The Rain Is Here

If you live in the Portland area, you know the autumn rains began on Friday after weeks of sunny weather.  I don't mind the rain so much - maybe because I grew up in the Willamette Valley.  However, the longer the rain continues, the more likely it is that complaints about the weather will follow.

I remember a nursery rhyme:

Rain rain go away,
Come again another day.
Little Johnny wants to play; 
Rain, rain, go to Spain,
Never show your face again!

According to www.rhymes.org.uk, this rhyme originated in the 16th century at the time of the Spanish Armada. The British defeated the Armada, in part because of the stormy weather. Apparently the rain was a valuable ally.

There Was No Debate

There was no debate in my mind about whether to watch the debate this week.  I spent some time with friends (with no television), then went to Fred Meyer to pick up photos and a prescription.  I feel I used my time wisely, and I look forward to getting a good night's sleep.

Happy Birthday

There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.
- Edith Wharton

(painting shown is by Libby Caldwell)

Still Blooming

Even though it's autumn, some flowers are still blooming like it's summer.

I find it interesting how the seasons overlap. Not only do flowers bloom while leaves are falling, but sometimes the seasons of our lives seem to overlap, too.  Old age and childhood seem to co-exist in my mother now.  Sometimes I see an adult acting like an adolescent - or vice versa.  There is not a clean edge or a sharp dividing line between each stage - which can be a little disconcerting.  I can never be quite sure what to expect next - from the weather or from people.  Maybe that's why I never know what's going to pop up next on my blog.  Maybe that's the way life is supposed to be.

Mad Hatter Day

Twinkle, twinkle, little bat!
How I wonder what you're at!
Up above the world you fly,
Like a teatray in the sky.

Among the many minor holidays, October 6 is listed as "Mad Hatter Day," probably because of the paper tag showing in his hat band. (The tag is believed to be an order to make the hat and shows its cost as ten shillings and sixpence.  But, it could be interpreted as October 6.) 

According to www.holidayinsights.com, Mad Hatter Day is a great day to be silly.  Why not celebrate silliness by wearing a top hat, asking unanswerable riddles, and spouting nonsensical poetry a la Lewis Carroll?

"Why is a raven like a writing-desk?  Have you guessed the riddle yet?” the Hatter said.
“No, I give it up,” Alice replied, “What’s the answer?”
“I haven’t the slightest idea,” said the Hatter.”

Words

When playing on-line word games, I am amazed at some of the words that are allowed.  Apparently, my vocabulary is more limited than I realized.  I'm not talking about big words - I'm talking about 3-letter words.  Did you know...

• ais are South American 3-toed sloths
• mir is a village community in czarist Russia
• oka is a unit of weight or capacity
• oud is a musical instrument of the lute family
• ras is a family of genes that undergo mutation

“All the ideas in the universe can be described by words. Therefore, if you simply take all the words and rearrange them randomly enough times, you’re bound to hit upon at least a few great ideas eventually. Sausage donkey swallows flying guillotine, my love assembly line.
”

                 ― Jarod Kintz from www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/words

We'll Take Fall Together

Shall we take Fall together,

go sifting through the fallen leaves
and gaze upon the golden hues,
while waiting for the freeze?
We walk a little slower now,
our warm days have all but gone,
we will have to bundle up,
now that Fall has come...

                  - Gary Davis

(from www.familyfriendpoems.com)