Thursday, April 16, 2009

Trying Not to Complain



Rain is a good thing, I know that. Without it this luscious swamp where I live would shrivel up. The flowers would wilt, the trees would die, the birds would beat a hasty retreat to wetter landscapes.

In fact, there are many times when I actually enjoy the rain. After a super hot series of summer days, there's nothing so refreshing to mind and body as a big thunderstorm rolling through. It cleans the air and clears away the heat. Everything perks up after a summer storm.

Cold winter rains can be nice, too, if I have a good book to read, lots of tea, and no reason to be out and about.

However, a cold rain with a driving wind and winterish temperatures on April 15th? That I did not enjoy, even though I knew we needed the rain.

But, it's over now. The sky is brilliant blue and the sunshine is making everything sparkle. Though still inclined to winge a bit, I'll stop right now. The rain wasn't some personal assault intended to annoy me. For heaven's sake. Onwards & upwards.

21 comments:

Kathi said...

Beautiful photos again. I love the sunshine too, after the rain!

Joanne said...

We need the rain too; a high pressure system kept your rainy spell stalled 100 miles south of us in New England. It was right at our door, but never made it.

Butternut Squash said...

This morning we woke up in a fog because of all of the rain. But when the sun finally came out, the freshly tilled fields had beautiful swirling steam patterns rising from them just like hot rolls from the oven. Very cool.

Val said...

did it blow all those luscious blossoms off the trees? that would be sad. but sunshine after rain is so fresh a lovely - enjoy x

JC said...

Oh you don't know rain like I do. I live near Seattle.

ArtSparker said...

The top photo reminds me of one of my favorite books, the Family Tree, in which trees starting cars.

Amy said...

Look how shiny and sparkly the rain made everything! Here when it rains, it turns everything to muddy brown drabbiness.

I miss the rain in the south. (Although I'm relatively certain I used to complain about it! We always miss what we don't have, don't we?!)

Siobhán said...

Lucky you the sun is shining again.
This side of the Atlantic it's still coming down steadily.
Worse still I haven't replaced my broken umbrella and I have a half hour walk to the train : (

Washington Cube said...

I had to be out in it a lot yesterday, and it was miserable...I was so glad to get inside cozy and dry.

CocoDivaDog said...

Once, while living on a mountain in Taiwan (I was about 13 or 14), I saw a storm approach from afar. I saw the the rain come...and I smelled it,too. It was strange to sit in a sunny spot, watching an approaching rain storm.

Kerry said...

Since moving to Oregon I have come to appreciate the rain. It has a long season here, but the earth seems to crave it, sponging up the soft rains and mists, glorying in the steady downpours at night. And when summer comes, it all disappears, saved somewhere deep down.

Tom said...

The gulf region of Alabama is said to get the most rain in the United States...but being so warm i'm sure it's not all that hard to take.
I know how you feel...cold rain in April is a bummer just coming out of a long winter...we just want to play in the sun...we've waited so long.

Tess Kincaid said...

After a solid week of rain, it is the most gorgeous, crystal clear spring day ever! I nice gift after all the grey.

Is it my imagination, or are all the cars in your neighborhood always perfectly waxed and shiny?

Unknown said...

I wondered the same thing as willow about the cars!

The thing about Florida spring and summer is that we have that sun after rain thing almost daily, and I never tire of it. I even like the way the pavement smells after.

Ronda Laveen said...

Are you sure Rain wasn't dropping a personal assault? She can be vewy, vewy twicky! And she is a cousin of Mother Nature.

Delwyn said...

It's been raining all around the world...floods here in neighbouring town and over 30cm(12") of rain...
But yesterday was Blue skies....

ellen abbott said...

When you are done with the rain, send it here. We are still behind on our annual rainfall.

Have just found your blog and you have a new devotee in me.

Fidgeting Gidget said...

I gave you an award today!

http://fidgetinggidget.blogspot.com/2009/04/my-first-award.html

Delwyn said...

P.S. I am still posting. Blogger has a problem and my new posts are not being feed to other bloggers' bloglists so it appears as if I am stuck with Florence!

I am feeling very lonely today!

Reya Mellicker said...

Delwyn, how sad! I don't use bloglines or any of those those feeds. I link directly to blogs I love. I'll come visit.

Willow people do take good care of their cars here. Sometimes I get a great reflection shot in a car that's very dusty, though usually I'm looking (as you've noticed) for the perfect gleaming shiny surface.

Reya Mellicker said...

Cagny, what a cool story. Wow. A teenager in Taiwan? Wow.

Ronda, come to think of it, I do believe Sister Rain came after me.