New Year’s Eve started rainy and continued on New Year’s day. We spent the evening cozy at home with a fire and seafood tower. By now, we have received 300% of normal for rain during our rainy season from October to September, which is still only 15 inches. In between storms, I run out and scatter seed for an abundant spring flowering. I really like Botanical Interests seeds for flowers. I’ve mentioned them before. Their red clover for cover crops is fantastic. The flowers are huge and brilliant red, which means all the birds and butterflies love them. They will continue to bloom through spring when you are suppose to mow them down and turn them under. I prefer to cut them and add to my compost. The flowers make a great tea, especially when added to rose hips or raspberries.
I celebrated my birthday, shortly after New Year’s, by driving to Santa Barbara Art Museum in an intense rainstorm. It was only sprinkling here and my friends said rain was light in Santa Barbara. But as we got closer it started pouring in sheets. In Santa Barbara, when it rains, the streets turn to rivers. As we arrived, we parked as close as we could and jumped over huge streams of water. The water was literally flowing over the sidewalks. Yep we were soaked even with rain gear and umbrellas. I had wanted to see the Monet to Matisse special show at the museum. It was beautiful but only one Matisse in the whole show. I was a little sad about that as Henri Matisse is one of my favorites.
I couldn’t help to think about why we had not developed a way for the water to flow underground to recharge our aquafirs. There are no drains in Santa Barbara, so everything flows down the street directly to the ocean. We’ve had years to create a better system, but no one has apparently. Right now my own water barrels are full and I’ll use them to water once the ground dries again.
Now we are in blustery Santa Ana winds; 23-45 miles a hour blustery, Its too windy to do yard work, like weeding out all the grass that has popped up where grass does not belong. How does it get there? Tomorrow it is suppose to warm up and hopefully the winds die down long enough to be outside in my yard.
I also learned that on birthday, the Earth was at Perihelion, which means it is closest to the sun. Perhaps that is why I am such a sun person. However, on my birthday we could neither see the sun or the full wolf moon.
My cats are lazing about inside, as they don’t like the winds. Here is one of them now. I think they are going for a record of how many hours to sleep.
Enjoy the quiet time of winter and a respite from all the holidays.
Reflections Outside My Window 