from breakfast, cut into tiny cubes, and that along with peanuts grabs their attention.

The squirrels, red, black and grey argue amongst themselves, and one each red and black are recognizable bullies. Strangely enough sometimes the juncos and chickadees patiently wait for the squirrels to depart before they alight on the porch floor, but sometimes they decide to abandon their caution, perched on the porch balustrade and join the squirrels. 

Surprisingly, their presence is tolerated -- or ignored -- and it's pleasant to see both squirrels and birds amicably sharing the goodies; our very own peaceable kingdom.