Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head

…they keep fallin'...

It’s a glorious day, mainly because it’s raining. The steady patter on the roof is going strong. The air is heavy but fresh with the fragrance of rain, like no other. It smells so good when the door is opened.

The ground is so dry, soaking in the wetness like a sponge, that there isn’t any mud. There will be later but for now the moisture evaporates into the soil, creating a smooth, slick surface.

I grabbed my umbrella even though I was fairly sure I wasn’t going to melt if I got wet. I was worried about my hair because it does get really curly and frizzy if it gets damp. I put on my jacket with the hood and pulled it up.

The lights reflected off the glossy road, creating rainbows in the night. Would there be treasure at the end of each one? Yes. The prize is here. The fortune is the rain.

Rain picture by my friend Rachel Austin.

In my book there’s nothing better than a rainy day! That’s if you don’t have to get out. But I did, although only for a short time. Alan had his shoulder surgery. I took him to the hospital, waited patiently for him to be finished, filled his prescriptions and brought him home for the start of the recuperation. Happily, all went well. He’s in a lot of pain but hopefully the healing process won’t be too long.

'Cause I'm never gonna stop the rain by complainin'

A friend of mine was also waiting for her husband so we chatted and I knitted to pass the time. Mindless knitting, a Gossamer scarf out of some sparkly mohair was on the needles.

Gossamer infinity scarf on Ravelry: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/gossamer-infinity-scarf

The rain passed and in my opinion didn’t stay long enough at all. Now we’ll just wait til next time.

Those raindrops are fallin' on my head, they keep fallin'...

Here Comes the Rain Again

Falling on my head like a memory… 

Maybe it was because I said we really needed rain. Maybe it was because my blog friend Sinéad sent it over from Ireland. Or maybe it was because I got my car washed. Whatever, it worked! The rain came.

The pond is full and so is everything else!

Of course, when it rains, it pours and that’s exactly what it did. The thunder started in the wee hours of the morning on Thursday. By the time I was supposed to leave for work there were reports of flooded streets. According to the radio, all three routes I needed to access in order to get to the office were to be avoided. What to do? Well, on an ordinary day I’d have said, “Darn,” and climbed back in bed! But this wasn’t an ordinary day. I had delivered some equipment to some of my schools the day before (just a short 350+ mile round trip), and I still had the company truck. I had to get it back.

Everything is miles away out here!

When you live 45 miles away you can’t always count on the news drama to be accurate. I thought maybe some firsthand information might be useful. I fired off an email to the employee list at work. The route I was advised to take was the longest, but reasonably clear and I arrived safely. I waited until I felt comfortable driving in the pouring rain. Of course some of my lovely co-workers had comments on how it probably wasn’t even flooded by the time I got there, convenient to only work half a day, have you gone part time, etc. Don’t you love those ‘nice’ women who can look at you, smile pleasantly, and spout off the snarkiest remark ever? GCBs is what they are called on television. I know an abundance of them if anyone needs one.

Picture from CBS7 News Odessa, TX

The storms continued through the day and even though there were some problems, everyone was thankful for the rain. Going home in the afternoon wasn’t nearly as painful as getting there. The roads were clear and it wasn’t raining. But isn’t there always supposed to be a calm before a storm? After I arrived home, I followed my usual routine of changing into something more comfortable; gray t-shirt sweats and an orange t-shirt. (I was thankful later I had chosen to leave my upper undergarments on! Ladies…you know how it is!) I was deciding on something for supper when Alan came home and we chatted until he decided to go outside for a bit, to work on something.

Clouds in the front of the house.

I was at the kitchen sink when I thought I heard raindrops again. The sky had darkened and the clouds were looking ominous. We have tornadoes out here and this is the time of year they can happen. (Actually, anymore, they happen all year, but I digress.) I was having some not so nice thoughts like doesn’t he know enough to come in out of the rain when he rushed in the house followed by both dogs. He was yelling my name as he came up the stairs. He said come here now, quick, look at this.

That's his truck parked outside. Close enough to worry!

