Finally, a clear blue sky adorned with a herd of fleecy white clouds. And windy, both in the heavens above, moving those adorable fluffy clouds and below, whipping the trees and shrubbery in the backyard to a frenzy, but welcome on a very warm day. The kind of day you enjoy meandering about outside, the puppies at our heels until they sense the near presence of a squirrel or a rabbit and go berserk, destroying the morning silence.

We decided for large-flaked oatmeal simmered gently while we showered, to enjoy along with our cantaloupe, banana and tea/coffee. Jackie and Jillie settled for their kibble sprinkled with cooked chicken and cantaloupe and topped off with a scrambled egg shared between them. All of which made us all feel comfortable and satiated. Leading the puppies to a morning snooze, and Irving and me to our usual Friday-morning pursuits.

For him, a quick house vacuuming. For me kneading up a bread dough for use later in the week to make a dinner pizza. And then I set about baking a blueberry pie. Blueberries are now available in abundance, and they're inexpensive relatively speaking to what we paid a month ago. So I simmered them with sugar, cornstarch and water until thickened, added butter and almond flavouring and so, had the filling for a pie.

After putting a chicken soup on to simmer, and preparing deboned, skinned thighs for ungedempte chicken (chicken in onion/garlic/mushroom gravy) which Irving favours to have with rice, we decided it was time to head off to the ravine for our daily ramble. 

With mosquitoes in mind we dressed in light colours, confident that in any event, the wind would keep the pests at bay. And it did, as long as we were on the street, which wasn't long. The wind, however, decided it would have nothing to do with the forest today, and barely ventured to enter, so we were on our defensive own as regards mosquitoes. Good thing we're fairly inured to them. Once we arrive back home, mosquito bites that annoyed us fresh in the ravine, disappear completely.

We had crossed the second bridge fording the ravine's creek when we heard a series of long, expressive owl calls. So at the spot we've been seeing an owl lately we looked and craned our necks for the source. And then we realized that we were hearing owls from two distinct areas, about 20 yards apart, high in the surrounding forest. We saw one own to our left, and finally another to our right. 

They were speaking to one another; male and female. And their messages were completely unalike. From one side the calls seemed urgent, from the other far less so. A female scolding a male? A male warning a female of impending problems? We asked, but they ignored us.

For a Friday, when the trails are often deserted, there appeared to be a larger number than none about today. A young woman came along as we were gaping at the owls, and she was of course curious about what we were doing. So Irving carefully directed her to the presence of what we assumed was the male owl, then explained its mate was on the opposite side. It's an exciting discovery, and everyone is glad to be part of nature and its surprises. 

Oh, and we did have a downpour some time after returning home...