rain

rain

April 17, 2013

This week's Headbanger's theme was my choice, and I went with "rain," because we can hardly think of anything else around here these days.  Check out my  pals for their interpretations on this theme, and try not to get wet: Fishing  Guy, Katney, Imac and Lew.

 You've heard the expression, "When it rains, it pours."  Well, a few days ago we got our bucketfulls and then some!  Driving to work, I felt like a rat in a maze.  I left the house early and was moving along just fine, then I'd run into a roadblock, turn around and reroute.  This cycle happened so much, that my half-hour commute was quadrupled!  I was so sure they'd close the office, but when I called, there were already a bunch of people there, so I kept driving until I got there.

Look closely, and you'll see how deep that water got.  Lots of cars got flooded like that.

I came upon the scene I used for my header, and I propped the camera on a tripod, and held an umbrella over it.  A family walked around me and settled themselves in front of my shot, but I figured that as long as they knew I was taking pictures, spectators might even enhance the composition.  Since my original plan was to show some poor fellow's four-wheeled submarine, I moved across the street and began recomposing the shot.  The stranded car's hazard lights were blinking, and I wanted to catch them in the on position.  This little kid decided that he wanted to stay in front of the camera, so he ran across and stood in my view.  As I was trying to time my shot, he spontaneously threw his little fists up in exuberant jubilation.  Congratulations, Kiddo; you just graduated from background to subject!  I like it better than what I originally planned, so I got his dad's email and sent them the shot.

water boy

beaded rain drops on a goose

 

macro: raindrops in a spider's web

rain soaked lawn

[As always, click on any image to enlarge it.  The goose and grass have really nice details that you'll appreciate more when viewing a larger image.]
 

cool rains

Cooler weather is setting in (finally), plus it has been raining. I like the rain. I like the pitter-patter off the roof at work. That sound comforts me, but I don't know why. I like the swishing sound of cars driving on the rainy streets. I like the optical accents that come from the wet pavement and the extra lights.

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This second photo makes the oncoming Jeep look like a surfer locked in the hollow. That's when the surfer can ride inside, completely covered up by the wave, without having it break on him... like riding in a tunnel. Do you see it? The crest of the wave is formed by the trees on the left side of the image.

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Thank you Lord for the cool rains, for golden sunsets, and for every visitor that passes through here.

refreshment

It's hot and muggy again 'round these parts. We could use something refreshing.

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The search for a replacement camera is exasperating! I feel like I can get close enough to feel excited about an option... and then the rug of opportunity gets pulled from under my feet. That, and a few other things have left me weary. I find myself wanting refreshment fulfilled from things or people. I must be careful about that, because in truth, I have many things to be thankful for. And there is a higher source of refreshment than my circumstances and surroundings.

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Blessed is the man

who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,

nor stands in the way of sinners,

nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

but his delight is in the law of the LORD,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

Psalm 1:1-2

gloomy day

It was a dark and stormy... week. Sure, there were moments of relief briefly interrupting the pattern, but we've had more rain and clouds and cold high winds than usual this week. This Canada Goose doesn't seem to mind.

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Yesterday I came in to work, and there seemed to be a gloomy haze hovering over everybody's head. I wanted to order a big tank of nitrous oxide and pump it into our air supply lines.

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But maybe it is good this week to ponder heavy things. I find that the Easter celebration is sweeter when I first take the time to contemplate the events that led up to Resurrection Sunday. Some of us observe this in different ways. For me and my house, we do not do lent like liturgical churches. I did not give anything up for lent. Whether I eat meat or abstain from it has nothing to do with any of the days of the week or season. Nevertheless, I would acknowledge that there is a benefit to treating the days before Easter as something special.

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My desire for you is that you have had the opportunity to remember and be intentional about a somber reflection upon the life of Christ, and the events of Holy Week. Then, on Sunday, may you fully embrace all the richness of the day.

drink up me hearties!

Looks like rain today. ...and tomorrow. ...and the day after.

bedazzled

The new polish looked nice on the dark rocking chair. I admired the sheen, and if it were not so late, I would have picked up a book and given it a good test run. But it really was past my bed time. While dousing the lights, I couldn't help but notice the big, heavy raindrops, and the beautiful music they made. I stepped out front and held my palms up to let a few splash on my hands. Oh, that rain was so good!! I wanted to stay up, but now I positively had to get some shuteye. One last glance at the fresh, shiny look of the rocker, and I was off to bed.

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Morning came, and I stepped out front again to warm up the car. The midnight rainfall was now a coat of glaze on... everything! It was as if, by some crazy osmosis, the shine from my rocking chair now spread all over the trees, cars, and OH! (I almost slipped) Don't forget the walkways.

