Writing?
No, no post today, no time to write.
I’m too busy shoveling snow from the driveway. It’s the end of December, you know.
Oh wait, I’m an idiot. I’m not shoveling snow. I live in California.
Fires raged in Northern California in October and in Southern California (where I live) through December.
Family and friends and strangers in both regions worried and were evacuated, some more than once.
Family and friends and strangers suffered from the ash and smoke in the air, their health injured.
People died, trying to escape, unable to escape. Animals died.
Homes, businesses, historic land, native acreage, all consumed by flames.
People died.
The future is not assured.
No, I’m not shoveling snow.
I’m hoping for, pleading for, rain.
My final request for 2017:
Rain, please. Just rain.
Rain.
Rain.
Rain.
Just a thought 23
Rainstorm over the Sea painting by John Constable, circa 1928
Comments on: "Weather Menu" (42)
I feel for you, Sharon. I’ve spent many hours and days praying for rain…. In Greece we also suffer terribly from forest fires. Keeping my fingers crossed for you 💕🌺
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Marina.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well said! I live in Napa, and understand exactly what you are writing, Sharon.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You must have been terrified of the October fires. Hope you stay safe, Bonnie.
LikeLike
Sharon, it is a natural prayer….rain, rain…when you live in a State devastated by fire.
Bless you all.
Miriam
LikeLike
You’ve very sweet, Miriam, thank you.
LikeLike
Wishing rain for you. Australia is moving in to her fire season. We live on tenterhooks. Wishing rain for you.
LikeLike
I’ve read that fires in Australia are very devastating, but only certain regions are prone. Do you live in a fragile area? Wishing rain for you, Peggy.
LikeLike
How sad to see so many suffer from these fires. Such a tragedy. Here’s hoping rain is on the horizon.
LikeLike
Thanks, Carrie. It isn’t supposed to be a wet year. The rebuilding in Northern Cal areas burned in October is going slowly and is mired in politics. People are having trouble finding homes and the rents have skyrocketed.
LikeLike
Such a shame. 😦
LikeLike
It really is, Carrie. The fires have damaged so many lives and destroyed property.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hoping along with you Sharon. The planet’s weather patterns seem to be getting worse. Here in Belgium we have had 5 hours of sunshine this December! Every day is a gray day. Best wishes.
LikeLike
Five hours in all of December – that sounds really gloomy. I agree with you, Denzil, about the changing weather patterns – scary.
LikeLike
I can’t believe some of the fires are still burning! On the topic of cold: My sister lives in Marion IN. I sent her a picture of my weather app– -3!!!
LikeLike
I admit, I’m happy not to be living in New Jersey anymore – winter blizzards – ugh!
LikeLike
Beautifully said.
LikeLike
Thanks, Jenna.
LikeLike
Praying for rain, Shari. I’m with you. I’m so sorry this is happening to California. My heart goes out to you all.
LikeLike
Thanks, Audrey. Prayers gladly accepted.
LikeLike
Sharon, I so wish we could send you some of the rain we had today. It seems climate change has caused such tragedies to be ever more extreme. Thoughts and prayers are with you and all who live in southern California. ❤️
LikeLike
Betty, if you find a way to send us your rain, we’d be thrilled. Your prayers are definitely felt, thank you.
LikeLike
I wish I could transport the rain we got last week over to where you are.
LikeLike
Me too – thanks for the thought, Glynis.
LikeLike
Upon our arrival here in San Diego (and noticed at the Grapevine) was the appearance of dry, brown shrubbery! So different than the pounding of rain and snow we got last fall, winter and spring. And while here, the temps have broken some heat records! Can’t complain, but we do need the rain all over the west. In Sacramento area, we’ve had little rain but snow has managed to fall in the Sierras and that is what counts for water. Our weather guy says that it would take a couple more years of this to put us back into the drought, and he feels the chances are good for normal spring rains January-March which is the similar pattern for soCal too! Keeping fingers crossed though! And why didn’t I know you live in southern Cal, Shari? We’re practically neighbors 🙂
LikeLike
Terri, I knew you had So Cal roots; I think you recently wrote about a San Diego reunion with close friends, and I thought it was so cool that you all keep in touch. Wednesday we took our two older grands to the Fleet Museum in Balboa Park – they had such a great time trying all the exhibits. Love a hands-on museum for kids. As much as Orange County is touted as a California destination, we have nothing here like the really wonderful attractions in LA and San Diego.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We went to Balboa Park as kids and actually climbed into Santa’s sleigh. I have a B&W Polaroid (LOL) of me sitting there in 1965-ish. I keep meeting California bloggers, so now I will remember you are in the OC 🙂
LikeLike
Yep, that’s me, down here at the intersection of the 405 and 5 Freeways, looking at the view from the center lane and wishing the cars would get out of the way so I could set up my easel and paint Saddleback Mountain and the lucious clouds in the sky.
LikeLiked by 1 person
hoping you have a happy healthy rainy New Year. Cheers
LikeLike
Thank you, Kelly, I appreciate the good wishes. Maybe we will have rain yet.
LikeLike
Hoping and wishing rain for you and all those affected by the firestorms, Sharon!! And of course, I love the Constable! ❤
LikeLike
Thank you, Sarah. Really, I wish for great weather for everyone, everywhere, but the California fires affected us personally. We had many friends running for safety. All of them are home again but many others have no home to return to. My heart aches for them and for all who are homeless or running for safety. Happy New Year to you and yours.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m wishing for you also Sharon. Hope it comes. Have to admit you had me going with you shovelling snow. We have been hearing over here about the exceptionally cold weather and heavy snow falls some of your countrymen are experiencing so I was not surprised you were shovelling until your twist arrived and in such a powerful way.
LikeLike
Oops! I forget that folks who live outside the US (and sadly, some who live here as well) are unfamiliar with locations. I trudged through lots of snow when I lived in New Jersey (eastern seaboard of US) as a kid, and shoveled lots of it when I lived in Detroit, Michigan (center north of US) as a newlywed, and there are parts of California that get plenty of winter snow. But I live now in Southern California not far from Disneyland, and we don’t get snow here. We do shiver at about 55 degrees. LOL.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think your temperatures must be about the same as ours or perhaps a little cooler. We shiver when it is below 68 F but when we first moved here we didn’t shiver at all. Funny how you acclimatise.
LikeLike
Yes, but our seasons are reversed. It’s winter here, summer in Australia. Don’t you think that as we age, we’re more sensitive to cooler or warmer air? I hated humid weather when I was a kid, but now I can barely breathe when the air is damp and hot. I want to sit in the freezer on those days.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I sit and look at pictures of your northern winters, thats when I’m not sitting in the pool. Yes I think we become much more sensitive. I used to be able to work outdoors in the heat, now I can barely sit in it and I’ve worn my cardigans than I used to wear when I lived where it got frost.
LikeLike
Yep, that’s us, getting older. Would you mind handing me my sweater? ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
No problem.
LikeLike
Giggle giggle giggle.
LikeLike
Shari, I hope and pray you and yours are safe and remain untouched by this horror. The fires look terrifying and so destructive…a prayer for rain seems the most natural reaction to this tragedy. It has disappeared from the news front so I hope this means the fires have been brought under control. hugs xxx
LikeLike
Thank you, Annika, prayers are always welcome and appreciated. The Thomas Fire is still going though it’s about 92% contained. They don’t expect to have it fully out till late this month, and then there will be danger because of potential mud and rock slides. Our California landscape is fragile and quite often inaccessible because of craggy terrain. Inadequate rainfall in much of the state adds to our problems.
I’ll be over to your site soon – want to see about your new book! Yay!
LikeLiked by 1 person