The Big Rainy

When we first got to Kenya, the season they call “the big rainy” was just starting. Within weeks everything living seemed to rejoice in the rebirth of spring. Wild flowers popped out in the fields and tadpoles were in every puddle. The birds went into a frenzy of nest building and mating rituals. And boys built toy sailboats to float in the new ponds that seemed to be everywhere.

After 2 months of sporadic and occasionally torrential rains it all came to a halt as suddenly as it started. On May 18^th I took a picture of a late afternoon rainfall that ended up being the last for the season.

The hills are just starting to get brown around the edges and show signs of stress from the constant sunshine.

The vegetable crops are being harvested and we’re enjoying the bounty of our neighbors, the Tuckers. They send us their overflow cucumbers, peppers, butternut squash, okra and greens which we’re very happy to receive and share. Last week we were lucky enough to get a watermelon. It was late afternoon and the guys on the landscaping and maintenance crew had been working in the sun all day. Our cook and I called them over and cut thick slices for everyone. We stood out back enjoying its juicy sweetness and seeing who could spit seeds farthest. Can you think of a better way to end the work day?