Heaven Help Me, I Want Rain

I never thought I’d be wishing for rain, but here I am, watching my outdoor plants dry up and the fluffy white clouds float by in the bright blue sky. Rain has been forecast every day for two weeks, but the black clouds come and just as quickly go away without giving up as much as a single drop of water.

Curtis, Tammy, Cyndi, Bill
Stewart and Me

My daughter Tammy and her husband came to visit and for that week, I was pleased they had good weather. We’re constantly suggesting, rather strongly, that they move down here since our North Carolina weather is far better than Connecticut weather. But now that they’ve gone back to that place—Connecticut, the sky can open up and rain its little heart out. But no, just empty promises on the weather app on my phone day after day. I know with every fiber of my being that the minute I get out the hose and water everything, we’ll have enough rain to satisfy Noah and his ark.

I don’t want a lot of rain, just enough to water the plants; preferably at night when there’s no chance I’d be driving anywhere. Is that too much to ask?

Before July Fourth, we bought a new flag to hang from our porch and I am thrilled every time I see Old Glory wave. There’s nothing like a flag blowing in the breeze to stir feelings of pride in this country. Long may it wave!

While Tammy was here, she and Cyndi and I went to get our toenails done. Our legs and feet were massaged, hot towels draped over them, a massaging chair to sit in—a perfect two hours of being pampered and enjoying each other. My toes are the lilac ones with the yellow slippers.

This year, as last, we don’t know what crops are growing right across the street from us, but I’m sure they’re in desperate need of water just as my plants are. Rain, rain don’t go away, come for an hour or two then please go away.

Quote of the Day: Rain is good for vegetables, and for the animals who eat those vegetables, and for the animals who eat those animals.  Samuel Johnson 

Spring is Here!

Here’s how I know. 

1.      We’re having more warm days than cold. Thank heavens.

2.   Birds are flying all around the outside of the house and the inside, too. I can’t keep the bird feeders filled fast enough; fill it one day and it’s empty the next. Mostly we have sparrows (or wrens, hard to tell the difference), bluebirds (my favorites) and a few red headed house finches. Front yard, back yard, they’re all over the place. Inside the house, Charlie flies back and forth in front of the window to show the bluebirds that he, too, is a bird and can fly. He sits in the window and chatters to them all morning long.

3.  Butterflies are coming back. We have big black and yellow (possibly monarchs) that come to a bush right in front of the window by the kitchen table in the summer. They’re starting to come back now that it’s warmer. They fill my heart with joy as much as my bluebirds do.

4.  This is a rural area and every road has fields and ponds at almost every house. The fields are now plowed and about half have been planted. Corn seems to be a popular crop this year. Across the street from us, there’s a field I see when I sit here at the computer. It has been plowed, but not yet planted. Every year gives us a chance to guess what will grow this year. Last year was peanuts, the year before was tobacco. This year, time will tell. For now, geese, ducks, and other birds are having a ball landing in the field and swimming in the adjoining pond. There’s always something going on outside.

5. The state is slowly opening up. Yesterday we actually went to a restaurant at noon, went inside believe it or not, and sat at a table and got waited on! It was so nice not to go through a drive thru and eat in the car while juggling food on our laps and being able to move only a few inches to get to our drinks in the console cups. We could not believe how pleasant it was to go in a restaurant and eat, something we used to take for granted.

6.  My sister has gone back to her home, so Stewart and I are now enjoying life as a married couple. Of course, spring has nothing to do with that, “young” love is alive and well any time of the year.

Quote of the Day: God's in His heaven - All's right with the world! Robert Browning