Rainy day

The rain has been pouring down here all day.  The plants have been in need of a good soaking rain.  The garden is doing well but will probably need weeding after this torrent.

There is a wetland near the house and the croaking of the frogs is really a happy sound.  Before today, the cypress knees weren't covered,  but by this evening there has been so much rain that the wetland is filled up.  I like to see it filled because it means that deer and other mammals can get a good drink from the water there.

I've had a problem with a pesky raccoon who likes to come up on the deck and drink out of the water garden that we have under the bed room window nearest the bed.  C. has put some lovely water plants in a large container there.  Every morning we find the plants are rearranged and the water nearly gone. Last night, I staked out the spot where this was happening and saw a huge raccoon come on the deck, meander over to the container and proceed to rummage around in it.  So it appears that we are going to have to put another container of just water on the deck for the raccoons.  Or maybe since there is water in the wetland, they will go down there for a drink. 

I really like a rainy day like today.  I stayed home most of the day and then left to go to my Piloting class tonight.  It is a relief to get back home and off the highway.  It's hard to see well on these dark country roads.  I always hope and pray that I won't hit an animal as I go along the road.  Since we moved out here, I haven't hit one--not an opossum, deer, raccoon, coyote, or dog.  I think that I would be devastated to hit some poor animal wandering across the highway. 

Well, I'm going to turn in.  My eyes are tired from plotting positions on a chart.  I am sure that I'll sleep right through the raccoon invasion of the night.  If you have any ideas on how to keep them out of a water garden, let me know.  And no, shooting them is not an option!