Skywatch Friday - March 24, 2016

It has been raining so much, it would seem like the California drought should be at an end.  Gray skies continue to be the norm with an occasional bright sunny day to remind us that we shouldn't bemoan this monsoon-like rainfall.  When I was up in Sacramento this past weekend, visiting my two grandchildren - and their parents, of course, I was amazed to see the water level of the Sacramento River, with trees almost to their tops, under water!  Soon, with spring arriving in full force, the river will go down to its more normal levels  and the rice paddies will be planted.  

I am participating in 

Skywatch Friday.

Point your camera toward the

heavens and join in the fun!

Friday Fragments #266 - My First Visit to Friday Fragments - September 13, 2012

Well, this has certainly been a fragmented week for me.  Sometimes it is hard to 
keep focused, that's for sure.

My Sunday began at the beautiful Grand Hyatt Mumbai where I had splurged and
spent my last Hyatt points for an overnight stay in their Club Level.  Talk about 
luxury.  Just before leaving, I availed myself of a wonderful breakfast in the Club
Lounge, with great staff in attendance and an assortment of excellent food items.

The auto rickshaw ride back to my Branda West condo was much lengthier

than usual since Sunday was the beginning of the week long Bandra Fair,

taking place right beside my residence.  The streets were jammed with 

people buying all sorts of trinkets and, of course, street food ( which I

refrain from eating in India though it smells so tempting ).

All three of my cat housemates were waiting when I got home and, for some

reason, they have parked themselves outside my door all week.  They are

not allowed in my bedroom ( allegries ) but they seem to like my company

when I work at the computer with my door open, sitting there quietly.

Monday marked the beginning of a very special celebration in India, the birthday of the

Hindu god, Ganesha, who bears the head of an elehant.  Almost every home in this

country has his image displayed.  He is revered as the lord of success and the 

destroyer of evil and obstancles. He is also invoked at the start of travels and is

worshipped as the god of education, wisdom and wealth.

The festival to honor Ganesha last for ten days and, on the 11th day, his image

is paraded through the streets, then submerged in a body of water - a river, lake,

the sea - even just a bucket of water for the small images - a ritual sendoff as 

he journeys to home taking the troubles of mankind.  Ah, if only he could be

successful!!!

While monsoon season, I believe, is officially over, we have had several very 

heavy showers, making the Bandra fair goes most unhappy.

Fortunately, by nightful, it had ceased and I could see the lights of south 

Mumbai, across the Arabian Sea, from my window.

I am almost halfway through Barbara Kingsolver's, "Pigs in Heaven".  I ordered

it as soon as I'd finished the first book of the set, "The Bean Trees".  She is 

one of my favorite authors and I will be sad to see this book end.

I am halfway through this six month stay in India.  I miss my family and friends

( and the cooler temperatures ) in San Francisco but I am enjoying this, my

third lengthy stay in India.  October 3, I celebrate my 69th birthday ( how did

I ever get this old ).  I was in Jaipur last year and it was quite a special 

birthday, with three different cakes in three different locations.  No wonder I 

love India.

This is my first time to post in Friday Fragment but I am sure I'll be back.

Join in at:

Friday Fragments, #256

Monsoon Rains Continue in Mumbai - July 26 2013

I'd like to see a sunny sky,

Instead of clouds of gray,

But, alas, it seems a futile wish,

More rains are on the way!

Monsoon is wreaking havoc,

Commuters face delay,

Air traffic is being rerouted,

Such is life in old Bombay.

The weather outlook for the coming week,

Continues rainy and very bleak!

Carmen M Henesy

Copyright (c) July 26, 31, 2013 by Carmen Henesy 

All rights reserved. 

I am participating in 

Mr. Know It All's Friday Flash 55

and

Skywatch Friday, Season 7, Episode 3

Add your photos to join in the fun!

Unique Weekend Photo Challenge: Rain - Monsoon in Jaipur - March 30, 2013

I thought this would be a good photograph for this week's photo challenge
of rain. I well remember that day of torrential downpour in Jaipur. Traffic was
at a standstill for a time, with the streets flooded and a momentary reprieve
from the soaring temperatures.

