It’s a beautifully quiet morning at home after a wild storm blew in late yesterday afternoon. It’s been wickedly hot and dry here in Queensland, so when we looked up to see heavy, dark clouds on the horizon, we hoped for rain but held that hope in an open hand.
Much to our delight, the first drops fell just as we were nearing home from a day in town, and as we pulled up to our gate, I jumped out to open it and got gloriously drenched.
We made a mad dash for the house as almighty gusts hurtled rain at us in sheets, and decided instantly that our afternoon break must be held on the back veranda.
Bear poured us icy glasses of homemade green apple soda while I topped old tin plates with treasures from our stop at the bakery. Then we settled back to enjoy the storm.
We sat quiet and comfy in our chairs, munching happily on apricot cream turnovers as the rain poured down.
When you’ve gone without rain for so long, there’s nothing to be said when it finally comes. Your whole body takes it in, basking in cool swirls of wind that toss sprays of fragrant rainwater on weary skin. It is wondrous beyond words.
We watched in amazement as wood that had been dusty and bone dry moments before, suddenly sprouted tiny green shoots of lime green moss.
Lacy fans of lichen popped up on the railing as the cracked, dusty yard turned into a checkerboard of puddles.
The rain was accompanied by stunning streaks of lightning, sometimes three or more flashing at once, and massive cracks of thunder that shook the house. It didn’t take long for our power to get knocked out, and we didn’t mind one bit. As the power disappeared, our to-do lists vanished with it. Without electricity we couldn’t do cooking or laundry, there was no writing of books or editing of photos, no using power tools or wood-burning implements. We could well and truly rest with nary a hint of guilt or pressure.
It was a truly delicious respite that restored our bedraggled spirits.
After our sojourn on the veranda, Bear got a brainwave for a project he’d been contemplating for months and dashed down to the shed to see if it would work. I seized the chance to start the new book I’d found at the dump shop, and made a cozy nest in bed right under the window where I could glance up to the storm in between tales. Soon I was shaking with laughter as I read one hilarious and ridiculous story after another.
It was just what we needed.
What is your favorite thing to do when storms knock out your power? xo
Home made apple soda. YES! Sounds amazing. Can you suggest a good recipe?
The last time we lost power because of a storm I happened to be catching up with an old school friend, so we lit some candles and talked the evening away. But I’d prob read or play on my phone or tuck down in bed and enjoy. 🙂
Our soda is super simple, @disqus_o9c9vkchcC:disqus . I just juice a box of green apples, bottle it, and keep it in the fridge, then add some to sparkling mineral water whenever we fancy a soda. 🙂 Your candle lit storm night with your friend sounds wonderful. 🙂
We have never had a storm knock out the power – we live in a country where the electricity supplier does that for us! My best thing to do is read 🙂
Oh that made me laugh, @tandysinclair:disqus 🙂
Reaching for a book is the perfect solution. And I adore green apple soda. So refreshing but not overly sweet 🙂 x
Yes, it’s the overly sweet part I like too, Lorraine. 🙂
I’m stunned at the lichen! I’m with everyone else – recipe for the homemade apple soda please. I’d love the power to be knocked out here for a bit!!! Our views on the world couldn’t be more different could they?
I will be brewing some from scratch when our apple harvest comes in, @nancyplusatesix:disqus , but for now I just juice our apples and mix it with sparkling mineral water. It’s delicious without any sugar or syrup. 🙂
oh that all sounds just perfect! love those little green sprouts on the deck and railings and that crowd: merchant, gervais and pilkington….laughter is the best medicine!
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It sure is, paradis. 🙂 I haven’t laughed so hard over a book in quite a while. 🙂
What a mouth watering combination you had there between that soda and the turnover! Can’t think of a better way to spend a few rainy hours than lost in a book.
It was such a delightful surprise, @disqus_WseMqaTPwi:disqus 🙂
Lovely storm, Krista! And I like the sound of your home made apple soda!
It is so scrumptious and simple, @liz_posmyk:disqus Just freshly pressed apple juice with sparkling mineral water. No sugar, no syrup, just a good, refreshing drink. 🙂
Your homemade soda looks really good. I do love to sit on our covered verandah when the rain comes down and this experience is always the best when rain is long overdue. It’s very hot in Sydney at the moment – the next three days will all be around 40C – too hot to go outside! xx
I can only imagine how much hotter it is in the city with all that concrete around, Charlie. I’m so glad you have such a fantastic veranda to keep you shaded and cool. 🙂
When the power is out I usually sit on the balcony overlooking the canal and watch the rain and read a book. 🙂 Homemade apple soda?
Ohhh, that sounds lovely, @OrgasmicChef:disqus 🙂 Yep, we do our own fruity sodas here to cut down on sugar and whatnot. I make my own juice from whatever fruit, green apples this time around, then add it to sparkling mineral water. It’s scrumptious. 🙂
I will join the chorus – homemade apple soda sounds wonderful! When a storm knocks out the power, it’s time to set up my battery powered lantern and read!
I love your stormy weather posts. I once spent a summer in Moncton, NB while my home province was enduring its worse drought since 1919. I didn’t realize just how badly I missed the rain until New Brunswick’s weeks of oppressive humidity broke in a glorious storm. The locals ran for cover – we visitors ran out to better experience the wonder. The rain came down in buckets and swirled around my ankles before rushing to the gutters. It’s the longest I ever stayed out in the rain. Every thunderous picture takes me back there. It’s been raining here to, but it’s a drizzle over snow – hardly the same caliber of noteworthy weather. Thanks for the trip down memory lane 🙂
Our power only usually goes off when there is a cyclone and I hate it because I know that it will be days before it comes back on. Then I have to go out and get ice for my parents and worry about them. Sometimes we get a generator but the ones we have had are so noisy! One day we shall invest in one of those nice quiet ones. I agree that after a long dry spell the rain is pure magic and I love the croaking of the frogs (do you have that?). And that delicious coolness which you hope will never end. How lovely that you got home just as it started.
You make sitting in a rain storm sound so romantic and lovely!