Green and Wet

Sunshine was fitful on Friday morning with grey clouds piling in the northern sky.

These waved sphinx moths [ certomia undulosa] in their perfect camouflage stayed on the garage wall scarecly moving, most likely drawn there overnight by the automated yard light over the

garage door.

I touched one gently hoping to see its wings out-spread. It fluttered to the ground, then clung to my fingers when I picked it up.  I coaxed it onto the splintery wood of the door frame.

Through the day I alternated between housework and outside chores, keeping an eye on the rain clouds as I had laundry pegged on the lines.

I clattered about sweeping, mopping floors, trundling the vacuum cleaner through the rooms, to the distinct displeasure of the cats.

I contemplated digging the holes for my newly purchased roses, but by the time I had collected the washing rain began to spatter down.

The iris in the top perennial strip, still in their neatly whorled buds on Thursday evening, were open on Friday morning--just in time to be pummeled by the rain.

I went out with my camera hoping to take photos of the blooms in their prime.

The wind was whipping them about and all my close-up shots were blurred.

The dooryard is fragrant with the spicy sweetness of the pinks which have happily taken over a corner of the top perennial strip.

The pink clematis, Nelly Moser, trembled under the onslaught of the rain.

The boy cats dashed in a mad chase under maples nearest the back door just before the rain began.

Edward and Bobby in a tussle.

Thuds and mock snarls as the game played out.

Bobby, with ears back, has declared himself the winner!

Saturday was a day of green darkness, sudden bursts of rain followed by a steady pattering.

This is how the upper garden looked on Sunday morning.

I can only hope for a few rain-free days as the peonies open.

Where ever I have lived I wait for their bloom season with anticipation tinged with the realization that it always rains on my peonies!

The newest small strip of garden just beyond the clothesline.

I have already dug and weeded along the edges twice--you'd never guess that looking at the ragged meandering line of undesirables.

It is not a day for outside work.

We've had enough rain that garden chores will need to be postponed until a sunny day has

 dried the ground.

The boy cats have been in and out since 6:30 this morning.

Each time they return from their squelchy forays they rush to jump on a bed or a convenient lap to dry their soggy fur.

I'm keeping an old, easily laundered bedspread or sheet on the beds.

As far as my lap--I suppose blue jeans won't suffer much from muddy paw prints!

The sky has lightened a bit between showers, but I've built a fire downstairs.

If I can't garden, I'll make a quilt!