Welcome rain descended all day in an ever-increasing crescendo.
Undeterred, my Chauffeuse drove us into the forest as rain battered the Modus and spattered the windscreen, across which the panic stricken wipers raced to and fro.
In the dingy early afternoon of this cold summer’s day motorists splashed through puddle-wet streets reflecting headlight beams. The occasional dog walker suffered for his pet.
On one side of a narrow lane off Burley Road invasive balsam did its best to choke a replenishing stream; native teasels stood proud on the other;
around the corner a quizzical sheltering cow clearly wondered what we were doing there.
In the grounds of the Alice Lisle pub at Rockford Green a fine chestnut pony carrying out its lawn mowing contract seemed to be availing itself of a Driza-Bone equestrian coat to keep off the rain.
Last week Ditchend Brook, crossing the Blissford Road ford at Frogham, was virtually dry. Today, raindrops bouncing off its rising surface, the stream was on the move again. This was the only point at which I emerged from the car on this trip; when the raindrops had finished ricocheting off me I probably smelt like a wet dog.
This evening we dined on Jackie’s scrumptious shepherd’s pie crunchy carrots, and tender green beans and cabbage with which she drank Hoegaarden and I drank Marlborough Pinot Noir 2019.
That’s an excellent portrait of the quizzical cow Derrick – and I could fully commiserate with the dog walker 🙂 And this sentence is maybe my favourite ever: ‘rain battered the Modus and spattered the windscreen, across which the panic stricken wipers raced to and fro.’ 😀
That’s lovely, Pauline. Thanks a lot.
How delightful to see rain ! Here in the Charente – Maritime it’s not rained for weeks , temperatures in the upper 30’s , hopefully a touch of rain next week !
I hope so, Graham. Thanks a lot.
The unusual close-up view of the cow wins my prize this evening!
Thanks very much, Anne. I was pleased with it.
The good for the garden’ mantra comes into its own, doesn’t it
Yep. Thanks a lot, Geoff.
Wow, what a downpour! Still, it saved the Head Gardener from watering that beautiful garden.
It did, Sheree. Thanks a lot.
It looks like the downpour I got
🙂
It looks like the downpour I got caught in yesterday coming home from my parents. It’s great for the flowers though. Sorry for the message above. Sometimes my phone has a mind of its own.
I don’t know how you can manage blogs on phone 🙂 Thanks a lot, Jill
Well, obviously not that well. 🙂 I only dictate comments as my wrist has gotten worse. I could never create a blog post with my phone.
I love that beautiful black cow looking at you. Probably wondering why you’re choosing to get soaked when you could stay in the car! It was certainly wet today. Hopefully an improvement tomorrow 😊
Thanks very much, Sandra. It is better here today.
Oh, glorious rain!
Indeed. Thank you very much, Rosaliene.
Oh, that close up picture of the cow is amazing! love it!
Thank you very much, Jodie.
The black cattle are quite handsome.
Thank you very much, Liz
You’re welcome, Derrick.
Wonderful photos despite the rainy weather that so panicked the wipers.
I really like the photo of the cow, and I expected a caption with the photo of the two cattle because to me it looks like one is whispering some juicy gossip to the other. 😏
Thanks very much, Merril. A nice thought about bovine gossip.
😀
Those picture of the cars look almost like a time ago.
So they do, Mrs W. Thanks very much.
Your welcome.
A very dramatic header picture seems to have summed up the day nicely.
Thanks very much, Tootlepedal. I thought it might resonate with you.
We’re getting some very welcome rain too, and now the dog wants to go on a walk.
Bad luck, Peggy. Woof woof. Thanks very much.
We went in the rain and it looks like we’ll be doing the same tomorrow. Today we stuck to the footpaths, instead of going cross country.
Fabulous picture of the cow! The best I have ever seen, I think.
Wow. That is an accolade, Laurie. Thank you very much.
