March 12, 2016. After too long without rain, when it finally began falling a sense of elation rose. Ground like a sponge, and it seemed the trees were plumping up. I find it hard to stay indoors during such elemental transition, and our Labrador easily persuaded me, ushered me to the back porch, covered but letting damp air gently blow through. I stood out there until the rain let up enough for a few pics of dripping-wet poppies. The image below is a collage of poppies – each poppy a collage of raindrops. 
stepsandpauses 