Let's talk about Rain

Because it is more common these days than sunshine. And just now you are thinking I am sooooooo fed up with rain, I write about it.
Not to make things worse though! Maybe I can raise some love for it with you.

Rain is not just water. It is liquid water in the form of droplets that have condensed from atmospheric water vapour and then become heavy enough to fall under gravity. Rain is a major component of the water cycle and is responsible for depositing most of the fresh water on the Earth (source Wikipedia)
If you are into recycling, well, here is the best example in the world.

Without rain, no life. The bottle of water you tow around walking, sporting or because you are told you  need to drink at least 2 litres per day, is filled with life.
The tea, coffee you drink is made with water. The food you eat needs water to grow. Your flourishing garden, refreshing shower, your bath, swimming in the sea, romantic outings near the lake, fountains, reflections in rain puddles, even your clean cloths or shiny car, it all has to do with water and without rain no water.
A little gratefulness when it is raining is not out of place.

The average human being loves an equal amount of sunshine and rain. So do the farmers.
Many people travel hundreds if not thousands of miles to escape the rain, craving for warmer areas where they can zip their wine near.... yes... the sea.
Unfortunately water is not equally spread around the world. Where we had so much rain the past weeks, other counties suffer from extreme droughts. And no, I am not going to discuss the climate change.

Fortunately there are also people who love rain. They are called 'Pluviophyles', lovers of rain. A pluviophyle is someone who finds joy and peace of mind during rainy days.
And I know where I am talking about. Rain gives me a feeling of well being, cosiness and happiness.
This might sound strange to those who dislike rain but let me try to explain.
When it is raining, the sky is usually very dark which creates in my home a 'nestling' atmosphere. Candlelight, a book, or staring out of the windows, fascinated by the ever chancing pattern of running drops on the glass, giving the world at the other side, a totally different look.
The sound of the rain is easing my busy mind, it 'forces' it to a steady thinking rhythm. 

A rainy day can be a boring grey but can also be dramatic, with fierce clouds in 1000 shades of grey and black. Clouds that burst from the sea, that hang around overlooking the world below or floating past blown by the wind. A never boring scenery!

Rain smells, a wonderful lovely smell which fills the air before the rain arrives. And after the rain the smell is even better; a lush green smell of life. Colours are brighter, the grass greener, the soil darker, the sea more blue or silver.
Raindrops on your hair and face. Raindrops near the sea are a bit salty, try and taste. Look at the sky, feel the drops on your eyes, lick them from your lips. And smile! This is life!
Spread your arms and catch the rain, hold it in the palm of your hand and be aware you hold life.

Photo: Ike Roelfsema Photography

Yesterday I stood near the sea and let the rain and strong wind play with me, with my thoughts and feelings. I gave over to the forces of nature and felt so extremely alive!!
I watched the clouds by night, listened to the sound of the tide swallowing the rain, taking advantage of it. Due to the strong wind, the tide rushed in faster then usual. A fascinating site.
Dark clouds guided the tide ashore, covered my little space in this enormous big world in a darkness as beautiful as it could be. The sun was not to be seen other then colouring the rims of the clouds in a subtle orange pink, reflected in the shiny mud where the tide had not taken over yet.
A few spares moments and then the first waves washed ashore. 

And I watched, absorbed....... rain, life, passion, love.....

Helen

Chic Chac's and hierarchy

The readers of my Dutch and English Blog know I have chicken, 6 in total.
Chicken are known for their 'little' brains but if that means that they are stupid, I strongly disagree. Yes, they are naive at times but not stupid. Well...... most are not. And each chicken has a character of its own, a Chic Chac.

When I moved to this house, there were 8 Java dwarf chicken, funny and friendly animals who got along very well. And of course there was a cockerel to keep the peace in the pen (and garden).
But this was quite a few years ago, and all but one died. The oldest died at the age of 10, I called her 'grandma'.

Serama eggs (photo Helen Varras)

The only one left was 8 at the time and she did very well on her own. Than winter came and although there is a lamp to heat the inner pen, she couldn't cuddle up with friends any more and  I thought it was cruel to leave her on her own and bought her a new friend: a gold feathered Serama dwarf chicken who was laying the odd dwarf egg too.
The Serama is quite a character and was telling the Java that she was the boss from now on. The Java, very friendly, disagreed of course but within a few hours they were friends and got along extremely well.

A few weeks later I was able to buy two Bantams (Dutch dwarf chicken); they look like Pheasant hens and turned out to be dominant. It took more than a few hours before everybody got along peacefully. One of the Bantams took over and became the Alpha chicken and took care of her 'sister' who was the Omega.

Not much later I got two Serama's who were very young but lovely. One black-and-white and one dark brown, almost black. Again there was this struggle for hierarchy and no cockerel to handle it.
Why no cockerel you would ask? You live in the countryside!
True but I have a lovely neighbour who is always willing to help out and I am always welcome in their house, still, he hates the sound of a cockerel and I respect that. And... my youngest dog is interfering when the chicken quarrel. He runs full speed to the pen and barks. His bark brings a peace where all chicken unanimously agree to. And they are not afraid of the dog, they come to see where the barking is about...

It is 6 months after the first Serama arrived and I love to watch how they get along. The current hierarchy seems to work best. The Java is of course the oldest but not the Alpha, the Bantam still is and her 'sister' still the Omega. But the Java is definitely the smartest of them all. She does not fight and is a close friend to the gold feathered Serama who is definitely the most cheerful one and the best egg layer.
The dark brown Serama is most quiet but very close with the black-and-white who is far most the stupid one in the pen. Very, very sweet, tame and social but indeed stupid (as we say in Holland: 'exceptions confirm the rules').

The best time to observe their hierarchy is in the morning when they get their food and fruit/vegetables.
The Alpha Bantam (please don't joke that all Dutch are dominant.....) steps in the middle of the food bowl and only allows her 'sister' to eat. Just for the show, the black-and-white picks the 'sister' but is immediately told off by the Alpha. The dark brown Serama sits and waits; she is not in a hurry. The gold feathered is rushing around trying to get to the bowl too and occasionally act if she should be the boss.

And the Java??? You won't see her around in the outer pen, she is inside in the night pen where is also a bowl with food and relaxed and not bothered by hierarchy, she eats.
So, no brains??? Ha!

Enjoy a lovely weekend!

Helen.