Soggy Dog Days of Summer?

  Somehow our usual "Dog Days of Summer" have morphed into something a bit different.  Perhaps we should call days this August "Fish Days of Summer" or "Amphibian Days of Summer" or maybe even go so far as "Soggy Days of Summer".  Just to be on record here, the term Dog Days of Summer has nothing really to do with lazy canines on hot, humid days but rather a period of time that the "Dog Star" or Sirius appeared to rise before the sun.  Those ancient astronomers believed that during those days, catastrophic things might happen.  Somewhere along the line, folks forgot just what the term meant and sort of made up a definition that suited present day ideas.  Now if you mention Dog Days of Summer, folks start picturing a bunch of hot pups lazing about in the shade with their tongues hanging out as they pant.  But that idea is not fitting this month's weather or perhaps this month's weather is just not fitting the terminology set aside for it.  We are in the midst of some soggy weather!

  It seems that we have had an abundance of moisture falling from the sky since spring.  Of course, the garden loved it, the grass loved it, I loved it (except for the excessive amount of pushing that lawnmower!).  I am one of those weird folks that loves rainy, stormy weather.  Today fit the bill perfectly.  

  Between showers just about noontime, I rushed down the hillside to check the old skiff.  On the horizon, dark, ominous clouds dominated.  It had been this way all day and is forecasted to stay stormy for the next few days.  I am good with it but there will be a shortage of pictures. While I like the rain, the camera is not too pleased.  One photograph was all I could take before the thunder started to grumble and a sprinkling of raindrops dotted the Bay water.  Before I made it back up the board path, a full blown shower was on my heels.  Yep, there were not too many old dogs lounging about the hillside today but I bet I could have found some mighty happy frogs out there!  These "Soggy Days of Summer" sure beat previous years' droughts.  Bring on the rain!