Friends, celebration and mud

Let me paint a word picture for you (because amidst the mud and rain I forgot to take photos).

Yesterday was an exciting day, I got to see a friend who lives in the UK and who I haven't seen for 2 years, meet her baby girl and get my car towed out of a giant mud bog!

I don't remember rain like this since I was a little kid.  Weeks of showers followed by a solid week of serious rain (we had March's average rainfall on the first of March before 9am) means that Canberra and surrounds are past wet.  The rivers are flooding, roads are cut everywhere and where they are still open they are pot holed and sodden.  And the ground is wet, really, really wet.

Yesterday S and I ventured out into the sodden landscape to a welcome party for gorgeous little Bess and so that S could meet Floss.  The party was held on Floss's sister's property, which is a stunning new house set high on a hill about 20 minutes outside of Canberra.  The dirt track up the hill was running rivers, but we made it and I pulled in to park next to a line of cars.  As I stopped S remarked, "I hope we can get out of here".  "Of course we can" I said, putting the car in reverse and proceeding to spin the wheels.  As a novice bog-ee I then made matters worse by trying to go forwards again and trying to reverse again.  It was no use, by then we were axle deep.  Doh.

We jumped out of the car (jump being the word to get away from the mud) and headed into the party.  It so was lovely seeing my old friend again, she looks fantastic and Bess is just as sweet as sweet can be.  We enjoyed the company, the lovely (if rainy) views, heaps of great food including the sweetest tiny cupcakes with fondant butterflies on top - yes I know, I really should have taken some photos.  But there was that niggling picture of my lopsided car in the mud in the back of my mind.

Luckily however we were among farming folk who were prepared for such city slickers.  We discovered how to affix the tow point to my car, it was hooked up to a giant ute and I sat in the drivers seat, ready to steer and prepared to feel the straining and have mud flying.  As it turned out, the mud gave up its prize easily.  After what felt like the lightest of tugs, my car simply slid out and in no time and all I was on solid ground.

The car was seriously muddy, but the pouring rain and water covered highways had it clean by the time we got back to town.

All in all, it was a great afternoon.  I loved having the chance to see my friend and with a little extra excitement on the side, it was certainly a memorable afternoon.

Another rain soaked blog post

It has been raining most of the day today, lovely steady soaking rain.  It began at about midday, so I sat eating lunch watching people dash by under umbrellas, puddles forming, car windscreen wipers going, leaves dripping.

I love watching rain.  It makes me feel all smug being safe and dry inside while it is wet outside.  There is something about being able to see the contrast.  If I ever went to the snow, I suspect that sitting inside looking out at the whiteness would appeal much more than actually going out in its cold wetness.

But I'm also feeling exceptionally pleased with myself for my burst of energy that resulted in the lawn being mown and clothes being line dried yesterday!  Now I can enjoy the rain without feeling guilty about chores that can't be done.

Raindrops on the roof tiles

We have had so much rain in the last 6 or so months that you would think I would be used to it by now. But when I woke up to pitter pattering on my roof this morning I loved it as much as I ever have.

I think it is a cozy sound. It makes you feel all the more comfortable and safe tucked up in bed. Of course it makes getting out of that bed all the harder, but still, it was just gorgeous to wake up to.

A storm in sunshine

This morning I woke to the sound of rain absolutely pelting down on the roof, but was very confused by the sound as the sun was also streaming in through cracks in the blinds. It transpired that I had just been hit by the edge of a thunderstorm and soon the sky was dark and crisscrossed with massive bolts of lightening, but for those few moments I got the wonder that is rain falling through sunshine.

I just adore the combination of weather. The way the raindrops catch the sun turning golden, how much blacker the clouds look against a sunlight hill. There is something about the contrast that makes each of the parts just that little more beautiful.

The storms rolled around for a few hours before clearing to a fresh, blue sky day. The air still smells rich and moist from the rain, but the sun is warm. What a fantastic day!

After the rain

It has rained, boy has it rained. Facebook is full of references to the arc, streets have been flooded, houses inundated. But for the first time in who knows how long, definitely since long before we started paying attention, today the dams are 100% full.

And as if to celebrate, this afternoon the clouds parted and the sun streamed down. All the rain nourished plants glowed luminous green. The flowers lifted their heads which had been weighed with water and beamed colour, the air is warm and humid and so clear and clean.

In the distance bulbous clouds, white and grey still hang, full of promise in the air, but between them, the clear blue sky and the warm afternoon sun showed what a beautiful summer there is to come.

What a sight to behold!

Storms

Thunderbolts and lightening, very very frightening, me!

Not really, although the hail this morning did wake me up. I love a thunderstorm and they certainly have been rolling about the skies today. Dark threatening clouds, that particular smell of ozone, the sudden clash of thunder as the rain pours down only to clear to sunny blue skies minutes later. It just makes me feel that little bit more alive.

I have also developed a slightly unhealthy addiction to the Bureau of Meteorology's radar viewer. I don't know what it is about being able to see where the rain is but I love it.

Fingers crossed for a storm tonight. Sorry parents with small children or owners of nervous pets (I used to have one, but she is deaf and can't hear the thunder anymore) but a storm at night, the lightening tracing across the darkened sky, just fantastic entertainment!

Sun on the roses

This morning I opened my curtains to a beautiful sight. My backyard is full of roses. They were coated with a thick layer of dew from yesterday's rain which had caught the rays of the rising sun. Each leaf, bud, flower and stem was outlined with a glowing silver edge as the dew and sun combined. No jeweller could ever recreate the brilliance of this morning, even with the most sparkly of diamonds and the sight lifted my heart.

It really was a gorgeous morning. Canberra looks stunning at the moment, with rolling green hills, lush gardens and full lakes. It was beautiful and sunny, with everything glowing green and sparkling clean after the rain. There were a few clouds about, but they only served to create a marbled effect of shadows over the mountains, allowing shafts of sunlight to highlight particularly verdant areas of hillside.

What a glorious way to start the day.

Raindrops keep falling on my head ...

It is another rainy day, I mean really rainy, we have already had something like 12mm and there is heaps more forecast for the next few days. The sky has that heavy dark grey leaden look that just tells you there is plenty of the wet stuff still to come.

I'm not really a fan of getting wet in the rain, but I love the sound of it on the roof, the smell of it particularly on grass, watching it pour down when I'm safe and dry inside and of course, when it finishes and the sun comes out, that crystal clear, almost magnified look that the world has.

I think rain must be inspirational, think of all the songs that mention it. All I know is that my head feels clearer and more focused when the rain is tumbling down.

Singin' in the rain

Well actually walking - my singing isn't anything that is going to make anyone smile!

Today we had that very light misty rain. It might be a little cool but I love the feeling as it settles on your face, something like a very natural facial.

To be honest, getting soaked in the rain probably wouldn't be high on my list of favourite things, but I've had some amazing times in the rain. A brilliant Midnight Oil concert, complete with thunderstorm (lightening and the Oils are an excellent combo). Dancing in the warm summer rain in a Paris courtyard. The U2 concert which they could have postponed but instead added in lyrics about the rain. Touring the Iguazzu falls in Argentina as wet as if we had been standing under them. Somehow in each case the little extra discomfort made the experience all the better.

So while my hair may now be doing the frizzy thing, each time I get caught in the rain, it reminds me of all those other wonderful experiences.