After The Rain

Southern California averages approximately 12 - 18 inches of annual precipitation.  The mountains get more; the deserts get less.  For most of the area, it comes in little passing showers over a total of 30 to 40 days out of the year – mostly winter.  We rarely see any real accumulation at one time outside of the isolated ‘flash flood’ which can be a shock to the normally dry areas.   Mainly, the rain drops just leave little marks on house windows and cars letting owners know that they were dustier than the owner realized.   Sometimes the shower merely serves as a reminder to replace the edging on the windshield wipers which have dried out from too much sunshine.

For those of us from the Midwest, where rain and storms can take on a whole week of steady downpour, the little showers are fun to watch.  It is especially fun when you can get up early in the morning after the rain is finished and can take a walk in the rain-freshened air.   Today was my lucky day.

Remnants of clouds as I started out on the walk did make me wonder if the rain was truly over.

 

 

The usual dog walkers I see on my normal Sunday morning route were not out today…in fact, the only other person  was a dad with his daughter in the stroller.

 

The colors in the flowers still covered in rain drops and the lemon tree were definitely more vivid and caught my attention along the walk.

 

And, as I rounded the last few blocks toward home, the clouds signaled the return to normal Southern California weather….

    .... Forecast = sunny before lunch.