Morning extended an unusual invitation to us to join the day, offering a choice of dark, damp and cold, or chilly, and rainy. The day took it upon itself to negate choice and instead focused on dark, damp, cold, chilly and rainy. Which necessitated quick action on our part; getting Jackie and Jillie out to the backyard between rains, until there was no longer any 'betweens'. We brought out the weapon at our disposal; turned on the fireplace to take the chill out of the house that we thought last week in 30C weather we would no longer be needing until next autumn.

Nor did we think when we had a cold-weather day yesterday that today would give us even colder-weather. Which, of course, calls for comfort food; warming, good-tasting and satisfying. Today it'll be a sirloin tip beef roast with Yorkshire pudding and asparagus spears. Quite a difference from the light meals of last week in heat-stroke weather.

Not to complain too bitterly, since it does no good whatever. The rain finally subsided around three in the afternoon, so, all of us geared in raincoats we set off for the woods. The large rain ponds that had formed as a result of the back-to-back rain earlier in the week haven't had an opportunity to be absorbed by the forest. Not only is the atmosphere damp and cold, but the forest floor is resigning itself to a semi-permanent mosquito-breeding station.

Trying to get close to wildflowers now is to invite swarms of mosquitoes to rise in a dark threatening mass directly for one's face. No amount of flagellating the air will discourage them. They're on a divine mission to irritate and they take their job seriously. Just as well our rainjackets are impregnable. The thought of soggy trails and clouds of mosquitoes has clearly discouraged any others from heading out for the woods, for now.

So we were doubly fortunate; the ravine trails all to ourselves, and the rain holding off for the length of time we tramped through the trails. No worries, though, about getting soaked should the rain start up again while we were out, since the tree canopy - admittedly drenched -- now offers a layer of protection against rain. Unless, of course, the rain is a ferociously heavy episode, bolstered by winds. And that just didn't happen.

By now, I've planted most of the bedding stock that we had acquired. At the front of the house, the garden beds and pots. But there's still a few more left to do in the front, and the backyard is still crying out for attention. So we thought we'd drop by that old farmhouse again close to where we lived for twenty years before moving to our present abode thirty years ago, and they were still well stocked with choice flowering plants.

I was interested in acquiring more canna lilies, and begonias primarily because the ever-blooming begonias are pricelessly beautiful and reliable bloomers. Their colour variations and their layers of bright, soft petals are visually entrancing. Jackie and Jillie were excited beyond belief that they'd be going for a drive in the truck. And when we finished and had arrived back home they were equally excited to be home again.

Here's hoping that tomorrow will warm up a bit and the sun will drop by for a much-appreciated visit. We'll entice it to stay awhile.

By now I've planted