Thursday, July 30, 2009

Soft summer rain

It’s been quite humid these past few days in my little corner of Maryland. We have yet to turn on the air conditioning system here in the manor house, mainly because of the cost. It’s a large area to cool and we both think we may be able to live without it. We’ll see.

As I’ve mentioned before, there are many things to do to keep the heat out of a house, and during the day my husband keeps things going here, but when it’s humid there’s really not so much a person can do to combat that situation. Sometimes by the time I get home (like today), it’s just plain yukky. And tonight after dinner, I planned on cleaning 2 of the bathrooms. Exciting, I know!! But I hadn’t been able to get to them during my regular cleaning day (Saturdays) because we’ve been busy the past few.

Well, they’re spic and span now but it sure was hot while I was at it and despite a cool shower, baby powder and my favorite pj’s, I was still quite warm. I came downstairs to the living room and turned on the fan, but felt this wonderful breeze coming in from the front door.

It was heavenly and it beckoned me out to the front porch. As I sat there with a big smile on my face, it began to lightly rain. I watched the petunias slowly fill with droplets of water and then decided to run back in the house and get my camera.

DSC_0196 copy 2

I love a soft summer rain, don’t you?

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

And now some questions for you . . .

  1. Where’s your favorite beach?
  2. Where’s your favorite place to spend money?
  3. Where’s a good place to watch people?
  4. Where’s a good place to be totally alone?
  5. Where’s a place outside of work (or school) where you’re likely to run into people from work (or school)?

See you in the comments. Until then, my friends . . .

PS ~ The Blog Fest I attended earlier this month made the [front page] of the Gloucester-Mathews Gazette-Journal.

40 comments:

Country Girl said...

1. Ocracoke, North Carolina.
2. Macy's.
3. The Boardwalk.
4. In the bathroom!
5. WalMart.

Stickhorsecowgirls said...

Well, w're too spoiled to do without air conditioning. And I wish my bathrooms were spic and span--I didn't get to them the weekend, either and won't have time till the next. (Well, I probably do have time, but I'm doing this instead!)

Glad you're interested in my favorites:

1. Mexico Beach, FL

2. Amazon/Barnes & Noble/Daedalus books

3. Farmer's/River Market

4. My back porch (unless you count the cat and hummingbirds as invading that "aloneness")

5. Farmer's/River Market

-C

Stickhorsecowgirls said...

I love gentle summer rains and pink petunias too! We had a real gully washer here today!
1. Mexico Beach, FL It's not a real commercial area. Very quiet and peaceful. Nearby town of Apalachicola has wonderful artsy shops and restaurants, but alas I cannot eat seafood! Boohoo!
2. Antique Malls. My favorite is Jenifer's in Conway, AR.
3. I like to people watch at sporting events.
4.A good place to be alone is in the rocker on my front porch where I look at my flower garden and watch the birds.
These questions are fun! V.
5. I see people I work with at Target or Senor Tequilas.

Michelle said...

A soft summer rain? What's that? We don't GET rain here in the summer, and right now we're enduring blast furnace heat as well. Hoses are going everywhere, trying to keep animals and plants watered. Anyway....

1) Pretty much anywhere on the Oregon Coast, but favorites are Lincoln City, Pacific City, and Neskowin.
2) eBay
3) Summer Brown Bag Concerts
4) In my house (doesn't happen often, but I love it when it does)
5) Grocery store

Reddirt Woman said...

1. Desistin, FL
2. Lowe's
3. Any WallyWorld (WalMart)
4. In my garden
5. When I still worked, either at a restaurant called Murphy's in Bartlesville or at the local WalMart.

We've had about and inch and a half of rain the last couple of days. It has been sooo nice. We live with our fans here in Oklahoma. Even when we turn on the A/C those fans are going, helping out to try and keep the cost of the electric down. Doesn't help a lot, but every little bit...

Helen

Unknown said...

Fort Story Beach where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean...there is a lighthouse and First Landing Monument.

One of my 5 Local Quilt Shops buying lovies for me to play with.

We like to people watch at The Pier Restaurant on The Oceanview Pier.

In front of my sewing machines being lost in thought.

I live so far away from everyone I know, that I rarely ever see people I know in public.

