acacia blossoms

acacia blossoms

Sunday, February 12, 2012

storm breaking




The air is like an oven door open - a steam oven.  Normal activities like walking from A to B are like swimming in invisible water.  The white heat from the sun chases us into the shadows. Everything is still, waiting, slow.  Even the monkeys hang in the trees, watching us through heavy lidded eyes. Tails hanging, limbs hanging loosely mingling with the branches.   A loop of vine makes a convenient arm chair in which to snooze. I envy them their ability to climb and live in a tree. There is no coolness - everything i touch is too warm.





Late afternoon and the softest baby breath of a breeze touches my arm. Distant sounds like someone walking across a wooden floor could be thunder. We watch the sky hopefully. A few downy soft cumulus clouds loom behind the house. In the west a dark smudge of sky draws slowly closer.



elephant crossing the road in heavy rainstorm

As darkness falls, a quick flash of light that could have been a torch, flits past the window.  We wait and watch.  There is another, and another. Definitely lightening. A few seconds later, the sound of celestial furniture removals confirm our hopes. Here it comes.



No soft pitter patter this time. The rain comes hard and fast, strobe lit by lightening and celebrated by a triumphant percussion section.  Delicious, mouth watering, skin tingling cool ozone packed air, swirls into our lives and around our sweat caked skin. Body temperature normalises and lethargy slips off our shoulders like a heavy blanket.  It makes you want to dance - truly. Get out there and splash some mud around. But this time we content ourselves with watching the light show that skitters all around us.




nothing to do with this post really
just a lovely sunset visit with a peaceful elephant

19 comments:

Jenny Woolf said...

I hate it when the weather is as hot as this, but in a way it is necessary in order to feel the relief of rain, the bad with the good. Nice description.

Angela said...

I got shivers down my back from your description, Val! How fabulous. I liked that monkey in his armchair, looking lazily down at you. And THEN the lighting and storm coming, wow!!! Fantastic. Quite unimaginable from here, as we sit inside, watching nothing but snow outside, and dreaming of spring and warmth. But I love to read your reports!
Also the last one, about the moon names of leo and poacher, how inventive. Your world certainly is different from mine, but wonderful!!

Val said...

Jenny - thanks for visiting. That heat is so debilitating but, as you say, well worth it for the relief of rain. It really makes you appreciate a cool breeze.

Geli - that storm was such a relief. we have had heavy heat for a couple of days. Something had to break.
Cant imagine your snow either - although it sounds magical and beautiful; i guess the practicalities are not so romantic?

Cheryl Cato said...

I know EXACTLY what you mean! Of course we are in winter now, but are having much needed rains both last month & this. It is indeed wonderful. Today we have beautiful a blue sky with clouds here and there and a morning start at freezing. We were supposed to have rain, sleet, a smattering of snow but it must be stuck west of us.

Enjoy the cooling rain!

mermaid gallery said...

what relief!...i love the smell of the ozone...like wet sidewalks.....nature is so dramatic and exciting.....it almost sounds like good sex!

Val said...

Cheryl - rain is a blessing indeed - we learn to appreciate it via droughts!

Mermaid - ooops! hahaha

Anonymous said...

OMG - swimming in invisible water - eish I know that feeling!!!! What an excellent description. Can almost feel the relief of rain. BUSH DISCO on Saturday night and the Big Five Band weren't performing

Calvin said...

This was so well written that you made me yearn for torrential rain to dance in.

Val said...

Janet - bit cooler today but i think its gonna warm up again :) those strobe lights were rivetting - what a light show!

Calvin - i guess torrential rain in the city is different. where in the world are you?

thanks for your visits and comments - you know i love to hear from you all xxV

Amanda Summer said...

i will remember celestial furniture removal the next time a storm rumbles through. your words honor the beauty which you witness.

Red Sun Safaris said...

Val- I just love reading your blog!! Your words are so descriptive and makes one feel a part off. I love your blog on Craig and Cheryl's wedding. Sheldon Francois (Craig's brother)

Val said...

Amanda - thanks - i always try to picture which furniture item is moving - sometimes its a piano down the stairs! i have had some trouble getting my comments to stick on your fabulous blog - i hope you know that i am an avid fan??

Sheldon - hey! hi! and thanks. that wedding was something

Lauri said...

Oh Val I'm so envious!We've had little to no rain all season. Apparently these cyclones in the Mozambique Channel are making an odd C shape over Botswana that is excluding rain for most of The Central District. Whereas you guys and Gantsi are getting lots of rain. Your storm sound heavenly!Enjoy!

Ruth said...

Your writing vividly and vibrantly made me want to go out and dance in the rain. Just beautiful.

Val said...

Lauri - ah that wait for rain is torture - hope you get some soon - before the season is over. I know that feeling too well.

Ruth - ah thanks! i hope you get the chance to do so!

Mina said...

Val, I always show your posts to my daughter ( 7years old) and she gets amazed for the photos and posts. We live in such a different world of yours and as she is crazy for animals , this is the perfect place for her to visit! Thank you for sharing your life with us.
Greetings from Brazil,
Mina

Val said...

hi Mina - thats wonderful - i am happy you are both enjoying the blog! many thanks.

Vagabonde said...

You write beautifully about the storm and the rain. Last night it rained hard here with thunder and lightning – we always wait, holding our breath, to see if a tornado will follow. Some tornadoes came yesterday in other states and were devastating. So, we like the rain but we are a bit afraid of storms. Do you get tornadoes where you live?

Val said...

Vagabonde - thanks! we dont get tornadoes thankfully - they do look daunting - I would be worried too. We do however get tropical storms which can turn into cyclones - and we are expecting the third this year already!