Central Plateau, North Island

Central Plateau, North Island
View from a friend's farm

Sunday 1 February 2015

“Rain, Rain, Glorious Rain”

 

“Nothing quite like it for cooling the brain”

With apologies to Flanders and Swann.

Below, courtesy of the internet

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Although Flanders & Swann wrote numerous songs together and toured the world with their revues At The Drop Of A Hat and At The Drop Of Another Hat, if there is one song for which they will be remembered it is "The Hippopotamus Song.

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We have had  19.5mm  rainfall since last night, the air is cooled, the grass has a slight,ever so slight greener tinge, the flowers are drooping under the raindrops, and all farmers and gardeners are hoping for more.

Raindrops on Alstromeria flowers, droplets on the water lily leaves and the pond, Kangaroo Paw or Anigozanthos standing tall, and Ginger Boy playing in the Catnip plant.He leapt up to the plant, pawed the leaves,  breathed in that heady aroma, until he  almost fell off the edge.This was taken on one of our very hot days.

raindrops on Alstromeria flowers

raindrops on  water lilly leaves

Kangaroo Paw flowers

Playing in the catnip

I'm  not looking at you right now

Quotation of the day, author unknown

“ A true friend is one who lends you her umbrella, when you walk together in the pouring rain”

Greetings from Jean

23 comments:

Barb said...

I love the lily pads amid rain drops and Ginger Boy! Glad you got some moisture.

Michell said...

Yes the rain is beautiful. May have interfered with the finish of our shearing, but we needed it more

Razzle Dazzle Quilter said...

Flanders and Swan, gosh we loved them. As soon as I read those words I could hear the singing.Terribly Hpuse and Garden. Was another favourite.

eileeninmd said...

So happy that you received some rain. I am sure your flowers and plants are happy. Ginger Boy looks cute posing in the catnip plant.. I love the quote too. Have a happy day and week ahead!

ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© said...

Ginger Boy must love that spot!
~

TexWisGirl said...

oh, congratulations on that relief! i hope there will be more coming!

Inger said...

Love the cat in the catnip! Also the last quote is so true and beautiful.

Carol Mattingly said...

Absolutely beautiful. I especially love the cat on the stone wall. Precious. Warm wishes, Carol

Jenn Jilks said...

How lovely to see rain and greenery! Yes, snow. Winter driving, lots of fun here! Our next trek is to the city, again, to grab our car. This awful rental with crummy all-season tires.
Hope all is well with your and yours!

Lux G. said...

I can feel the refreshing effect of rain reading this.

KB said...

Wonderful rain photos. Ginger boy looks regal on the wall. And the raindrops in the lilies are beautiful. Your new header is majestic!

Allie said...

Oh how lovely - especially Ginger Boy! Your catnip bushes look a lot like ours, except ours are buried under snow right now, lol!

Out To Pasture said...

What a cheery post, Jean. I can almost smell that wonderful after-rain fragrance and your lovely flowers. Also surprised to see the luxurious catnip plant which grows abundantly here as well. I think Ginger Boy is a very handsome model. Thankyou for sharing.
Cheers, Florence

Jim said...

Most wanted rain! Happy you have some, Jean.
Look at Ginger Boy amongst that Catnip!
He knows what's good for him! lol
What a beauty he is.
Your garden looks wonderful and soothing. Have a good week (my goodness, it's Thursday there already!).
Take care.

Eggs In My Pocket said...

Rain is such a welcomed part of nature here.....have not gotten to the point of getting too much......yet. Your flowers and garden shots are so pretty! I just love Ginger Boy relaxing in the plants!

Tanya said...

Ginger Boy looks very content in the catnip. I wonder if catnip has a cooling effect (on the brain). I hope your husband is feeling better.

Inger said...

I'm back again to thank you for your caring comment. And to let you know that I will be thinkng of you and Hugh and hope that he will feel better. You have been through a lot in the past year and a half. I'm sending good thoughts across continents and oceans, whishing the very best for you and Hugh. Hugs, Inger

Our photos said...

Very nice photos. I love the second one !!

Fundy Blue said...

Hi Jean! I love that header ~ It looks like something out of "The Lord of the Rings!" I'm glad that you got a little rain after all that heat. I cannot believe how insensitive that air conditioner saleswoman was ~ Not to mention rude! You are much kinder than I am. I simply hang up. Mostly I just refuse to pick up the phone unless I know who the caller is. I hope that you and your husband are enjoying a good weekend. It must be so hard to watch someone you love dealing with a serious illness. Take care!

Hannah said...

Ginger boy is so funny soaking up the catnip scents, and the Kangaroo Paws are so pretty in pink. People here are crazy about growing them. The raindrops making circles of ripples on the pond looks like molten glass, water is so precious when there is not enough. It's great you are getting some, and cooler temperatures. I am looking up the Hippopotamus song.

Janet said...

Such beautiful photos! It looks so warm and refreshing.

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

Sweet kitty hanging out in the tree branches..I'm sure hoping that a bird will fly by. His tail is surely telling on him though- LOL... Have a great day!

Michaele said...

Your photos are all just gorgeous bur the cat on the wall would make a fantastic oil painting. Lovely words today as always.