Bright and sunny today, so the fencing crew was back at work. We're getting used to taking the puppies out to the side garden and they're all right with it, though it's still unfamiliar enough that we have to coax them to follow us to the side door of the house when they're expectantly standing at the sliding doors leading to the deck and backyard as usual.  We'll be glad, however, when all the inconveniences are over. Meanwhile, these young men work at lightning-speed, and the fence is just about complete.

We get a break and so do they from the back-and-forth when they leave around noon for a few hours' break and their lunch. It was around then that Irving decided he would go out for a while himself, to drop by the bank and run a few errands he'd been pushing off for a few days. Trouble was, when he was about to leave the house he realized he couldn't. There was one truck parked in the driveway, blocking one lane, and where the clear lane was, another truck was parked on the road halfway across the front of the driveway.

Irving decided to wait until the crew got back, rather than contacting them, so he did a quick vacuuming while he waited. And I set about baking a pumpkin pie a week late, but since it's one of Irving's favourite pies,  he'll welcome it. I find it annoying that I can no longer buy small cans of pure pumpkin. Where we shop now, only E.D.Smith's large can with puree for two pies is available, so I have to freeze half the can's contents. And I cannot understand why a tin of pumpkin puree costs $5; I used to pay $.99 for a small tin. Stiff prices for just about everything now, though.

I haven't been able to get the hang of traditional paella where the rice cooks uncovered. Invariably, I find the rice needs much longer cooking time, uncovered. So I just gave up yesterday evening, and covered the rice, letting it simmer in the juices of tomato, red pepper, onion, garlic and chicken soup. I used long grain rice this time, and it came out fine. The hot smoked paprika and saffron give it all a delicious taste. 

By the time Irving finally returned from his errand-run, Jackie and Jillie informed us it was past time for a ravine hike, so off we went. The wind had picked up considerably, though by then the temperature had risen to 16C, and there was enough blue sky amidst the dark clouds to allow the sun through from time to time. The wet gloss of rain over the bright foliage we enjoyed so much yesterday gave way to golden rays of sun brightening the leaves today.

The gathering leaf mass on the forest floor had gaps here and there showing us just how sodden the floor under the leaves was, from the intensity of yesterday's rain. But the trails were not slippery or muddy, thanks to the depth of the fallen foliage, making for good, firm footing on the ascents and descents.

It hardly matters in fact, what the weather is like when we're out for those prolonged saunters through the forest. They're invigorating and pleasurable, with the added bonus at this time of year, of filling our eyes with the glorious sight of stained glass windows suddenly appearing in the ravine. In our hour-and-a-half roaming about the trails, we saw only a handful of other hikers, all people we know with their dogs, for whom a trek through the ravine it never quite sufficiently satisfying without a stop now and again to discuss world affairs and local business with whomever they happen to come across.