How the Internet has changed our lives! The distribution and dissemination of news from so many sources, mostly legacy news outlets, so there's no excuse for anyone not to be well informed. Shopping now doesn't necessarily mean going out to a physical location, when shopping can be done remotely from home, and packages delivered in record time. Communication now doesn't depend on facing others directly; we have messaging apps that allow us to send greetings and updates to people at any time.

We ordered fair trade green unroasted coffee beans from a source we've been using for decades two days ago and today the beans arrived. Of course they have to be roasted, and Irving roasts as much as he needs for a week each time. Only this time he'll be roasting extra, so he'll have enough for our trip. We've got a long, well-used list of what has to be done before we leave, what to take with us, and steps to take to ensure that all is well in our absence. Our neighbours will be aware, and they look out for us.

We discovered today, although it should have occurred to us yesterday, why it was that the shelves were so bare at the supermarket when we did our weekly shopping. The chain responsible for the store we shop at is facing labour unrest. The union voted to strike (UNIFOR) and the stores have been shut down at the head office site of Toronto. The union is negotiating for improved wages among other things. And as part of their strike the union has led blockades of the chain's warehouses. Mystery cleared up.

We thought, when the sun came out this morning after an early morning heavy rainfall, that the sky was ready to clear. The sun was just teasing us. We had quite a sound-and-light show throughout the night with a series of violent thunderstorms. At least the storms strike at the right time, while we're in bed. By the time we were ready to go out with Jackie and Jillie for our regular hike through the forest, the sky was heavily overcast and it looked as though we'd have a cloudburst at any time. But luck was with us, a pleasant hike through the forest, and no rain.

Of course when we returned back home afterward the sky cleared, and out came the sun. But we felt we were once again lucky to evade rain while enjoying a ravine circuit through the forest. Bees and wasps are busy alighting on the wildflowers thriving in this perfect growing atmosphere for vegetation. The forest was well inundated, the creek was running oddly low, and muddy where we would have expected to see it thrashing and full, and rainwater-clear.

Unlike yesterday during our trek through the trails when there was a dearth of ripe berries, there were ample available to be plucked and relished by Jackie and Jillie. Yet no matter how many they're given and gulp down, along with the occasionally cookie that Irving doles out to them while we're out, they're eager and expectant when we return home, to be given their usual treat of chopped fresh vegetables. And that's when they rush about after one another, playing robust games of wrestling in their exuberance, until I plunk down their little vegetable salads.