The sun is still playing peek-a-boo with us. Environment Canada just cannot seem to get it right; their prognostications for the weather bring us inspiration for the coming day, but the reality of nature's disposal of our plans brings us one uncertainty after another. People setting out to make the most of weather opportunities because the dark clouds have been shunted aside for lighter ones by the fairly hefty winds find themselves adrift in the middle of whatever they're doing, the recipient of heavy droplets which wind conditions exacerbate.

For those, like us, less dependent on the weather for our pleasures, we take whatever comes, grateful that however inconvenient it may seem, it is still by nature's good grace that we enjoy moderation in our climate and geography. And off we went for our morning ravine walk, trusting that although a short-lived pop-up shower had just spent itself and the sky was still roiled with clouds, we would have our usual hour's foray through the ravine, shortened the last two days by incontinent clouds.

As usual, our little red squirrel was in residence, awaiting our appearance. We seek to give him pleasure and that is readily accomplished by sprinkling the daily apportionment of peanuts for his breakfast, or perhaps brunch, given the late morning hour. He is duly appreciative, without being overbearing with respect to his just due. Patient, he clambers about on the tree, just out of reach but not sight, watching as I leave his peanuts, and mindful of the presence of our two little dogs. Both of whom, like us, are geared for the weather, should it begin to rain while we're out.

The red squirrel is bold enough, and familiar enough with our presence, to make his quick way to the base of the tree, while we're still in lunging closeness, but he appears to trust that we harbour no ill intention toward him, nor do our little dogs, who scarcely appear to notice his presence. When the four of us finally clear close proximity continuing our descent further into the ravine, we look back to see him busily availing himself of his daily tribute. And we know, that on our return an hour later, he will still be there, having accustomed himself to the fact that we leave peanuts on entering and also exiting the ravine.

All the rain we've been experiencing, and particularly with the help of the winds, have battered down many of the wild flowers. Most of them are fairly resilient, and remain as bright and perky as usual, but there are swaths where they've been laid low. We've been looking out lately for the presence of hazelnuts, to determine whether this will be as good a year as usual for them, but they're not as numerous as in years past. It's questionable whether the squirrels or any of the other wildlife make use of them; their prickly shells may prove too much of an impediment, but who knows?

Without these daily perambulations for ourselves and for our two little dogs, an element of life's satisfaction, keeping in touch with nature unspoiled by human hands would be missing and we would feel devoid of the great pleasure we derive from our rambles. Great good reason for us to value our propinquity to the ravine, and to make recreational use of it on a continual, daily basis, enhancing our lives and those of our four-legged dependents.