Wednesday, July 8, 2015

LILIES BETWEEN THE RAINS

I'm thinking it may rain forever. At least it seems that way sometimes. Our recent spring was one of the rainiest ever. Summer has so far been unseasonably rainy. It rained yesterday, is supposed to rain today—in fact, the sky is dark and I hear the not very distant rumbles of thunder—and local weather oracles predict rain every day but one through next week. 

I probably should have planted water lilies instead of gladiolus.

Ah, well, the truth is most of the flowers which have managed to not drown are doing rather nicely, what with the cool temps and ample moisture—though they've certainly had to make efficient use of whatever irregular flashes of sunlight came their way.

Naturally, any brief intermission from our extended monsoon season has invariably occurred on days when I had to spend most hours sitting at my desk, pecking away at the keyboard, in an attempt to remain gainfully employed. 

Still, from time to time the pull of that rare sunlit world beyond the windowpane proves irresistible. So I leap from my chair, grab a camera from a nearby counter, and bolt through the door to scurry about the yard for the next twenty minutes, snapping images like a madman. Therapy to calm my soul. 

The three shots of various summer lilies were made day-before-yesterday during one such fleeting, sanity-keeping breakout.       

12 comments:

Scott said...

We're not getting tremendous quantities of rain with each event, but we seem to be getting rain every other day here in the northern Piedmont, Grizz. Nothing ever has a chance to dry out. You may know that Kali and I bought a house in the Rocky Mountain foothills of Colorado for retirement; though the foothills on the Front Range have gotten lots of rain this year (thank goodness), they're typically much more arid than the East. We're looking forward to some of that aridity--especially during summer.

Carolyn H said...

It sure feels like it's going to rain forever. And even when it's not raining, it looks as though it's going to start raining any second. Very weird summer weather.

Grizz………… said...

Scott…

I'm jealous…not about your retirement home in RM foothills—which will give you and Kali a wonderful base for the coming years—but about the fact that it's only raining every other day in the Piedmont. Here, it's more like three out of four, or four out of five! And has been doing that for what seems like months. Not always downpours, or even all-day shower events, but more than just inconsequential sprinkles. Enough to get you soaking wet in short order. And as Caroline mentions in her comment, even when it's not raining, it's dark and close and threatening to rain the rest of the time. Weird, ugly weather.

Grizz………… said...

Carolyn H.…

I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels this way. I appreciate rain, and the way it turns the landscape lush. But this is a serious overdose, too much of a good thing. I can't remember how far back you have to go where we had three or four bright sunny days in a row…mid-spring, early-spring, late-winter? A long time, for sure. Yeah, a day here and there, but not a modest string of 'em. I heard a cicada last week, the first for the season, but haven't heard another since. Saw lightening bugs back in early May, but now they're few and far between—if visible at all most evenings. No bullfrogs harrumping in the moonlight, and no moonlight, or at least not much since most evenings are heavily overcast. While I'm no real fan of hot weather, it's now high noon and barely 65˚F! Really…this is no way to do an Ohio July!

(I know, I'm probably gonna be eating all my whiny, complaining words come August when it's bone dry and 103 in the shade.)

Carolyn H said...

Grizz: I do have a few lightning bugs around, somehow, in this weather. But no cicadas yet. I couldn't tell you when we last had three days of nice weather in a row. At the moment, I'm just looking forward to one nice day.

Grizz………… said...

Carolyn H…

On 4th of July Eve, about 11 pm, I stepped outside to see if I could spot any of the fireworks I heard above the treetops. (Nope.) But I did see one or two fireflies winking above the bushes. I saw more in May! How can you have July without lightening bugs and jar flies?! I'm with you on anticipating just that one day treat of nice weather.

Gail said...

HI GRIZZ
I love lilies and your images are exquisite. I can feel the texture. Here too we are rainy and so humid. Storms are predicted and should clear the air giving way to dryer and cooler temps
Good to "see" you and hear you sounding more like your old ramblin' self :-) I am fighting to heal every day and get back on top
Love Gail
peace......

Grizz………… said...

Gail…

I've become a lily fan myself these last few years, and must have at least a half-dozen varieties planted around. And of course, all you have to do is point your camera at one and click to make a great image.

There's more rain in the offing today, while everything is already dripping and soggy from yesterday's storms. We never get a chance to dry out.

I have to go to the hospital for an echocardiogram this morning. I'm still coughing a lot though, so it may be a problem trying to get a good test. There's always something, right?

Take care…

Gail said...

HI GRIZZ - sending prayers and good thoughts for all good outcomes. Please let me know how it goes.
Love Gail
peace......

Grizz………… said...

Gail…

I will be a while before I learn any news from yesterday's echo. But right after that, my worried doctor sent me to the ER for an infection issue, thinking they'd run some cultures and sort out the problem. The upshot is I spent five hours in a cubicle. At various times, visited by 8 nurses, PAs, and NPs, plus 4 doctors, attending and resident. No two could agree on a course of treatment or what—if any—tests to run. This at a hospital rated in the top 2 percent nationwide! Eventually they cut me loose with a prescription for antibiotics and the suggestion I make an appointment to see my family doc for a follow-up check. So by the time I got home, I'd spent the whole day getting not the least bit of medical help, learning nothing new, but certainly racking up the entire "doughnut hole" dollar amount of our insurance coverage, which had just started its new year July 1st, plus who knows how much in additional fees which we'll probably be paying on for the next couple of years. And that's the news from the riverbank… :-/

AfromTO said...

Love love love the orange with freckles-I know this might be too simple but After years of 2-3month bronchial infections-my saving grace was 5drops of Wild Oregano oil under the tonque a couple times of day first sign of any cold or infection-since this I haven't had an chest infection in last 5years.

Grizz………… said...

AfromTO…

After whatever it's been—nearly two months?—I'm down to about one or two coughing sessions per day, and those mlld and of short duration. So I guess I'm finally about over this deal. Thank God! But still laughably weak…I'm desperately working on house stuff, building a pantry right now, and I can manage only about 30-40 minutes, then must take a 15 minute sit-down break/rest, another work session, another break, etc. until I have to do a much longer—like an hour!—rest. That too is improving, but slowly.

I haven't had a bronchial infection in decades, and only a handful of colds. I'd get the flu maybe once every dozen years. I've had some other medical issues, including injuries, but have been almost immune to the common stuff. But I don't ever want to repeat this, and I'm going to try my best to remember your Wild Oregano oil if I start feeling anything coming on in the future.

I love those orange lilies, too.