The Blessing Of Rain!!!!

 Although drought conditions here in southern Alberta are far from over, today brought the blessing of several hours of rain! Drooping plants in backyard gardens picked up tired leaves; stems stood straighter within a matter of a couple of hours. Small children came outside in their rubber boots to stomp and splash in the curb-side puddles. A steady fall of rain and cooler temperatures...what a marvellous way to greet the day. More rain is forecast to arrive early in the evening and continue for most of the night. Perhaps it will be a showery drive home tomorrow. Last night we tied up the exhausted looking stalks of our friends’ sunflower plants and pruned their tomato bushes, so they were all ready to greet the refreshing rain today. 

We enjoyed the local Anglican Church service this morning. The sermon was given by a Dominican monk who is about to be ordained in the church. It was nice after the service to hear the history of the origins of his order. After church most of the congregation happily stood outside in the gentle rain, visiting for an hour despite getting soaking wet! Such a relief to be able to enjoy a day away from the heatwave!

Tonight we will watch the closing ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics with our friends. We will pack up and leave for home in the morning. What a lovely weekend of fun, friends, amazing meals, and deep conversation. The trip is ending on a much happier note than it began, partly due to getting enough sleep at last!