I am participating in 

UE's Weekend Challenge: Rain

Skywatch Friday: Season 6, Episode 25 - Sunny Skies over Pacifica, California

At last, for the moment anyway, the rains have ceased over the

Pacific, just south of San Francisco.  Let's hope the weather  holds

for a dry New Year's Eve celebration.

I am participating in Skywatch Friday: Season 6, Episode 25

Point your camera to the skies and join in the fun!

Orange & Yellow Flower, Drowning in Monsoon Rain - September 17, 2012

In our torrential downpour last week, this cheery blossom took quite a beating
from the relentless rain.  It remained standing, however.  I'm not sure what it
is - iris, maybe.

I am participating in Mellow Yellow Monday, #191,

and

Mandarin Orange Monday, #10.

Add your photos to join in the fun!

Water World Wednesday - Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head - August 29, 2012

Well, Jaipur is having quite a bit of rainfall now....two months late.  

Monsoon season should have arrived when I did, on June 23rd -

but, until about two weeks ago, there have been only a few 

intermittent showers.  People have been lamenting the dry conditions,

both townspeople and farmers alike.  

A few days ago, rain came down in a furious crescendo, with booms

of thunder and lightning illuminating the skies.  It started in the afternoon

and continued all night.  Sadly, many homes in low lying regions of

Jaipur were flooded and there were several fatalities.

Subsequent rains have been less traumatic, except for flooding the

streets and creating puddles for delighted children.  I've never seen

such raindrops, though!

It started out as a light rainfall

The drops became bigger and bigger

And, in some areas, the drops were amazing...as the

rain continued on into the night.

I am participating in Water World Wednesday, Episode 22, Year 1.

Please join us with your watery photo!!

Yellow Forsythia - Mellow Yellow Monday - May 24, 2010

Rain dampened spring forsythia

Blessings

Blessings


Though I mutter about the drizzling rain,
And, as I grab my umbrella, I complain,
For the parched earth below, the glistening drops
Are a blessing.

Work is brutal and the hours long,
And, I wait impatiently for the closing gong,
But every week, when my paycheck comes,
The money is a blessing.

They run shrieking about in whirlwind play,
And seem to ignore what I have to say.
Yet when I hear their prayers at night,
My children are a blessing.

Our country, at times, seems such a mess,
But regardless of this, I must confess,
That to live in the United States, to me,
Truly is a blessing.

I'm growing older, that's for sure,
And, try as they might, there's no cancer cure,
But I woke up this morning,
And that I regard as a blessing.

Carmen Henesy

Copyright (c) 2009 by Carmen Henesy
All rights reserved.

When It Rains

I do believe the sun's rays are making a feeble effort to break through the billowy gray clouds this morning.  Yesterday was filled with torrential downpours.  It reminded me of Bollywood films I've seen of India  monsoons, with hour after hour of steady rain.  Unlike Georgia's tumultuous summer thunderstorms, with sounds like sonic booms and blazing steaks of lightning, this was silent rain that kept up for hours.  It made for such a lazy day, luring both me and my mother back to our respective bed for long afternoon naps.  Such luxury to lie there, listening to the steady drumming of rain  on the driveway outside the window.  It reminded me of a poem I penned awhile backed, titled, "When It Rains."  I hope you like it.

When It Rains

Crashing drops pound upon,
The roof of hammered tin,
And I stretch, languidly,
And become a child again.

I recall those summer days,
When a sudden raging storm,
Left puddles meant for splashing,
With water nice and warm!

Raindrops fall on arid lands,
And quench the thirsty earth,
Rewarding us with flowers,
And a sense of new rebirth.

Downpours fall in heavy sheets,
Obscuring all from sight,
A hazard for those driving,
Or venturing out into the night.

Rain can be the lightest mist,
That barely wets the ground,
And as it falls around us,
It doesn't make a sound.

It also falls while thunder,
Booms from a threatening sky,
Accented by streaked lightning,
Menacing all nearby.

Carmen Henesy

Copyright

©2009 Carmen Henesy. All Rights Reserved.