Be happy when it rains….

Some people watch the weather and when there’s a forecast for sun tomorrow they think “oh goodie… I’m going to be happy” or “oh no, it’s rain… I’m not going to be happy, I’m going to be sad”. In fact, I’m stoked it was raining today. I just came back from a cuppa coffee, walk by myself around my back garden. It’s a contemplative time, the ol’ daily cuppa in the garden time. Today I didn’t whip out a couple of weeds, I didn’t even sit down the seats are wet. I thought about how easy it’s going to be to weed tomorrow, I’ll get so much more done then if I had weeded yesterday. Also how there’s no need for me to do any watering. This morning I looked at my half wine barrel planters and thought about filling two of them up with seedlings now that a couple are over being productive or pretty. One though is a show stealer in full bloom, casting delightful colour across my dewy garden. I thought about how the lawns could do with a mow… but I didn’t feel guilty cause I can’t really do it now… it’s rainy after all!

I’ve checked on the seedlings, given out a few squirts from the mister bottle, noticed a few have popped up and I feel cheerful. I don’t’ let the telly weather guy tell me if I’m going to be happy or sad, or listen when he apologises, “not a good day from Palmerston North down to Wellington, I’m afraid you got showers on and off all day building into horrible heavy rain in the afternoon”. I just look for the amazing, the cool, the beautiful and its there, showing its vitality, strength and vivacious life.

Water is so precious. We don’t currently get billed for it where I live, but here is national and international debate about ownership of water. I know there are times in the peak of summer when the councils put water restrictions on watering the garden, on washing the car and other “frivolous” water-wasting activities. It makes me seriously think about putting in slim line water tanks. One down the South West corner of my house so that I can always water the front garden and one down the back of the garage so I can always water the back garden, when the plants need it. I have no idea how to divert the water from the spouting into a tank… so I guess I have to pay someone who knows. The tanks wouldn’t be cheap, maybe a grand all up each would be my guess. Is it THAT precious that I would spend that much money to secure it? I bet the families in Christchurch who lined up for water day after day and had to pay inflated prices in the shops thought it was. Mmm I think I might look into that, but right now I’m off to brush my car… might as well get a free clean while it’s wet!