Rain continues in California, and I am a lucky one who has weathered these storms without disaster or even minor disturbance. That is water, not icicles, streaming from the roof of the lovely Spanish-style apartment building where I live.
Most years, rainfall is miserly in this semi-arid zone, which is why I wrote this haiku the day before the rains began:
with a cloud of dust
a blue heron lands upon a
Montezuma cypress
So I am thrilled to find our very seasonal greenery already blanketing brown hillsides. Some years it turns our golden California into an almost-Ireland for a little while.
Meanwhile, the writing is coming in its own deluge. Yesterday, I wrote 2,000 words on that novel in progress I had started during NaNoWriMo. And since I know where the next couple of chapters are going, I think the next few days might be productive, too.
Oh, and I made a big pot of soup and applesauce cake. Perfect rainy day fare.
I hope everyone is staying safe and finding their own stride. Have a good weekend.
25 comments:
So you had a bit of cold with this rain, I see. Interesting. We lost trees about every hour for two days. Power for about every other minute for four. There are pictures of cars floating in towns that are on the lower elevations. My goodness doesn't the weather god understand moderation?
Congrats on the words. May they continue spill forth. Also, send some cake, okay?
Hi Lee: Wow, I am sorry to hear you've lost so many trees and had to go without power. That has been one of the things I count myself fortunate about--I've had power and can write.
And there is nothing moderate about this series of storms. I feel so badly for those who are in the mudslide or flooded areas.
I think the cake would be soggy when it got there. ;)
Yum. I'll be right over. Keep up the good work. I'm writing in the rain, too, averaging 1,800 words per day. NaNoWriMo gives you an edge.
Oh, apple sauce cake. I have never tried it but it sounds very good. You should post your recipe!! :)
Sounds like an awesome day! :) We have snow out here again, but mostly rain.
Donna: Great word count!
Victoria: I love the recipe, found in a book about chocolate, actually. It uses cocoa, cinnamon, applesauce and chopped apples.
Anna: Snow? I don't know why, but I thought you were in the San Diego area. Yes, it was awesome, indeed, and I'm hoping for a followup day today.
Thought of you again while reading another newspaper article on the rain in Southern CA. Stay safe and warm. Glad your writing has been flowing. Struggling a bit with that this week, but at least I got two paying jobs, so I'm feeling slightly forgiving of myself.
LOVE the Haiku, Tricia! And great news about your novel :)
I love applesauce cake - it's sooo moist! Yummy. I love your blue heron haiku, too.
Outlast the weather and enjoy your writing productivity. :-)
Liza: Thanks for the good thoughts, and I'm glad you got some paying jobs. These are such hard times.
Corey: Thank you! I wish I could bottle the magic of the good writing days.
Shannon: I love that cake,too, because it feels healthier than most and I can eat without too much guilt (probably fooling myself). I was astounded when I saw the heron land, to tell the truth. It really sent up so much dust. I'd never thought how much the bird might weigh.
I love rain so much, I don't think I'd do very well in California. I don't do very well in Christchurch and we have a pretty good amount of rain. I love the west coast over here, it's rain forest and you get rain a lot. That's my kinda place!
I love the photo with the rain-sicles! I've never seen that happen before!
Here in Louisville, Kentucky, it has been raining all week.
And it's especially foggy.
But, it got me in the mood to write -- describing fog is fun.
Congrats on your 2000 words. It's a great feeling to get that much out and feel like you know where the next couple of sections or chapters are headed.
We had a lot of rain here last week. But it only made me sleepy, so I didn't get a whole lot of writing done:(
It's so much fun when the writing flows, not so much when the rain does.
Nice building and nice greenery! We've got a lot more white stuff.
Wendy: Rain-sicles! Yes, they've been forming and falling for days now.
Amber: I love fog if I don't have to drive in it. I once found an ancient stone circle on a moor in England when it loomed out of the fog. That was magical.
Melissa: I have to fight off the sleepy. :) The sound of rain can be hypnotic.
Hey, Jemi: You snuck in while I was typing. I'm loving the green, thank you.
sometimes rain brings the sweetest muses to whisper in our ear. enjoy yours.
Char: Been a non-stop whisper. ;)
Another lovely haiku. I'm happy that you are staying cozy and dry and writing. I guess most everywhere has the occasional flood, I know we've had some memorable frog-chokers here in the Texas hill country.
Congrats on the amazing productivity. When it's not flooding and houses aren't sliding down hills, California is magical in the rain. So beautiful it will make your heart stop. Clearly, the rain is inspiration. Thank you for sharing the photos and beautiful haiku.
Thanks, Bish, and I love that frog-choker description!
Victoria: Oh, yes, it can be magical in the rain. And, thanks!
Umm, my stride is more like a tumble fall skid this weekend. But it's OK. I know it's a dip and things will rise again in time.
Here's to your almost-Ireland. :)
Terresa, and, yes, but isn't almost time for the wearing of the green?
I am striding with a skip in my step. Sounds like you are doing great :) Want to come cook some of that stuff for me? YUM! :)
Hi Tab! I am so excited to hear you have a skip in your step, and I would love to find a way to your part of the world someday. :)
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