Wednesday, August 19, 2009

A 3-D DAY…

Today has been what I like to think of as a 3-D day here along that river. That is drizzly, dim…delightful.
Actually, it hasn’t been rainy and dark all the time. There were many periods when the rain stopped and the sun came out—sometime for a minute or two, other times a half hour or longer. But it’s partly this weather ambiguity, the hodgepodge of wet and dry, sun and shadow—the quick-change, never-know-what-to-expect-next mix and mystery that I find delightful.
Then there’s the awful fact that I’ve had to work, at my desk, all day, like a responsible adult—which is a terrible burden to place on a man whose fortitude of character, when it comes to matters of mature reliability, does not deal all that well with temptation. While a pretty girl and a pretty day are both apt to turn my head, I know better than to go chasing after the former…while the latter can almost effortlessly induce me from my appointed task. Show me a flash of sunshine and I’ll hastily grab my fly rod, already rigged and resting conveniently by the front door, and go straightaway to indulge in a gleeful fling. Should the fish in the section of stream which flows past the cottage prove cooperative, such a fling might persist for several hours.
Of course any such inveigling “fling” might be photographic rather than piscatorial, or a simple overpowering urge to place the chaise longue somewhere under the shade, make myself a big pitcher of iced tea, pluck a good book from the shelf, and loll away the afternoon with all the self-coddled pleasure of a coonhound wallowing in cool dirt.
Whatever. You can easily see why, should indoor work truly need doing, a rainy day can prove to be my personal blessing.
Which is pretty much how it worked out, except for a time or two when I stood in an open doorway and shot a few photos of dripping leaves, water droplets on the river, the wet deck planks, and whatever else my prodding photo muse deemed worthy of a megabyte or two on the memory card. (That about ninety percent of what I shoot usually gets deleted upon first glance into digital oblivion, tells you emphatically that my muse did not graduate with honors at the head of his class…if he did, in fact, graduate.)
I also spent several interludes watching the ruby-throat hummingbirds joust around the feeder. It always amazes me how these tiny creatures are rather blasé when it comes to rain. While they won’t feed during a downpour, just let a heavy rain slacken to a shower and there they, like magic, hovering and sipping. And, of course, squeaking like enraged mice at any competitor who dares challenge their airspace.
My work for the day is finished. At the moment the sun is shining bright, gleaming off the wet sycamore leaves along the river. Cicadas are ratcheting from the trees. And the hummers are doing fast turns around the feeders.
I may yet get in some extended outside time. Though probably not. The forecast calls for off-and-on showers to continue throughout the night. Even now, I hear thunder rumbling off to the west. My best bet, I think, is to mix up the loaves of carrot bread I’d been intending to bake since yesterday—and piddle around outdoors while they're in the oven…providing it’s not again raining.
Frankly, I don't really care either way. These 3-D days can be delightful, regardless of whether you spend them in or out. Why should weather be the only thing changing?

22 comments:

Jenn Jilks said...

Your posts are so much fun! I am glad that you belie the myth that some kinds of weather are bad.

We read a horrible article by a citiot last month. I had to reply Cottageocracy was my reply. Our days have been beautiful and I love the changes.

The water is my favourite photo.

Raph G. Neckmann said...

3-D Days - what a great description! I love them too. I like the sense of mystery, luminousness and numinousness!

Carrot bread sounds delightful too ...

Bernie said...

Hi Grizz, your 3-D Day pictures are not showing, they are just boxes with a little "x" on the upper left corner, even your picture on my reader is an"x". I don't like an "x" on any of my friend's pictures and I apologize on not being able to comment on your photo's.
Now as far as the body of your text I loved how you shared your rainy/sunny day with us. It sounds much like the day I had yesterday. I managed to be productive in spite of being interrupted by storms.
How did your zucchini bread turn out, how about the carrot bread? Ahh a man who not only cooks but bakes.....very special.
Have a great evening Griz and hopefully blogger will correct the 'x" factor and I'll soon see photo's.......:-) Hugs

Jain said...

Oh, my, those are lovely photos!

I appreciate dim 'n' drizzle most on Saturday mornings, when I probably ~should~ get out of bed... but... nawww.

Gail said...

Hi Grizz-
I just love how you go with the flow - and make the best of nature's surprises and promises. The photo of the rain drops on the river left me breathless - I really really love that photo.
And the caption 3-D Day is wonderful - drizzly-dim-delightful. Excellent Grizz.
I appreciate your life on the river very much - I feel you there.

Love to you
Gail
peace.......

Grizz………… said...

Jenn…

I love weather. I've said it before, and still mean it—that bright, blue-sky, nothing but sun, sun, and more sun days are my LEAST favorite. I guess what I like most is changeable weather, and seasons.

The water is my favorite photo in this trio, too.

I'll read that reply piece of yours.

Grizz………… said...

Raph…

Now why am I not surprised? Of course any WITW fan would have to enjoy such days, I'd think.

Carrot bread is delightful, delicious, and on the way to being devoured.

Grizz………… said...