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Yes, it was dangerous to tread on this stuff, but I loved it anyway. Every once-in-a-while the sun would poke through the clouds, and show off the elegant, glittering gown that covered the local landscapes.

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itsy bitsy spider

...down came the rain and washed the spider out...

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Lots of rain overnight. The sun eventually broke through, but between the extremes, I found an unhappy arachnid surveying the damage to its house.

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Sorry, Little Buddy. I wish I could help.

drenched

I had a good day today. I feel like I accomplished a lot with the projects for which I was responsible. I haven't carried the camera with me for TWO days!!

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It was raining the other night, but the light shone in such a way, that I happened to notice a bug under a leaf. I went inside for the flashlight and a camera. The original bug was gone, and there were two flies in the area, but they didn't hold still long enough for me. It was raining on me (and my camera), so I didn't want to stay out there too long. The raindrop here was much more cooperative. I took a quick picture, and then the clouds opened up all the way. It's good that I was close to a nice, dry change of clothes.

view from my cage

The rain fell hard on Sunday afternoon. I had been hoping to cut the grass, but instead found myself caged in. Not that I mind being indoors, it's just that Sunday had a gorgeous start, and I had a powerful urge to clip the top off of the lawn.

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The rain was spectacular. It came down in big, fat drops--lots of it! Then, it tapered off, and the birds began singing again. A few flew to the feeder, and I wondered if they might still come with an open window. The thing is that I can't use flash when they come to this window, and they are usually backlit.

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I opened the window nice and wide, thanking the Lord that we are not in mosquito weather. I draped a black backdrop over me and knelt next to the window. As the kids passed through the room, my wife made sure they didn't approach the window, so that I would have a better chance of getting a bird.

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I got a few pictures. These poor birds were all drenched. I wasn't sure how they would react to the flash... well, this is it! They each flew away as I set off the flash. Wow, they're fast!!

diamond in the rough

The light stayed hidden yesterday, shielded behind gray, pregnant clouds. Looking around for something to photograph, I inspected the crocuses, to see if any were blooming yet. Nope. But I DID find this perfect drop nestled in a little wedge. We got the rains this morning. When it is quiet, you can hear gurgling sounds coming from the roof.

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[Update: I was informed by our friend at the Rook's Nest, that this flower is a daffodil, not a crocus. Thanks, Shammy!]

milton burl

It's been overcast and cooler than usual with a constant drizzle. The summer seems to have ended so abruptly. I carry my camera everywhere I go, but can't seem to get the right light for anything. This duck doesn't seem to mind it at all, though.

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They say we'll have more normal (warmer) temps next week, and some sun... we'll see.

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By popular demand (2 people--I'm easy) here is the picture of my closely cropped scalping.

raving lunatic

[First arrivals at Thursday's rainy practice.]

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What kind of soccer coach makes the 8 and 9 year-old kids practice in the pouring rain?! Um, that would be ME. Last Thursday, I sent an email to all the parents confirming our policy that says that the only thing that I'll cancel practice for is thunder and lightning. I fully realize that some parents want to coddle their children and shield them from the horrid danger of getting their clothes wet and possibly even muddy. Listen, playing in the rain is loads of fun! These kids (and their coaches) were entirely drenched within minutes, but we had a fantastic time running, kicking and splashing. All of my paperwork got drenched too, but I'd do it again in a heartbeat!

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We led Saturday's game 4-0. In soccer talk, that's a very lopsided match, so I called my son to me. He gave me this look of incredulity, because it was right in the middle of the third quarter.

Tie your shoes, Son.

Huh?

Untie your shoes and re-tie them

Wh--I don't understand...

Listen, we're winning big, and I don't want this other team to go home demoralized, so I need to take somebody off the field for a little bit and give them a chance to score against us. Now pretend you're fixing your shoes.

Done! Can I pleeeeeease get back in there now?

Yeah, go ahead... Billy!(name changed for blog) Come here, Buddy!...

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I repeated this procedure several times in the fourth quarter.

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So maybe some of the moms, thought I was crazy on Thursday, and a few of my players thought I was crazy at Saturday's game, but it's more than okay... we won AND we learned a couple of life-lessons along the way. They all went home with big smiles on their faces.

morning has broken

Yeah, "morning has broken" ...split right down the middle, and daylight is in complete disrepair!

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I misplaced my sunglasses on Friday and squinted through this whole weekend. The shades finally turned up, but not until late Sunday afternoon. Usually, I wear them on the drive to and from work, because I drive East in the morning and West at night.

