Exhausted from the Rain

This was supposed to be my “Savoring April” post. The one where I recap April. I don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted from the rain. And I’m happy to move on to May. I’m expecting TONS OF MAY FLOWERS. Aren’t you? April showers promise that much, you know.

We received around 15 inches of rain the past week which has resulted in flash flooding. The fierce storm is moving on across the country leaving death and destruction in its path. I’m always fascinated by the calm before the storm, not to mention the rainbow coloring the back end. Not that we’re done. If this morning’s wind and dismal skies are any indication, we seem to have more bad queued up.

Maybe T. S. Eliot got it right when he said April is the cruelest month.

For the most part, I can celebrate April. I savored the month with friends and family, book clubs and library events, and lots of time working in the garden in between rolling thunder. April brought a family reunion potluck and Easter ribs from the Rendezvous in Memphis. Like they say, you can’t beat that with a stick.

Here’s my recap in pictures.

So a quick rundown for posterity.

In the savoring flavor category, I made a new dish—roasted Brussel sprouts with blueberries. This combination was especially wonderful with baked chicken and fresh baby spinach. Healthy, too. Other than this dish, I can’t say I did that much cooking. #Fail.

In the savoring friends category, I got to see my BFF Becky for a few hours one day. Not the best picture but always great fun. Becky is soon moving to Northwest Arkansas. Someone buy her house in Jonesboro to speed this up, please.

In the savoring fun category, I saw Beauty & the Beast which I’ve anticipated since hearing Hermoine was becoming Belle. The new version did not disappoint. Also, I went to see The Graduate (on the big screen!) and The Curious Incident of the Dog at Night Time (at Walton Arts Center). That’s a lot of April entertainment right there.

By the way, I never saw Hidden Figures at the theatre, but I finally rented and watched it from my couch with popcorn I made on the stove. What an incredible story and movie. Hidden has many meanings in this case. As in hidden women hidden from American history books…

Wonder what else we don’t know about?

April was a month of working in the flower beds. John and I spread 8o-something bags of mulch! Okay, John spread most of it, but I helped. Plus, I planted 7 flats of begonias. That’s something.

But now I’m officially moving on to May. So, Happy May Day!

May has always felt fresh and cheery to me. As a kid, May meant the end of another school year, the promise of summer. May still feels that way to me. Plus all those May flowers. Bonus.

On a serious note. Yes, I’m exhausted from the rain, but rain is merely an inconvenience for me. Farmers, though. Their livelihood is at risk. Again. How I know the persistent sick feeling of that, the queasiness of rethinking everything. Farmers have much more to worry about than a few soggy flowers or washed out wildflower seeds. On May Day in Oklahoma and Arkansas and throughout the South, farmers are suffering major spring crop flooding and damage to grain bins and irrigation pivots. Again. The financial investment and potential loss is staggering.

Again.

So I’ll do less complaining and more savoring. And I’ll pray for dry, sunny skies over the Mid-South until farmers need that next rain. Which they will.

What are you savoring today?

Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

[tweetthis]Exhausted from the Rain on #MayDay2017 @arfb #flooding #Arkansas [/tweetthis]

Musical Pairing:
Creedence Clearwater Revival, Have You Ever Seen the Rain?