June 07th, 2017

Welcome to the rainy season of sunny Florida!  Last year we left Colorado on June 9th and arrived here June 11th so it's nearly been a year.  We were aware that we were moving to Florida during what is traditionally known as the rainy season but as it turned out,  last year there was actually remarkably little rain.  I remember being surprised by it and thinking, "I thought this was supposed to be the time of year that it rained a lot?" then assumed I had made an error and moved on from there.

As it so happened,  I was not wrong. Last year was just  remarkably dry for a wet season.  Everyone around here remarked about how unprecedented it was and they hoped it was not the start of a weather  trend. This year is making up for it.  Or perhaps this year is just more "normal".  I probably won't know for certain until we have lived here a few more years and have something to gauge it by.  But meanwhile, remember when I wrote earlier in the week about rainy days?  Well, it's still raining.

As rain goes, I am finding it to be rather interesting.  The bands of rain ebb and flow. Sometimes it a full on deluge, then it's just a gentle pitter patter, then the sun peeks out for a few minutes, then the down pour begins again.  All the green outside growing things are loving this.  The lawn is fully perked, the plants and shrubs are growing before my very eyes and I can smell the soil growing richer by the moment when I dare to venture out.  Yeah, that's the tricky bit.

I cannot just stay inside.  Can't do it.  So between downpours yesterday, I put on my rain jacket, grabbed my umbrella, put on my rubber sandals and headed out to see what's happening here abouts.

To my surprised, the beach was not totally deserted.  While certainly not crowded, there were a few hardy souls about, eyeing the yellow flag flying from the lifeguard hut and the ominous grey sky.  My guess is, vacationers who were unlucky enough to choose this week to be here and since they were at the beach they were, by god, going to be on the beach.  I get it.

I walked through puddles, umbrella unfurled and exchanged smiles at others doing the same.  Easy to get "cabin fever" after a few days and even just a short walk helps.  Yes, I had my umbrella up even though it wasn't serious rain coming down at that point, just a little sprinkledinkle, but I saw no point in getting any wetter than necessary.  And as soon as I started hearing the thunder getting closer again, I headed back toward home.   The rain started coming down a lot harder and the wind was picking up so that by the time I splashed my way to my own front door, I was pretty wet.

I no sooner had shoes and rain jacket off and umbrella dripping itself dry in the utility room when I saw, out the kitchen window, my patio umbrella take flight.  I gaped stupidly for a moment then shoved my feet back into my wet sandals and flew out the door myself.  I chased the umbrella down through the, by now torrential rain grabbed it by the bottom of the pole just as another gust was lifting it.  I reached up with my other hand and while wrestling against the wind, cranked it back down.  Whew.  We nearly had a Mary Poppins moment there!  I carried the thing back and tucked it behind the patio furniture.   The wind continued to pick up.

Ok that was my fault.  I should have thought to do that earlier in the week!  I made a mental note, came inside, removed wet shoes, toweled off  my hair and was considering putting on dry clothes when I noted out of the corner of my eye something passing by the front window.  What on earth?  Naturally I went to see what it was.  Palm fronds all over the courtyard. Of course.  While I stood considering that mess, I heard a very loud cracking noise followed by a big thump.  What was that?  Did something fall on the cars?

Back into the rubber shoes and out the door.  Just outside the courtyard walls, in the driveway was an enormous branch from a tree that isn't even in our yard but next door. Geez!  It was very heavy, but slowly and with great cursing,  I was able to drag  it to the side out of the way, fighting wind and rain all the while and since I was already soaked to the skin, I picked up all the other deadfall and added it to the pile.  Once back inside, I again dried off and had a hot cuppa.   Well, I guess I got my exercise afterall.  Interesting thing this "rainy season".

I checked the long range weather forecast and I saw rain every single day for the next two weeks and that is as far as they will predict.  I have a feeling that pile of tree rubbish is going to get a lot higher before this is all over. 

On the other hand, I don't have to water the lawn or gardens for awhile and thus far, we have not lost power (knock wood).  And no matter how I look at it, it's still better than shoveling snow.