He was so excited I immediately went to look at what he was pointing to out the window. Mind you this is the same window the kitchen sink faces, but I had been looking out…not up. I looked up and saw a cloud with a long tail. He said that’s a tornado and it’s coming here. Get downstairs now. I did what I was told (for once) and went down to the little bathroom.

The major part of our house is upstairs. There are some rooms downstairs as well, but the kitchen, bedrooms and main living quarters are all on the second floor. I always wondered where to go if there was the threat of a tornado. Now I know! And yuck! Anyway, after we were down there I said do I need my purse? NO he screamed. Do I need a phone? NO. Yes, I do. I’m going up to get it. HURRY.

While I went up he went outside to check progress. He came back in and said we are leaving. WHAT? WHERE? He said we’re going next door. We live outside of town and the neighbors have a storm cellar. He called them and alerted them to the situation. He told them to get down there and we’d be over too. They complied.

Here it is again, as we were running across the pasture!

I had on flip flops, as well as my comfy clothes. So, with my bag and phone and only a mostly finished crocheted potholder that happened to be in my purse, we took off. We were running across the pasture, in the rain and hail, next door. People that know me would realize that I, with the “I don’t like to get dirt on my feet or hands syndrome”, was running through a muddy field in flip flops. That shows the urgency of the situation!

It was cozy in their little underground room, which, by the way, wasn’t a lot better than our yucky little bathroom. I was wondering if I was going to have to wear the comfy clothes and muddy shoes for a few days when the guys went back up to check things. They came back to report the cloud had rescinded and the rain had even stopped. Whew!

Stormy through the rest of the night. But no more funnel clouds!

After a bit we headed home and took up things we were doing before all the commotion started. My heart rate had been increased for the day and I guess trotting across the field could count as aerobics! I thought about some things we might need to do in case this happened again. We weren’t prepared at all. A tornado is no joking matter. I am going to pack an emergency bag, some water, food and maybe a change of clothes, to put in the little bathroom. Just in case. Oh yeah, and some yarn.

Raining in my head like a tragedy 

Speaking of yarn, I haven’t been ‘yarning’ a lot lately. I did pick up some half finished simple ‘magic potholders’ to work on. There’s a shortage of potholders both here and at my daughter’s house. This was my grandmother’s (and a lot of grandmother’s) favorite (easy) pattern because it makes a nice double thick potholder and you can use any scraps. It's old as forever and I doubt they really know who made it up. We always made them out of acrylic because that’s what we had on hand but I read somewhere they catch on fire and to only use cotton.

Old, well used, well loved, (dirty) acrylic potholders.

Well, I did, but I was thinking of all them that were made in acrylic, and how not one caught fire from being used correctly so I’ll just use what I want from now on. Think of all the church kitchens with drawers full of these gems. They aren’t all made of cotton and they are still in service!

Replacements in cotton!

I’ve committed to a Clapotis knitalong. I’ve made four of them but I love the pattern, it's free and it’s fun, and I happen to have yarn! I haven’t started but soon as I do I’ll post progress pictures.

I'm going to make a Clapotis out of this yarn.

I still want to crochet something with the multi colored yarn I picked last week. I haven’t started that either. So many things I want to do! Time to get busy! It’s cloudy and dreary outside. Perfect knitting day!

I'm ready to start!

Falling on my head like a new emotion.

Here comes the rain again...

Singing In The Rain

I'm singing in the rain,
Just singing in the rain…

Raining off the deck

I love the rain. And because I live in the desert I seldom get the pleasure. But the past couple of weeks have been glorious with cloudy days, cool temperatures and rain! I know it won’t last but it’s amazing what just a little rain can do out here.

Rain Gauge

Rain on the deck

Rain in the back

Crane, Texas, is in Crane County. Crane County encompasses 795 square miles of what is best described as prairie. The Pecos River is on the south and west borders. There’s also a lake called Juan Cardona Lake. I know. If there’s a lake it can’t be all desert. But this is a salt lake. Years ago salt was mined in the lake by Peter Gallagher and Company. At one time it was one of the most important areas in the state. I remember getting one of those junk mail flyers in the mail once, about taking your boat out to Cardona Lake and the great recreation in Crane County. Ha! Obviously they have never been out there.