Bernie…

Do have a clue on the photos not showing. No one else seems to be having that problem…but then, you never did, either—right? Maybe it will clear up sooner or later. Did you try a full computer restart…and/or logging on using a different browser?

I love to work at my desk during the rain; I'm way more productive, and not just because I interrupt my work more frequently. I just seem more energized.

Zucchini bread and carrot bread both turned out great.

Kelly said...

...loved the post, and this sentence rang true for me: "should indoor work truly need doing, a rainy day can prove to be my personal blessing" A 3-D Day sounds good to me!
All evening storm clouds have circled us, but they've never let loose. I hope something moves in during the night. I love the raindrops on your wood deck...very quenching!

Grizz………… said...

Jain…

I like to sleep in when it rains, too—especially in a tent, or pickup camper, or small cabin.

My problem is I just can't sleep those 12-14 hour rounds like I could when I was twenty. Of course at twenty, I probably hadn't had more than 12 hours total sleep during the past week, so I was really in a sleep deficit. Nowadays, I have so many aches and pains that 6 hours is about maximum, with maybe another 2 if I have a cup of coffee in between and can keep from thinking about all the stuff that needs doing.

Grizz………… said...

Gail…

You either live WITH nature or AGAINST it—no middle ground. At least not when you're really out there in the woods and wilds. Here I have choices, but I still just take the days as they come, and find the good in them.

In your own way, you do the same. I've read your blog. :-)

You picked out my favorite pix, too.

Grizz………… said...

Kelly…

I am absolutely a man with severe limitations when it comes to resisting temptation—and nothing is more tempting and distracting to man with a deadline to meet than a glorious riverside day just on the other side of the window!

Still raining off and on here. But it's spotty. A friend a mile up the road hasn't seen a drop in several hours.

Bernie said...

Hi Grizz, pictures are fine now, sorry I don't know what happened.
Love all of them but have to go with the water, love it....:-) Hugs

Grizz………… said...

Bernie…

Who knows why computers and such online sites and services as Blogger do the things they do? Not me, certainly! I'm just glad you can now see the photos. That's all that matters.

The water's my favorite, too.

Wanda..... said...

Your posts always express so well all the endless wonders of nature, just waiting for someone to discover and enjoy...you make it so obvious that those moments can be found anywhere and anytime.

The photos of the rain on your deck and the river itself has a wonderful thick syrupy look to me!
They are unique!

Grizz………… said...

Wanda…

Like that song from the 60s—"If you're not with the one you love…love the one you're with!"

I takes the days as I gets 'em.

Water shots are among my favorites, though you never quite know what you'll get. Sometimes they're truly amazing. Like heavy syrup, or metal, or mirrors, or pieces of fallen sky and trees.

KGMom said...

Such breathtaking photos--I scarce need read your words, though I do, of course.
I loved the photo of wet deck, and thought it the best, until I came to the next.
Stop--already--I have to get work done, but prefer to sit and look at the lovely photos. Poetry in image.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Ruby-throated hummingbirds on your back porch, Scribe - how I would love to have such a creature landing here - still we have to make do with greater spotted woodpeckers I suppose. Loved the glimpses of your damp world.

The Solitary Walker said...

Damn, Drat and Deprivation - I can't see your top pic either!

Seems like 'a wren in the woodpile'... predicted some dire weather.

You're quite right. Don't be swayed by the charm of those resurgent watery naiads in the pic I CAN see. Stick with the rod, the line and the smallmouth bass. You know it makes sense!

Grizz………… said...

KGMom…

Sure, blame me for not getting your work done!

I'm kinda glad you liked the deck shot AND the river reflections. I wasn't sure anybody but me would find a few wet deck planks interesting.

Today is still rain/sun, rain/sun, rain/sun. Unfortunately, I had to spend much of the morning and most of the afternoon (just got in at 4:00) where I couldn't make wet deck and river reflections shots—and trust me, I'd rather have been here on the riverbank.

Now, get to work and quit gazing at the computer. :=)

Grizz………… said...

Weaver…

Hummers at the sipping station, nuthatches at the seed feeder, and wrens on the woodpile.

Tiz a birdwatcher's paradise!

Of course there are also raccoons in the garbage bins, the occasional mouse in the pantry, and now and then a squirrel who discovers chimneys are easier negotiated down than up.

Tiz actually more like a circus!

Grizz………… said...

Solitary…

I suggest you relax, reboot, and reappraise…could be that while your computer resides in that netherworld of the temporarily power-deprived, the sparkly silicon fairy—Miss Chip—will give your circuit board a plonk with her magic wand and bestow the desire and capacity to henceforth act correctly and display all of my posted pix.

FYI, I follow strict policy guidelines re. naiads—i.e., they must at all times remain within the confines of the riffle, pool, or eddy; they may lurk mysteriously under pour-over ledges, or sit temptingly on midstream stones, but may not, under any circumstances, extend the range of their coy slinking to any point above the high-water mark.

So far, this arrangement has worked. Besides, as a minister's son, you likely need no reminder that we, being an angler and a hiker, are given Scriptural providence: As the Psalmist says, "Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me…"

And don't go blamin' my beloved wrens for the weather! Predicted, perhaps; but never invoked!