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[I know that it is foolish to multitask while driving, but I got ready at a red light, and by the time my camera was ready to shoot, the light had changed, so I just did a no-look "shoot from the hip" --cowboy-style. There was NO post-editing to those shots. They turned out fair... considering, don't you think?]

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This morning, the sunlight struggled to break through the atmosphere, and from the looks of the Northern sky's dark reinforcements, the light did not have a real chance of winning this battle. By the time I got to the office, the sun's rays had retreated, yielding to an ominous shroud that poured mercilessly as if we were standing under the deluge of a waterfall, and by now, not even the coolest dudes were wearing their sunglasses.

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Speaking of darkness, I saw the new Batman movie on Saturday with Mrs. Craver. We went for the Imax experience. My recommendation? Go now; don't wait for the DVD, but don't do Imax, either. The cityscapes were splendid, but too brief. The action was hard to follow on such a huge viewing area. We can't say too much about the movie without spoiling the story for anyone who hasn't seen it; but I liked it. This flic was packed with action and intensity without gore, immodesty or pervasive language. The Batman suit has a new cowl that allows him to turn his head. He breaks out a new bat-cycle in this movie and when I saw him do this one turn... a 180 off of a wall, I just about fell out of my chair! This movie will probably be useful for launching discussions about the morality of using force and where to draw the line between justice and wickedness.

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Photos 2 & 3 were taken at 7:36 AM and 7:54 AM respectively.

morning dew

Immediately after rolling out of the sack on Saturday morning, I opened our front door and was greeted by eutopian weather. Not too hot, not too cold. It rained overnight. A mild breeze pushed it's way through the screen. I filled my lungs with a long draw or two of the morning's perfect air. Aaaah...

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There was a soggy newspaper smack-dab in the middle of the driveway. Hmmm, that would be the spanish one that I never read. It usually has a tacky hoochie-momma on the front cover. No thanks; I'll take it to the recycling bin right away.

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Normally, I don't go anywhere without socks and shoes, but right now, I'll fetch the newspaper just as I am. Bedhead, pj's (shorts) and I probably have crusty eyes, but who cares. Tiptoeing slowly, I feel every little twig and pebble under my sensitive city-boy feet. I'm sure I look ridiculous, but nobody's out to take notice.

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Yup. I was right, and the newspaper is thoroughly drenched! It's remarkably heavy for it's size. That's all the water of course. Next, I yank the few sprouts emerging from the roots of our honey locust. Man, these weeds don't ever quit! The lawn needs cutting, but right now, I just enjoy the cool wetness of the incredibly soft, fine fescue. It will be pure pleasure as long as I watch where I step, because my eyes spy some robust thistle, waiting for an ambush. Not today Spike, I see you!

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I take a moment to remember those who I said I would pray for. It appears that the flowers this morning shed tears of sympathy. The tears of my friends are real. God knows their need and I trust Him, however He chooses to answer.

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The wet grass and gentle breeze was nice, but as I wipe my feet inside the front door I notice someone is toasting cinnamon bread. That's worthy of another deep breath!

commencement

It rained so hard on Thursday's drive to Kentucky that the reduced visibility was frightening. Literally. There's nothing like fear to get your heart racing and adrenaline pumping and put you in full alert status. We made it down there without any trouble, and we did not have any problems with rain at Friday's graduation.

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Being confident of warmer weather, I did not pack a sweater or spring jacket. That was not wise. The graduation was held outdoors, and there was a cool mist in the air that had thousands of us shivering.

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My son-in-law's family picked a seating area that they felt would be good for taking pictures, because it was near one of the main aisles. They offered the end, so that I could get up and get better shots, but I declined, because I would really have to get way up close or use a tripod to get the kind of photograph that deserves preferential treatment.

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Pop! What's this?? Oh, I can't believe it. Two rows in front of us, a couple opened up a golf umbrella. There was a lot of moisture in the air, but no real precipitation. If you've ever sat behind a cowboy's "ten gallon" or "big hat lady," this was worse! Those white banner-type things with a coat of arms marked each end of the stage. As you can see from my photo, ALL of the people on-stage were COMPLETELY blocked off! I chuckled, but did not say anything right away, because until the program began, I didn't really need to see the stage.

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They put the gi-normous umbrella away as soon as commencement... er, commenced. :-)

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I'll have more photos and stories later, but my parting thought: It was a looooong time to be sitting out there without being properly dressed for the weather. Brrrr... I had my youngest son on my lap with my arms around him. That helped (both of us).