Juan Cardona Lake

The annual rainfall in Crane is about 13 inches. The past two weeks we got 11 and one half inches of rain at the house. That’s almost a year’s worth at once. Sometimes when it rains out here, even with a significant amount, it soaks into the ground and by the next day you couldn’t even tell it had rained. This time you can definitely tell! The rain has transformed the desert into a lush sea of green! Everywhere you look it’s a verdant patchwork of emerald, lime, and olive. I know it won’t last but for now I’m savoring the vision.


There’s a plant out here we call purple sage. I don’t know a lot about it except that it grows in the dry climate. My mother wanted a bush after seeing it in bloom out here. When she went to the nursery to ask she got a completely different plant. Anyway, it has beautiful purple flowers. When it rains, even just a bit, the bushes pop with purple. Just as suddenly all of the flowers go away. It’s interesting. There are plenty of these in the median between the highways and as landscape along the interstates. You most likely wouldn’t even notice them unless they were blooming. We have some in the back of the house. I took a picture yesterday and the bush was pretty well covered. I went out today and they are gone.

Purple Sage Flowers

Next day no flowers

It’s pretty sparse out here regarding population. There are not many people but a lot of open space. It’s always been that way. In 1890 only fifteen people lived in Crane County, according to census figures. As late as 1900, only fifty-one people lived here. Now, according to the 2000 census figures and the sign at the edge of town, there are 3191 people. The population has gone down since we first got here. The old families with their particular style of evil are starting to die off. But new evil or maybe just descendants who have finally learned the art take their place. Of course there are good people here too. The bad ones just have a bigger presence. I really don’t like it much here. It’s not a nice place. But I’ve been here so long I can’t imagine living somewhere else. I will probably never have the chance anyway so it really doesn’t matter.


There are a lot of people famous in their own minds from Crane. That seems to go with small towns. But there are a couple of ‘real’ famous people from Crane as well. Elmer Kelton, a famous western novelist, was from Crane. He wasn’t born here but his family moved him here when he was three years old. He authored over 40 novels, and published over more than 50 years. Another famous person from Crane is Kenny Walker. When he was two years old, Walker became profoundly deaf from a bout with meningitis. He is one of only two deaf players in the history of the National Football League. Now he works with the Iowa School for the Deaf as a counselor and a football coach.





The green is wonderful even though I know it won’t last. We have temperatures in the high 90s to 100s expected all next week. It won’t take long for the sun to bake the green into the brown it always is. In the meantime I’ll be waiting for the next rain, or at least a cloudy day. It could be a while because it doesn’t rain in hell.

Off the back deck

Knitayear is coming along nicely. I’m looking at the colors and not seeing a lot of brightness. But this too shall pass. Day 97 was a mellow day. Just floating along and relaxing. Packing up to head down the mountain but enjoying the peacefulness of the last day. I chose a yellow fur. I couldn’t get mellow yellow out of my head after I decided yellow was the color! Day 98 was a melancholy day. Coming back to reality when I wasn’t ready is what caused it. I chose light blue cotton for this day. As soon as I get back I pack for two more trips. Ah…the joy of working! Day 99 was July 8 and a day spent getting ready for the next two trips. I put the finishing touches on a presentation, washed, and packed…the same routine. I was diligent and got it all done. I picked a purple/green variegated yarn. I didn’t have a particular reason but when I started looking it called to me. Day 100 should have been a celebration except I didn’t realize it was day 100 already! July 9 was a day of dawdling. I had things ready but I just couldn’t get ready to go. We left late, around 4:00 instead of the morning like we planned. I drove as promised. I didn’t mind as it was relaxing. I chose a magenta/maroon color and worked it in seed stitch. It’s a pretty color and fit my mood. July 10, day 101 was a full day of work! I graded tests and it took us all day. It was a good day though and I stayed energetic because of the people I worked with. I had some big kind of ugly novelty yarn. It’s blue, green, yellow, pink and black. I chose it because it seemed to be full of energy with all of the little pieces of ribbon off the yarn. It looks likes it is going to quit raining now. I can just hope that it will not be too long before it rains again. In the meantime I’ll relish the memory. Until then…

Knitayear Summer

Let the stormy clouds chase
Everyone from the place.

