Season of Long Rains

This last week we’ve changed from the season of short rains to the season of long rains. The short rains were typically afternoon showers that lasted 20 to 30 minutes. The morning started out clear but the clouds gradually built up over the course of the day. Late afternoon, about 3:00 or 4:00, a shower would start, a nice slow, gradual rain lasting less than 30 minutes.

Now that the long rains have started the temperature is definitely cooler. Many days start off cloudy and stay that way all day. If the sun shines the daily high temperature might reach the mid 70s. However, on a day like today that has been cloudy all day the high is probably mid to upper 60s. The rain can start any time but usually in the evening and night lasting an hour or more. Often we will have two rains in one day. These rains are hard rains and often have thunder but we haven’t seen any lightening.

We live in the highlands at an elevation of about 7000 feet above sea level. Because of the altitude we are getting plenty of rain although less than 30 miles away they are in a drought area. The maize and beans grown here are looking good and doing well.

We aren’t growing our own food, but we are enjoying the beautiful green foliage and flowers in our yard, the school compounds and in the neighborhood. The most common types of flowers are bougainvillea, hibiscus, morning glories, poinsettias, roses, marigolds, dahlias, etc.

Enjoy some of the beauty we are experiencing.

I posted some pictures of the Centennial Mass we attended for the Maryknoll Fathers at https://picasaweb.google.com/geog13/CentennialCelebration