***I really want a full rainy day...just to hear it pitter pat, and hear the ocean waves and feel the breeze. I love your pink petunia...it really made me smile. Now, about those bathrooms...awwww, they can wait a few more days***

Hilary said...

as always, love the photo...I aspire to be a quarter as good as you are at that.
1. wells beach me
2.any book store.....
3.fenway park
4.my studio
5. just about anywhere.

mom x 2 said...

I do love a good soft rain....

1. Myrtle Beach, SC
2. I'm pretty good at spending money anywhere, so I'm not sure I have a favorite
3. The airport
4. The beach first thing in the morning.
5. Target or the grocery store

Anonymous said...

Beautiful photograph.
1. Hawaii
2. Ralph Lauren
3. The mall
4. Bathroom
5. Anywhere in my little piggy town

Char said...

oh how I love sitting by a fan.

1. Tybee Island, Georgia
2. The camera store
3. The mall
4. The beach
5. The farmer's market

tj said...

...THAT is a beautiful photo Kate - just beautiful! :o)

...I too love summer rain. As a matter of fact it is drizzling outside now and I can smell the rain coming in thru the window and I can hear the frogs out by the pond too. It's moments like this that makes one thankful to be alive... :o)

...Okay,
1) I dunno, never been to one.
2) Local nursery.
3) Festival of Little Hills, St. Charles, Missouri
4) My sewing room upstairs.
5) WalMart.

...Oh and yeah, um, now that you're done with your bathrooms would you hop on the next flight out and come do mine please, 'kay? Thanks. ;o)

...Blessings...

Journey said...

It's been a tad bit sticky here also, but regular occasional breezes have kept the A.C. off. This picture is absolutely beautiful!!

1. Padre Island
2. Any Book Store
3. Zoo (anywhere outdoors)
4. Quiet walk in the woods
5. Mall

Cloudia said...

This is such a lovely post!
You remind us what a beautiful thing "just another day" truly is and I thank you for that.

I felt the gentle evening breeze scented with rain in your words and amzing picture...
Aloha my blog pal ;-)

Comfort Spiral

Cloudia said...

1. Waikiki my home.

2. Honolulu Chinatown.

3. Ala Moana Shopping Center, or see #1 and #2 above ;-)

4. Out in my kayak.

5. In Honolulu you're likely to run into ANYONE you ever knew on any given day.

FUN!

Cloudia said...

OH! Air con one room if need be!

Chesapeake Bay Woman said...

Answers to all the questions except about where to spend money is the beach on Gwynn's Island overlooking Hills Bay.

That picture is incredible as is your writing.

Rocky Mountain Yankee said...

1. Destin, Florida - Henderson Beach State Park
2. Brighton Feed and Saddlery
3. Any large airport
4. The barn
5. I am a stay at home mom so I'm not really sure how to answer this one. We have run into some of my husbands co workers at the local mall so I guess I will have to pick that one.

My name is Christine said...

Totally great shot!!!

Deb said...

1 my favorite beach is on mile marker 11 on the road to Hana. God is there, I just know it.
2. If I had money to spend, I would pay homage to Nordsrtom.
3. The airport is good for a few laughs.
4. I am never totally alone...crap!
5. I never run into any one I know now tht we live north of the city.

Tess Kincaid said...

I adore a soft summer rain, too, and we had one, no, actually two today!

Arija said...

Lovely drenched Petunia, funny, I've just been sortin out some wet flowers for Today's Flowers.
Yes, summer rain is wonderful but here inour dry climate, ANY rain is welcome.

Starwoodgal said...

Where’s your favorite beach?

I'm not a beach person, but I did enjoy taking the kids to Destin when they were little.

Where’s your favorite place to spend money?

I don't enjoy spending money, but Wal-Mart and the utility companies end up with most of it.

Where’s a good place to watch people?

Again, Wal-Mart.

Where’s a good place to be totally alone?

Someone please tell me and I'll go there.

Where’s a place outside of work (or school) where you’re likely to run into people from work (or school)?

Again, Wal-Mart

maillady said...

I too love a good summer rain. especially after along day of delivering the mail. yukky hot .
1. i would have to say i have many. any beach to me is great. the best righ tnow is ocean city ,new jersey because it's fast and easy to get to.
2. anywhere, just ask anyone
3. i like to watch people at the mall.
4. most of the time it's my bedroom, unless ofcorse one of my kids comes for a visit.
5.walmart seems to be the place, especially people on my route.

Country Girl said...