One of the rainy days

Come on with the rain.
I've a smile on my face,
I'll walk down the lane
With a happy refrain.
Singing, singing in the rain.
In the rain.

I Love A Rainy Night

I love to hear the thunder, watch the lightning when it lights up the sky.
You know it makes me feel good!

It’s been a nice week with a welcome rain. It’s been cool for April, with highs in the 60s, another chance to wear a sweater.


I love the rain. It doesn’t rain much here so when it does, it’s a big deal. The news is telling people how to prevent flooding. The police are telling people not to drive if it looks like the water is too deep; Turn Around…Don’t Drown. Umbrellas are being used for the first time in months. And where I am the frogs are singing!

The frogs hang out at the pond and when it rains the songs begin. The sounds are interesting. There are loud sounds, like pigs grunting and low sounds like someone rubbing their hand across an inflated balloon. There are sounds like snoring and sounds that are a chirping, whirring, constant sound. It’s a frog choir! There’s nothing that sounds like it.

Another great thing about the rain is the rainbows. Oftentimes there are double and even triple rainbows. Sometimes you can see both ends and sometimes they just float off into the sky. You have to be quick out here to get a picture because you can look one minute and then when you look again, the rainbow is gone.

Rainbows always look so close, like you could drive or walk to it. And the end of the rainbow, where the pot of gold is supposed to be, sometimes seems to be right in the back yard! According to physics, there really is no end to a rainbow. Rainbows are actually full circles. The ground gets in the way and we can’t see the complete circle. There is probably no pot of gold, either. An Irish fable says a leprechaun granted a wish to a couple who was very poor. They wished for riches of silver and gold. This made the leprechaun angry because he thought they were selfish. So he told them he put all the riches in a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Supposedly the couple is still looking for the end of the rainbow to this day. Another legend says that angels put the gold at the end of the rainbow. Only a nude man could obtain the prize. Hmmm…. But since we all know a man would never ask directions there’s no hope for that! And what does nude have to do with it?

The Discovery Channel says two people can never see the same rainbow. Because the eyes of two people can’t occupy the same place in space at the same time, each person will see a different rainbow. This is because the raindrops are constantly in motion so its appearance is always changing. Every time you see a rainbow, it is unique. So how did they figure that one out?

After the rain there is such a peaceful feeling. It doesn’t matter if it was a quick shower or a big storm. There was one and a half inches in the rain gauge. Almost instantly everything is so green! The grass and trees, well what we call trees, all look pretty. More wild flowers will bloom overnight. Everyone will sneeze with allergies again!


This week the rain influenced my moods. For my knit a year, the night before it rained, when it was a bit cloudy, the sunset with the clouds made the sky kind of purple. It was such a peaceful feeling and I picked purple wool. The next day it started to rain. I chose a blue and green yarn for the rain. It rained all day and was a good day, driving in the rain and then hearing it through the night. The morning brought a day of training then the drive back, again in the rain. It was another good day with good company and we saw a rainbow. I didn’t get to take a picture but I did pick a rainbow ribbon yarn for the day. After a rainy night the grass and trees seemed especially green. It was a new day, a day of spring with new beginnings, and new growth. This was a day filled with hope and the bright green yarn I picked was for the hopeful way I was feeling. Then there was the pot of gold. I was thankful today, for the things I have and am able to do. I don’t need to wish for a pot of gold to have these riches. I added the gold yarn for that pot of gold and to remind myself of all the riches I already have. The forecast doesn’t call for rain tomorrow. But the traces of the rain remain. And the sun is always a reminder that after the rain is a rainbow and the promise of something new.


Showers washed all my cares away.
I wake up to a sunny day
Puts a smile on my face every time.