Just had one of those lovely evenings where Windows decides to update without notice, then takes three hours to get me back online after which it’s perilously near bedtime and I still don’t have a post. Sigh. Just in case you think we never get any moisture in Arizona, this photo proves you wrong. It’s actually a rain drop rather than dew but I couldn’t think of anything clever for a title using “drop” and Windows is still acting up, so I’m signing off.
Ever since we got married (36 years ago next month), we’ve been driving the same route to Wyoming, whether from Cleveland’s east side or Chicago’s southwest side. This year, except for the last 30 miles or so, it was new territory. I’d planned to get up at 4 am, but woke earlier, heading out in the dark to cover just under 700 miles, a trip that would take over 10 hours. I don’t stop much with a goal of gas/bathroom stops coinciding. I had food packed, tea in my Contigo thermal cups, plenty of snacks, and the wonderful BBC radio “Lord of the Rings” production for the CD player. Incidentally, that recording has made the trip with us for almost all those years, first on tape, now on CD.
I didn’t see much scenery the first several hours, the sky only lightening around 5:30 am. I saw where a wildfire had devastated acres and acres and then it was through the White Mountains, onto I-40 (paralleling or overlapping with historic Rt. 66 in many place, and to Albuquerque, where my route turned north towards Raton, New Mexico just south of the Colorado border where I’d stay overnight.
Rain in this part of the country and at this time of year is scarce. We’ve been in Arizona since the end of March and have experienced only a couple “showers”, in quotes because there often not enough to measure. But past Santa Fe near Wagon Mound, there was more than the promise of rain, although most of it was to the west of me. It looked wonderful!
I could see the rain coming down in the distance. All these shots were taken with my iPhone while driving BUT with one hand firmly on the wheel and eyes on the road. It gives point-and-shoot a whole new meaning and also means lots of deleted shots when I finally stop, but I often get some good ones, too.
These days I don’t even like to go on Facebook (not so sure I like it most days, but that’s another story) or listen to the news. It’s all coronavirus and depressing. Yes, it’s a problem; yes, we need to take precautions (most of which we should have been doing lo these many years; no, we don’t need to hoard toilet paper; no, the water supply is still good so leave the bottled water on the shelf.
Life seems to look like this…
We weren’t able to sit on the patio enjoying the view much this year as there was rain almost every day. The base of the furled patio umbrella formed the perfect birdbath, giving us a close view of the birds’ ablutions. However, as the area was moving towards water rationing, we welcomed each day of rain and enjoyed to the fullest the few hours and few days where the sun shone brightly…or even the times we saw some patches of blue sky. 🙂
Although hitting the lights green makes the trip much faster, having to stop allows a quick shot out the window now and then. As Carole King once said, “Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.” In this case, I think I won.
Do you take photos with a phone or iPad? If so, you’re always welcome to participate in Sally’s weekly challenge, beginning on Monday. Themes vary by week, but repeat monthly and you’re welcome to just look if you don’t care to join.
I may not always be singing in the rain, but I’m taking photos. Here are three for Cee’s Oddball Photo Challenge. Feel free to join us.
Forest Rain
Heavy grey clouds pull
curtains of rain across the sky,
tangling them in forest trees;
too late for most in the death march
of the crisp, brown ferns,
skies’ tears for the departed.
Mushroom spores glory in the glut of moisture,
tiny frogs break out in song,
orange slugs lie fatly quiescent.
Multi-colored carpet of leaves lies cold and sodden,
muffling all sounds
save the constant drip of raindrops
and the parachuting acorns.
Many a man curses the rain that falls upon his head, and knows not that it brings abundance to drive away the hunger.
–St. Basil
The three great elemental sounds in nature are the sound of rain, the sound of wind in a primeval wood,
and the sound of outer ocean on a beach.
–Henry Beston
Rain is grace; rain is the sky descending to the earth; without rain, here would be no life.
–John Updike
Notes and chords…
I wanted to include a video I took on this same day, but WordPress won’t let me do it without paying for a special program.
So instead of enjoying a melody, you’ll have to be satisfied with a chord or two.
I hope you enjoyed the music.
This, that and the other thing 