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| Leaf-boat sailing in a rainstorm puddle on my driveway |
Last night I woke to the sounds of thunder and noticed lightning flashing outside my bedroom window. It was a mellow storm compared to some that we have had lately. I closed my eyes and disappeared back into my sleep. I awoke perhaps an hour later and it was still storming outside.
I felt snug in my bed and lay awake remembering as a child how I delighted in storms that brought puddles to our neighborhood. Yes, puddles. As a child, with my friends, we would beg our mothers to let us walk barefoot along the sides of our street where rain water had accumulated. Our goal was to splash each other from these shallow puddles. Such simple fun.
Early this morning, after the rain had stopped, I looked outside at the overcast skies. Then I looked at my driveway and saw -- puddles. They looked rather blah from my window. But wait. Weren't my thoughts last night about having fun with puddles as a child. Hmm -- maybe mine aren't so blah. Out the door I went with my camera.
Mystical forest illusion reflected in my
rainstorm puddle by nearby maple trees.
What a delightful post full of wonderful memories. Made me think of when I was a young woman in what was then Southern Rhodesia. When the rains came the road filled up quickly, the pavements very high, and I waded up to my waist through the cooling storm water, after all I had to cross the street....
ReplyDeleteCarole Anne -- What memories you have. You have lived an adventurous life. Perhaps some of this adventure rubbed off in your children's books. thanks -- barbara
DeleteBeauty is probably better than fun and especially the second photo is very beautiful. I have a feeling I would have had an impulse to jump with both feet into one of those puddles. We don't get too old for fun either.
ReplyDeleteJune -- Many times we did jump with both feet into a puddle to try to soak our friends. Now if you are talking about the puddles in my photos today -- I really didn't think about jumping into them. Maybe next time I will. Thanks for the very nice comment about the second photo -- barbara
DeleteWhat a great post, Barbara. I love how you brought together puddles and childhood. I always loved mud squished between my toes and sometimes still want to walk barefoot through a puddle. Nice photos. I love your thought about the camera having "a child's eye." I will remember that.
ReplyDeleteTeresa -- My childhood is full of mud squished toes too. I think about the childhood activities of today. I wonder how many run through puddles and stick their toes down into soft mud? thanks for your comment -- barbara
DeleteGreat shot of the leaf boat. Delightful post that makes want want to be there feeling those emotions with you.
ReplyDeleteGrampy -- I was raised in Michigan's lake country -- I guess I always will relate to water. It is in my blood. thanks for the nice comment -- barbara
DeleteOh wow! I love this window image. Always have the camera at the ready... kid or not.
ReplyDeleteBirdman -- Aren't we all kids at heart -- and of course be camera ready -- thanks -- barbara
DeleteStorms always make me grateful. For a safe dry place and a warm bed.
ReplyDeleteWhat a comforting thought. Soft rain can be so cozy inside ones house -- barbara
DeleteI love this post, and I love the pictures, especially the first one. I'm a rain storm lover too; listening to the rain is so comforting. Thanks for sharing a wonderful childhood memory too; we used to have puddle fights too, but with shoes on.
ReplyDeleteRose -- So nice to hear from you. And such nice comments. I wonder if there is some ancient reason that we like rain storms? Good that you had the liberty to get your shoes wet -- my mom would have made me sit in a chair for an hour for wet shoes. She really was a dear but she was strict. thanks -- barbara
DeleteYour perfect puddle pictures are Pulitzer Prize-worthy!! No kidding - those are wonderful! I love the little leaf boat! You must have been flat on your belly on the wet ground to get that great photo! I can almost envision a little ladybug paddling that boat with a matchstick oar. :-)
ReplyDeleteAnd the second photo is just beautiful! It looks like you used some sophisticated special editing software to get that lovely look, but I assume Mother Nature, your camera and a great photographer's eye was all you needed.
(As a kid, I could never avoid a tantalizing puddle, and my mother never avoided punishing me for it. So thanks for letting me splash around in yours, virtually speaking, without dire consequences!) :-)
Thanks for the very nice comments about my photos. I like your imaginary lady bug paddling my boat. I lucked out on these photos. Neither required any special editing with the exception of a little bit of cropping on the boat photo. I was pleasantly surprised at the mystical look of the second photo. I think it was the combination of the overcast sky, the puddle reflection and the gray pavement beneath the puddle that, altogether, created the mystical look. I think all kids are drawn to puddles -- the delight in splashing is addictive. -- barbara
ReplyDeleteLaloofah -- the above comment is meant for you. I still forget to use the new "reply word" when commenting back. Sometimes its difficult to teach old dogs new tricks. -- barbara
DeleteGrowing up in the Pacific NW, Barbara, puddles were the norm! We learned to play no matter what the weather implied! Perhaps that's the metaphor, locked within: playfulness is not a specified time but rather a mental state to be engaged without ceremony! Love your puddle boat! And, yes! Being behind the lens seems to give one "permission."
ReplyDeleteThanks much!
Elora
Elora -- I do remember the NW rain and puddles! Yes, I am sure that you had months of puddles in your home state. I agree that playfulness is not a specified time but a mental state. The lens does give up permission for many states if mind. You don't need to speak -- the camera can tell the story. thanks for the comments Elora -- barbara
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