I don’t know about where you live, but here in beautiful Pennsylvania it’s been raining and raining and raining with one or two dry days thrown in the mix. I don’t normally mind rain, but when the meteorologist comes on the TV and says that had the rain in June been snow, we’d have had 48 inches of the fluffy white stuff, it kind of gets your attention!
About the biggest complaint I have about rain is walking to and from work in it. The back splash of heels in water on dress trousers is a bit of a drag, not to mention the fact that wearing open-toed shoes is not a good idea. But it’s summer, and your toes are all dressed up for show and you just don’t want to hide them inside shoes.
Aside from that, rain is beautiful. I was standing at the kitchen window staring out at my Red Sweet Gum tree, marveling at the variety of shades of green that seemed sharper and brighter and more vivid in the rain. For those unfamiliar with Red Sweet Gum trees, the leaves are star shaped and absolutely wonderfully aromatic. I stood admiring my tree–the setting sun glistened off the rain water settling on the leaf stars. I was amazed at how vastly different the tree looked in the aftermath of a summer storm. I grabbed my camera and headed outside to attempt to gain a few frames of the beauty. I snapped several pictures from several spots in the yard and at varying angles, but I simply could not capture what I’d seen from the kitchen window. It was that “once and but for a moment” beauty where the setting is perfect–the sunshine was in the perfect degree of brightness, the rain water was in its early stages of dropping off the tree leaves–the setting was perfect. By the time I’d attempted to capture it, the moment had passed. It’s true, I have some nice photos, but none of them are THE one photo I wanted.
I’ve been enjoying the summer rains, tolerating the thunder storms, and keeping my pretty toes tucked inside shoes–nice and dry. Thanks to a tree full of star-shaped leaves I’ve grown to appreciate even more the beauty in the rain. It’s more than nature’s way of watering the gardens, making plants and grass grow, and keeping things somewhat cleaner than without the rain. It’s about seeing the mist of a shower, hearing the rhythm of a storm, and admiring the rainbow at the end. It’s noticing how the rain enhances the colors of the world around us.
Until next time, may the rain in your life bring beauty and inspiration.
69nancy
Faye Avalon
Jane Smith
Kit Domino
Laurie Ryan
Lavada Dee
marietuhart
Author
Tricia Jones
Theresa Scott
Valerie J. Patterson
Over The Backyard Fence 
I love the rain, which is probably why I live in the Pacific Northwest. Although we’re a bit parched here, and I miss it. I especially love the smell of new rain on the grass. Nothing better.
It’s funny, you mentioned shoes and rain and it reminded me of my mom. I always remember her on rainy days getting ready for work. The work shoes when into the sack she carried and the clearish rubber ankle boots with the fold-over clasp went on until she got to work. 🙂
I had an aunt with those same shoes, Laurie! I remember as a kid thinking they were the coolest boots ever…see through! I wonder if they still make them?
I hope your neck of the woods sees some rain soon. We had rain today and yesterday and the day before. The next 3 days are supposed to be sunny and milder temps and lower humidity. Looking forward to that! 😛
Ahhh rain, this has been the longest hottest dry spell I can remember here in the Pacific NW. And, I’m finding myself missing it, the scent, the clean air, the softness it brings to your skin. Your post brought this all to mind. Enjoy and think of all the places that are experiencing drought and heat. I’m sure our weather will flip and then the complaints with flip too.
The humidity has like, tripled these days. The heat and humidity after each shower is oppressive. I went outside Sunday night at 11 PM and the heat was stifling! I am not a summer person. I prefer winter and then spring and fall, but I think this has been the wettest summer I can remember in a long time. Hope you see some summer showers out your way! 😛
Glad to hear you’re enjoying the rain, Valerie. We’ve had some lovely weather up until this week when it’s rained every day. I’m trying to see its benefits through your eyes, but to no avail. I really hate it. It changes my mood faster than just about anything else. You’d think that living in England I’d be used to it, but no, if you want to hear me moan and groan just send on the rain, LOL!
You are clearly a sunshine girl, Tricia! Nothing wrong with that. My favorite thing to do on rainy days in the autumn is to curl up near a window and read. There’s just something to be said for relaxing on rainy days. Hope you’re back to having sunny days! 😛
I like rain, too; I agree about the wetness of the back of slacks as well. Sadly, my parking lot is dirt and grass so when it rains, I sometimes have yucky feet. LOL AND Wow on the translation of the rain into snow footage. That’s massive. Jillian
Oh! Yuck! I can imagine you have ruined many a shoe in that parking lot of yours. I used to have a gravel driveway and the local shoe cobbler would yell at me for wearing heels in the gravel. He’d say, “Put your shoes in a bag and wear sneakers in the gravel.” Sadly, he has passed on and we no longer have a cobbler, but he was all about protecting your shoes.
Oh, and that amount of snow? No one wants THAT!! 😛
Oh I love watching the rain (and snow falling) as long as I don’t have to go out in it, plus it is good for the garden! And gives me a great excuse for staying indoors to read or write or paint. Trouble is, we get far to much of it over here. Hope weather’s improved for you and you’re getting plenty of sunshine now. 🙂
Hi Kit! I love the rain, too…as well as using as a reason to keep indoors and read or write. Sadly, the rain has left and we’re stuck with 100 degree weather with tons of humidity! I really am not a huge fan of heat and humidity! Love the sun, but need cooler temps. I suspect our weather is very similar to yours there. They claim we only have sunshine 83 days a year. 😛
We’re all waiting here for the sun and warmth to return. It’s been pretty miserable since I came home from vacation. Boy, do I miss the sun and heat. At least I haven’t had to worry about watering the garden! We’ve been promised a nice few days of good weather but I’m not holding my breath.
I’ll bet your garden is very lush and vivid with color! Still, I hope you have some sun and warmth very soon!