Wednesday's storms

Given the terrible storms that have passed through this country in recent weeks, I can hardly complain about ours this morning. The most disturbing feature was the noise. It has been a long time since I've heard that kind of crashing thunder -- one that seems to rip through everything in its path only to explode in a terrible crescendo at the end.

It was a good reminder that not all days can be sunny and bright.

We ate breakfast in the front room, with all lights on.






Snowdrop seems rather unfazed by poor weather and after school, she steps out into the great gray outdoors (if there is a rail within reach, she's on her own!) with confidence and excitement.






I am less thrilled with taking a walk in the cold rain. She is disappointed at my decision, but happy to learn that we'd run out of cookies yet again and so cookie baking at the farmhouse is definitely a top priority.






(The best part, after licking the egg beaters and sneaking a dip into the brown sugar bag -- the raisins!)






(Yep, the raisins.)






(Killing time while the cookies bake.)






(A dancing spatula!)






(Finally!)






Toward evening, Snowdrop's mommy comes over to take the girl home. She lingers for a while as Snowdrop asks for a book reading...






Mommy stretches her back, Snowdrop scribbles.






I remember the rainy days of my childhood. Colored pencils were our go-to toy. We drew many many rainbows and sunsets, adding color to paper even as it was missing in the skies outside. Snowdrop likes her fat crayons, but she especially loves drawing with a pencil. "Lines!" -- she says proudly. Yes, Snowdrop, those are beautiful lines!






We have a frost advisory for the next two nights. The four cymbidium orchids, which spend the late spring, summer and early fall months outside will have to come in for a few days. But we're far from a solid frost yet. The annuals will keep on going through at least the end of the month. It's been a very warm Autumn!