Wet Dog…that is a scent perfumers have never tried to replicate and sell! 😉 😛 😀
I think the quizzical-expressioned cow is thinking, “Whoa, that man smells like wet dog.” Ha! 😉 😛 😀 And in that last photo, one cow is asking the other cow, “What IS THAT smell?!?” Ha! 😉 😀
Your photos are beautiful, serene, smile-bringing, refreshing…just like a good rain. 🙂
(((HUGS))) 🙂 to you and to Jackie!!! 🙂
PS…”If at the end of a day you smell like a dog…then it was a great day!” 🙂
Thank you for these kind comments, Carolyn. I’ll forgive you all the smelly ones. X
You’re welcome!
Thank you for forgiving me! 😉
🙂
Love the B/W photos Derrick, very effective and atmospheric. And yes I too love the face of that cow 🙂 Brilliant!
Thank you so much, Agnes
We had a lot of rain over night and it’s still raining. I refer to the backyard as “The Bogs” of late. Right now it’s a swimming pool from the back steps to the fence. Norm’s potato bags are under water but the other veggies are just enjoying the rain.
It’s amazing how animals just stand or sit in the rain; the water just running off their backs. The black on those cows almost look like wet rubber.
Great photos Derrick!
Thank you so much, Chrissy.
we need rain here, Derrick! love the cattle in the rain! 🙂 🙂
Thank you very much, Lola. I hope you get your rain
Ahh, the quizzical cow definitely has curious eyes of wonderment Derrick…
Thank you very much, Ivor.
We’ve been getting some welcome rain as well. And I’m with all the people who like the lovely back cow.
Thank you very much, Lisa. The rain will do your gardens good.
We’ve had so little rain lately that your photos make me want to dance in the rain when it comes back. I love the cow close up!
Thanks very much, JoAnna. Our first real rain for weeks.
Those images left me in no doubt about the wetness of the day. The Panick-stricken wipers of the Modus set the mood early on. The expression ‘smelling like a wet dog’ lent a touch of vividness, even if humorous, to the conditions prevailing outside the safety of the vehicle.
Thank you very much for these thoughtful comments, Uma.
Fantastic black and white reflection photos create an atmosphere of suspense. Each one could be a cover for a thriller.
A good thought, Dolly. Thanks very much.
You are very welcome, Derrick.
Wow, there’s something about black and white pictures. Beautiful.❤️
Thank you very much, Laleh
Always pleasure.🌺
Nice to have water in the streams. Hope nature doesn’t overdo it.
🙂 Thanks very much, Sherry
I love the close up on the cow, and few things, capture the eye like a wonderful black and white image 🙂
Thanks very much, msw.
Yes, great portrait of the cow. I did read somewhere that horses eat around 10-15% of their body weight every day. For shrews it was 125% of their body weight. I know the feeling!
🙂 Thanks a lot, John
I love the black and white photos! You make also rainy photos look great 😉
Thanks very much, Ribana
A great tour. You did a terrific job on that cow!
I enjoyed the rainy day tour, Derrick and Jackie! I especially love that last cow photo, where one appears to be laughing at a joke being told by the other cow. 🙂
The patterns in the stream from raindrops were especially artistic. I can almost feel the rain myself. The forecast here is dry, sunny and hot, in the upper 90s.
Thanks very much, Lavinia. A nice thought about the cows. 🙂 That sure is hot.
I could hear the raindrops on the puddle, feel the rain pelting the cows, and wade the washing streams. Such vivid phtography! Gorgeous images, Derrick. May I borrow you cow for a writing prompt?
Please do, Jan. I look forward to it. Thanks very much.
“Panic stricken wipers” 🙂 love that! Sure like those cow eyes–and envious of the lovely rain. (It is 93 F today and was a crackling hot 100 yesterday–no rain for awhile.)
Thanks very much, Cynthia. I hope you cool down soon.
That’s a great shot of the cow’s eyes.
Thanks a lot, Quercus