I will love the sun for it warms my bones; yet I will love the rain for it cleanses my spirit.
Og Mandino
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Hello Friend,
What a perfect day for a visit. I’m so happy to see you! Don’t mind the rain, and please come in. We’ll hang your raincoat on the coat tree; your wet shoes can go there. Will you put on these cozy slippers? I keep them for such a time as this.
Come sit by the fire, wrap yourself in this fuzzy-backed quilt, and I’ll bring our tea. Have I mentioned this blueberry tea before? With a little bit of pistachio flavoured creamer, it’s delicious! Fresh and soothing all at once. But feel free to have it without creamer if you prefer. It’s delicious that way too.
I made my old standby–sour cream coffee cake with a cinnamon-y sugar crumble on top. It’s still warm from the oven. Would you like a piece?
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I’m actually thrilled to see the rain. It’s been so dry around here; every time The Cowboy has mowed the lawn recently he’s created clouds of dust. The earth has been so thirsty! So yes, I welcome a five-day rain. And I’ve made a wonderful discovery … the birds still sing during the rain! It’s magical.
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I love to listen to the rain: gentle rain, torrential downpour, thundering skies far away or right above our rooftop. Of course, it sounds so much better when I’m safely indoors at home, and I know that all the hatches are battened down inside and out. “Batten down the hatches.” Now there’s a phrase I haven’t used in forever. I looked up its origins and, as I’d suspected, it’s a naval term. Back in the 19th century, when ships encountered rough seas or storms, the crew would close the open hatchways and secure canvas over them with strips of wood called battens. Thus “batten down the hatches.” There’s your history lesson for the day.
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After the rain, truth finds a way to shine through the clouds.
Alexandra Elle
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I got the vegetable garden planted before the rains came: potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, etc. Then my mind turned to flower gardens. As I’ve mentioned before, I’m a novice flower gardener, and I’m always a little embarrassed when I don’t even know common names of the flowers I’m looking at.
On our May holiday to Vancouver Island, where we visited The Butchart Gardens, I had to inquire several times about plants I loved but didn’t know what to call. At this time of year, the gardens were bursting with tulips and camellias, among other things, in almost every colour you could imagine. Tulips I knew; I had to ask someone what the camellias were.
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For those of you unfamiliar with these world-famous gardens, Jennie Butchart began creating them 122 years ago. It has now grown to 55 acres and is still privately owned and operated by the family. They are open year round, and every time you go you will see something new. Plan to spend several hours, if you go, and make sure to book a time for Afternoon Tea. What a lovely experience! Everything you need to know about the gardens is here.
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What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. These are but trifles, to be sure; but scattered along life’s pathway, the good they do is inconceivable.
Joseph Addison
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I bought some flower seeds at The Butchart Gardens. The title on the packet was “Cottage Garden” and it held five envelopes of perennials and annuals. On a day when the rain let up for a few hours, The Cowboy and I planted them, along with the bedding plants. I prayed over those seeds as we planted them because, as I’ve said, I don’t really know what I’m doing when it comes to flowers. I know things like petunias, geraniums, and marigolds grow well here in our zone. Everything else feels like a bit of a gamble. So every year when the seeds I plant actually come up and flourish, my soul does a happy dance.
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As the years pass, I am coming more and more to understand that it is the common, everyday blessings of our common everyday lives for which we should be particularly grateful. They are the things that fill our lives with comfort and our hearts with gladness — just the pure air to breathe and the strength to breathe it; just warmth and shelter and home folks; just plain food that gives us strength; the bright sunshine on a cold day; and a cool breeze when the day is warm.
Laura Ingalls Wilder
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Let us strive to know the LORD. His appearance is as sure as the dawn. He will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the land.
Hosea 6:3
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It looks like the rain has let up a little. Now might be a good time to venture outside. I have a few marigolds left, would you like to take them with you to plant in your garden? Thank you so much for stopping by, it’s been lovely visiting with you. Stay safe out there, and see you next time.
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Feature Image by Jill Wellington of Pixabay
©Joy Bailey, June 2026
