Aug 17
2014
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There was rain in the forecast for yesterday afternoon so I took Maisie and Abby out for a walk in the morning. The trail was so pretty I decided to take a bunch of pictures just like I did in the spring. The beginning of the trail, from this end, is quite grown over now. Willows and birches brush past us as we walk. Abby is always excited. The fireweed is halfway between blooming and going to seed. Pink and fluffy. I heard a low rumble of distant thunder. Dark clouds were visible past the trees to the south. Maisie was wearing a little red cardigan when we left the house but insisted I change her into the kitty hoody before we'd reached the end of our street. I didn't feel like walking all the way back so I tucked the spare sweater through the wrap. She loves the fireweed and reaches out for it. We stop to pick some. We haven't had enough rain this summer and the water is very low. The ponds around the lake are almost dry. A jogger passes us as we walk along. Abby is curious and watches him go by. Maisie tries to grab my camera. My turn to hold the fireweed. The bridge rails are covered in lichens. No ducks to see on the lake today. We have a new local beaver and his lodge is looking nicely repaired. We find other evidence of his work. Trails from trees dragged across the path and the chewed remains of a small birch. We see a flash and hear some more thunder. Seven seconds away. Abby is walking a little faster. The light is a little darker. It really brings out the greens. The wind is making the trees dance. It starts to rain just as we leave the trail and step onto the sidewalk.
We were soaked through when we got home about five minutes later. When I stepped onto the sidewalk it was spitting. By the time we'd past two houses it was raining and after four more it was raining hard. But not so hard that I felt I needed to accept the ride I was offered. I kind of regretted that later. I knew we'd be wet when we got home but we only had a block or two still to go. I didn't think it could be that bad. I was wrong. By the time we were turning onto our street I was cuddling Maisie against my chest and trying to walk as quickly as I could without stepping on Abby. When we turned into the court we also turned into the wind. I'm pretty sure we also turned into a patch of hail. I couldn't see any hail stones but rain doesn't usually sting like that. Fortunately that didn't last long and for most of the slog up the street we only had to deal with really heavy rain. Water was running in a sheet down the road, and my glasses. I nearly lost a shoe at one. Abby was trying to both pull us home as quickly as possible and hide behind my legs at the same time. As we turned into our driveway lightening cracked right above us. No delay on the thunder at all. Abby jumped. I jumped. Maisie whimpered and managed to snuggle even closer. Rob met us at the door and we got dried off and comfortable again while listening to the storm outside.
My shoes are still wet.