Can That Be Rain?

The last time I wrote that it was raining, it turned out to be a couple of brief showers and then it was back to the sun. On Wednesday morning of this week, very early (5-ish), there was heavy thunder and lightning and about a 5-minute downpour and then back to sun. Today, however, it is gently raining as you can see from the rings in the birdbath. It appears that this may be signalling a true change in our weather, which has been declared as the hottest and dryest summer since records have been kept. You can see by the number of yellowed leaves that the Polygonum behind the birdbath are in need of water, even though I've tried to keep watering. In fact, yesterday I spent the whole morning watering first the front and then the back garden. Don, of course, is out playing golf with the St Fillans Seniors. The air is decidedly cooler. I have even had to shut a few windows which have been flung open for many, many weeks.

For once, I don't have to feel guilty about going into my studio instead of into the garden. But wouldn't you know it? After all this time waiting to get the right pathway lights and then for our electrician to have time to come put them in, this is the day he has promised to show up? I don't know if the rain will keep up through lunchtime but if it does, we may just have to wait a while longer for those lights. [Cue demonic laughter.] In fact, so far this rain appears to be the sort we need the most, a gentle but persistent and day-long soaking rain rather than a shower.

Don is going to need some fresh herbs from the garden after lunch so he can make a meat marinade for us, so I'd better go out there now and gather in the herbs before it rains any harder. Let's see...didn't I have a raincoat somewhere?

Update: An hour later (11:15). The rain has stopped but even though it's brightened a bit, there is no blue to be seen in the sky and the mist is lying low on the hills. I'm betting there will be more rain but perhaps it will hold off until after Gordon has installed those pathway lights.

Update: Two more hours (1:15). The rain hasn't returned but Gordon is here installing our lights. Whew! (Don says "Well he hasn't finished putting them in. So anything can happen.")