This is fun! Thanks everyone for playing along with the question and answer session. If anything, I've got some new beaches to check out!
And apparently, everyone goes to WalMart . . . Have a beautiful day, all.

~ C.G.

Mary said...

Oh Kate, that photo is gorgeous! And even the little mundane moments in your life sound so much more interesting than mine. lol
1. Horseshoe Beach, Bermuda
2. the thrift store
3. the boardwalk at Wildwood, NJ
4. walking at the park
5. just about anywhere, especially if I'm wearing sweats and no makeup. lol

Noe Noe Girl...A Queen of all Trades. said...

I love that picture Kate- so soft and sweet.

Daryl said...

1. Where’s your favorite beach? Gwynn's Island overlooking Hills Bay.
2. Where’s your favorite place to spend money? Barney's
3. Where’s a good place to watch people? Just about anywhere in NYC
4. Where’s a good place to be totally alone? Thursday nites in my living room
5. Where’s a place outside of work (or school) where you’re likely to run into people from work (or school)? Anywhere on the Upper Westside


The AC was lovely last nite ... and I shouldnt complain but it was so cold in the living room ... I had to put on a sweatshirt... seriously

Sarah said...

1.Tampa
2.Target
3.State Fair
4.At the barn with my horse
5.Danville Dairy Queen

Love soft summer rain. Hate cleaning bathrooms ;)

Karen said...

You made what must have been an uncomfortable day sound incredibly wonderful! A bit of work followed by refreshment, relaxation and reflection can make a pretty good day despite it all.

1. Catalonia Beach Resort, Mayan Riviera
2. Flea markets
3. Everywhere!
4. On a trail somewhere
5. Grocery

Have a great day! Karen

Anonymous said...

1. Lots! But all of them in the Maldives
2. Bookstores
3. In a cafe
4. On the pier at night
5. Supermarket

Jill of All Trades said...

What a beautiful picture.

1. Fav beach - Destin, Florida
2. Fav place to spend moola - Amazon.com
3. Place to gander people for is the mall
4. Totally alone - in my hammock at the cabin
5. Run into people - well, maybe restaurants

Rosezilla (Tracie Walker) said...

Late again... well, I've been on vacation and to my son's wedding, so I have a good excuse this time. I love the petunia pic, they are my fav flower. We don't get gentle summer rains, only thunderstorms - which I happen to love. Let's see, I love the beach called Bunche Beach almost to Sanibel Island, FL; I am most apt to part with my money in a bookstore; People watching is really good at Disney World; I like to be alone at home, because that is a new novelty; The mall, or yes, Walmart, always seems to have someone I know.

abb said...

1. Anywhere my friends are.
2. A pub with friends.
3. Streets of NYC.
4. At the edge of my pond.
5. Stew Leonards, I always run into someone at Stew's.

Lovely lovely petunia. And my AC hasn't been turned on yet either. I have brought sweating to a whole new level of delight.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Love the petunia shot.

Tami Weingartner said...

1. Leo Carrillo State Beach, off the PCH Malibu California....quite possible heaven on earth
2. Books
3. Park
4. Middle of the farm
5. N/A

Skogkjerring said...

Kate as gorgeous as that shot is, I've had enough wetness to last a life time this summer- so I would prefer photos of sunshine, sweltering heat...something along those lines!!! ;-)) And the best place to watch people is definitely an airport- I always wonder who is going where and who will they meet and how long will be they gone, how will their travels change their lives? I love airports...

Audrey at Barking Mad said...

1. Cape Elizabeth, Maine.
2. The Pro's Place (It's a camera shoppe).
3. Downtown Portland, Maine.
4. In my head.
5. I really can't answer this because I don't work or go to school and rarely leave the house.

Alli said...

1. Bethany Beach, Delaware
2. Any bookstore!
3. At a college campus
4. Edge of a lake
5.Grocery Store/WalMart

Donna S. said...

I've been very busy & am a couple of days behind.
1. Daytona Beach Shores
2. Book Store
3. Beach
4. Weaving at my new (old) loom.
5. Walmart (without makeup or fixed hair).

Gayle said...

Such a lovely rain photo!
1. Trinidad, CA
2. Costco
3. Union Station Los Angeles or Chicago
4. In the swimming pool, sittin' on the steps.
5. Anywhere that I am hoping not to run into someone without a little eye makeup.