Rainy Day

An early morning.  Phoebe is quietly and industriously licking her paws.  It is a sight to behold to watch her wash her face meticulously.  Her movements are dainty, almost cat-like.  As soon as I stirred, Phoebe yawned and stretched, asking to go outside.  So did the cats, Willow especially.  Everyone is polite and patient.  The cats and dog are learning to co-exist peacefully while I house-sit.  It is raining today, a steady rain now.  I have a cheerful fire lit this morning.  Hopefully, it won’t blow out with the low pressure system.  I always find it harder to keep a fire going when it rains due to the down-draft.  I love the sound of rain on the roof top.  It has a cozy warm feeling when one is inside, safe from the elements, warm and dry. 

The rain also heralds a more saturated water table, so those of us with wells can draw a sigh of relief.  It has been a difficult summer, having to conserve water.  We live in a country where water is readily available; so much so that we take it for granted.  Turn on a tap – Voila!  It is as basic as breathing...until there isn’t any, or very little.  I struggled for weeks in that predicament.  I wasn’t the only one.  Neighbors had moved out of their homes and gone elsewhere when it was critically dry.  There was no water anywhere.  Ditches, creeks, even ponds dried out.  There were fires in areas of Muskoka that entailed evacuating parts of the community.

So for today, while there is a lovely fire burning and my dog and I snuggled under blankets, I am thankful for the rain. 

This is an example of a piece that I call Rapids.  It is an abstract and monochromatic look at water.