Jackie and Jillie look very svelte after their grooming. They're no longer puzzled at the abrupt change in home-and-landscape that we inflicted upon them last week. They're contented to have been returned to the old and familiar, our house and our near proximity to the forest we visit with them every day. And truth be told, so are we. We're still a bit exhausted from the trip...the long drive there, and the return drive home. But things have returned to 'normal' for us, and while we most certainly enjoyed ourselves in New Hampshire we're comfortable and grateful to be home again.

Jackie at Smarts Brook Trail

The day after we arrived at the cottage and settled ourselves in, we went off to the nearest town to do our week's grocery shopping. Hannaford, as it happens. We're quite familiar with the supermarket, have been using it for many years. What never ceases to amaze us, and for which we're thankful, is that no one objects, not the managers nor customers, when they see two little dogs riding in the childseats of the shopping carts. Jackie and Jillie cooperate, sitting in their carrybags in the carts, and we take our time stocking up on food for the week.

That done, after our return to the cottage to put everything away and have a late breakfast, we set off for the nearest and dearest of our trail-hiking expeditions, Smartsbrook, in the Waterville Valley of the White Mountain National Forest. It's a hike we've been long familiar with, as familiar as we've become over the years with the drive to get us there, recognizing all the places and geological features along the way. That day was a warm and sunny one, only one of the many we took pleasure in throughout the days of our stay.

The forest features yellow birch and hemlock, though there are oaks and maples, pines and spruces as well as an ample lower-storey growth of dogwood and moose maple. And fungi, tons of different kinds of mushrooms. The only wildflowers left are goldenrod and asters though we saw ample evidence of trilliums, straw lilies and Ladies slippers that bloomed in the spring.

Today, at home, we've had another beautiful late-summer day. Cooler temperature, but sunny. And we went off for our afternoon trek in the ravine with Jackie and Jillie after completing some household chores. Irving emptied the birdbath in the backyard, watered the garden and the garden pots there, while I cleaned the bathrooms and Jackie and Jillie waited patiently for us to stop all that nonsense and take them out for their daily hike.

Because the weather is turning toward fall and we now have cooler evenings, yesterday's dinner of beef stew and buckwheat groats, yellow beans and strawberries reminiscent of winter's comfort food suited the day perfectly. I've decided to follow that up today with another kind of comfort food, and after breakfast pre-prepared the toasted bread crouton portion of the soup made aromatic with garlic and Parmesan cheese.