On a sleep-in morning, following a breakfast of honeydew melon, banana, French toast and sausages, coffee and tea, there was work to be done. So much for a day of rest. No such thing. There's always something that needs to be done. Even if it's only cleaning up after oneself, which explains why beds must be made up, kitchens cleared away, bathrooms put in order, etcetera everlastingly. 

For Irving what took his attention was a planned shopping expedition. He picked up a few items at a grocery, then went on to several big box stores to see what could be had for his latest campaign of ameliorating the mess on our lawn that Bell has inflicted on us time and again. Not only did he select and bring home the items he was interested in, he came home to tell me of what he had seen and that led to a bit of a philosophical discussion.

Omicron knock-offs have been detected in alarming numbers in this city's wastewater. Apart from which and certainly linked to the fact that area hospitals are burgeoning with patients to accommodate, leaving them beyond overcapacity. Most alarming to parents of young children, hospital emergency rooms at children's hospitals are so busy they simply cannot see any more patients, and getting to see a personal family physician is becoming absurdly difficult.

Which brings us to my husband's observation when he was out. At the food stores we frequent all personnel wear masks. Those who shop at those stores for the most part also wear masks. Irving dropped by a few of the big box stores comparing their garden supply products and prices, then ended up at Walmart. There too the store personnel wore masks. But for the most part people shopping there eschewed mask-wearing. Provincial guidelines continue to recommend indoor mask-wearing, but the mandate was lifted weeks ago, freeing people up to chose their own personal COVID-avoidance solutions.

We were both agreed after some discussion, that this is a reflection of a cultural situation. And that culture is perhaps indicative of the people whom Walmart attracts, where relaxation of rules reflect a reflex reaction.

Since today turned out anything but hot at 24C, with a lovely breeze, and mostly sunny, we saw no need nor impulse to get ourselves out early to the ravine, and Jackie and Jillie were in full agreement. It was mid-afternoon by the time we sauntered up the street and into the ravine. And we discovered something else that we hadn't really thought much about. Morning hikes through the ravine appear to appeal to more people in the community than do afternoon hikes.

The result of which was that at the time we were threading through the forest trails, there were scant few others about. And Jackie and Jillie were just fine about that; they're of the impression in any event, that they're the stewards of the forest and all others trespassers. It's likely why they respond so negatively to the appearance of strangers having the unmitigated gall to access their personal territory without permission and they aren't about to give that assent.

Oh, and that shopping expedition occasioned the truck filled with bags of garden soil, grass seed, seed starter, to once again make the effort to return our lawn to its original condition that work crews fouled time and again, fixing Bell connections for Internet that failed repeatedly. On one occasion it was ours, on the other it was our neighbours' and the third time around it was to lay new upgraded cable, presumably in preparation for the 5G rollout. That'll be a lot of work for him to commit to, yet again.

He also brought back cedar mulch to spread over the garden beds and borders. Frustratingly, although we've had so much rain, the garden seems to dry out quickly, too quickly. So mulch-time it is, for a happier garden able to retain moisture for longer periods of time in between irrigation or rain events. Work, work and more work. And the reward is a healthy and colourful, hard-working summer garden.