Today turned out yet another beautiful late-summer day. Considerably cooler than yesterday's 28C, with a good stiff wind, but although the morning remained overcast, that changed by afternoon and we were once again in full sun. We expected, when we set out for the ravine with our puppies in the early afternoon that the forest trails would be steeped deep in muck after last night's prolonged boom-and-light thunderstorm and the deluge that accompanied it, but such was not the case.

 

Yesterday was a fine day, but it was humid and steaming to go along with the full sun. We were relieved to finally get some rain. All the more so that it was such an enjoyable event; to hear the thunder claps, see the evening sky briefly alight and the rain slamming against the windows. We needed it, the landscape needed it, and we expected to view the results of it today. But no. The trails were still damp and muddy in places after the rain events of the previous week, but this rain of last night appeared to make no difference at all, but for our personal entertainment.

 

It complemented a delicious dinner; a fresh salad to begin, bookending a French onion soup with fresh raspberries. When I gave Irving a choice of cheese blintzes or onion soup, he snapped  up the soup. And I was happy to oblige. Jackie and Jillie don't think much of soup beyond chicken soup; we had it all to ourselves. As comfort food it can't be beat, though tonight's Shepherd pie will give it a run.

 

 

In the ravine we noticed that False Solomon's seal's berries were turning red. I'd never seen that before. Another oddity we came across that arrested our attention -- even Jackie and Jillie stopped briefly to give the little tableau a sniff -- but the bees involved, three of them were not to be distracted. At first we thought it was a huge single bee, beginning to expire. Closer inspection identified three bees and they were tightly clasping what appeared to be a caterpillar. Now that's a first for us. Not exactly a thrilling encounter; never is, seeing nature 'red in tooth and claw".

 

 

But in the day's peregrination, we also came across a few little dogs of our acquaintance.  And it's always a pleasure to see them. Irving always comes equipped to reward their expectant presence as they invariably settle down before him with beseeching eyes that only a heartless monster could ignore. Thrilling Jackie and Jillie no end as they claim their share of the treats, even though they've had more than enough to begin with.

 

 

Our walk through the trails was so pleasant we decided to double the length of the circuit we normally take, and so we did. There's always something different to see, things popping up you might not have noticed before. For our puppies an extended hike means more sniffing opportunities. For us, just the pleasure of walking along loose-limbed and foot-sure on terrain that may be familiar, but is forever changing in subtle ways provides a sense of balance to the day.