In Praise of Rain and Willow

Wednesday in the late afternoon we had a gentle shower, then overnight several waves of pounding rain, separated by showers and about half an hour of just being overcast before heavy rain returned.  We badly needed the rain. It felt wonderful, I didn’t mind the bouts of hard rain beating on the roof that woke me each time.  I was too delighted.  We’re in a drought here on the Cape, while the mainland is in frequent danger of flooding.  Melenie tells me that Easthampton has had 17 ½ inches of rain, while we get almost none.  When they have a deluge, we had either a fifteen minute sprinkle or nothing at all.

Beans are coming fast.  Some critter is taking bites out of our eggplants.    We canned 10 pints of tomatoes on Wednesday.  I have been so busy with the garden that Thursday was the first day I got to write anything. In the evening, I began reading a new poetry book, The Bungalow of Colorful Aging, by a poet Bruce Niedt who took my juried intensive poetry workshop a few years ago and  has, like many of the poets, stayed in touch.

Willow is probably our brightest cat.  She solves puzzles quickly.  She also has the most intact instincts and is our best and most efficient mouser.  As time goes on, she becomes more and more affectionate. She has begun to do what Xena used to, getting on my chest when I’m lying down and staring into my eyes, sometimes purring softly, sometimes just meeting my gaze. She has incredibly soft fur—which is why we call her The Cashmere Kitty.

 Tonight Ralph and Gigi, Dale and Stephen are coming over.  I’m making a spoon roast, a bean salad and my way of making tabouli,, Trader Joe’s appetizers to start us off and clafouti with red currants to finish with a dollop of ice cream for those who want it.  May also sliced tomatoes?  I’ll decide at the end of cooking.  

The advantage of this meal is that in hot weather, two of the side dishes are cold or room temperature.  But I had to chop for an hour and a half.  So much for the morning.  The mosquitoes are just a numerous and pesky as ever.  We eat healthy and then rub DEET all over our exposed bodies.