Just verging on the cusp of 30C today, it's hard to imagine that 40C+ has been reported in Beijing this week, breaking previous weather records. The heat we're feeling here is energy-draining, the mind cannot comprehend how much more debilitating it would be feeling the heat that people in China are immersed in. They could look, perhaps, to India, their global rival, for tips on how to stay cool, but I suspect that nothing much works other than to lie low and breathe in and out.

 

 

After yesterday's trek through the ravine trails, which left us tired and hot on a day when the temperature read slightly lower than it is today, I imagined the same kind of experience this afternoon when we took Jackie and Jillie off to the forest. But in fact, clouds had moved in, there was the merest whisper of a breeze, and the forest canopy took care of the rest. Even though the sun burned through the light cloud cover that prevailed for part of the afternoon it seemed a less overheated day today than yesterday.

 

 

In the morning, I had baked a blueberry pie. It's about the nicest of the soft berry pies, and blueberries are now plentiful, coming into their season. To ensure the kitchen doesn't warm up unduly, I make use of a small counter-top convection oven and it works wonderfully well. At the same time I put on a chicken soup to simmer away, the results of which we share with Jackie and Jillie. For us, there'll be chicken breast cubed into a Caesar salad of lettuce, tomatoes, snap peas and steamed cauliflower.

 

 

Our backyard becomes a veritable heatbox in summer, and apart from going out briefly, Jackie and Jillie have never been enthused at any time in staying outside in the back. Not even when we're sitting on the deck, reading or just relaxing and doing nothing other than that. If I've got things to do they're anxious about my being outside without them, but conflicted about remaining outside with me. 

 

We took our time out in the forest. Although the heat wasn't quite as oppressive, there's no point pushing things. We saw cinquefoil in generous bloom. There were a few older teens out on bicycles and they courteously waited while we caught up with Jackie and Jillie who had speedily mounted a hill and waited at the top for us to catch up. Once we gained the top the boys had free rein to rush downhill for the thrill they seem to enjoy. We failed to hear whoops of joy, but did hear a lot of squeaky brake activity.

 

Up on the ridge of the ravine there's an area of the forest floor that has long been colonized by a crowing patch of partridgeberry, ground-hugging vegetation that at this time of early summer put out their minuscule trumpet-shaped white blossoms that will eventually turn into bright red berries. There was a time when grouse and partridges were plentiful in the forest, decades ago. Since the area has been more fully developed with housing over the years, their presence abated, then there were none at all.

 

 

When we returned home there were other things to do outside in the garden. Primarily watering the pots to make certain they were sufficiently irrigated on such hot days. Irving had another go at the ants that have destroyed one of our garden beds. He'd gone back out to Canadian Tire yesterday for another container of diatomaceous earth, but I'm of the opinion at this point, it's a lost cause. I foresee that these aggressive ants will end up in possession of that garden bed.