I often go for early-morning walks around here, whatever the weather. I like to hand slaughter snails eating their way though my garden plot.

And this morning in the rain, I discovered a couple more plants I thought I had left behind: a row of Katsuras with their heart-shaped leaves. And I remembered how after looking everywhere for one, Dave and accidentally found one at Al’s in Woodburn and loaded it into the kayak trailer and planted it in the front yard.

And lilacs in bloom. They smell wonderful in the rain.

Often, people are the most interesting sights.

Today, in the rain, an old man (Where I live, “old” is superfluous.) in long shorts, Birkenstocks with socks, a yellow slicker, and a tiny dog dressed  in elaborate rain gear made me smile. We stopped and chatted for a moment. I thought snapping a picture would be invasive. Just take my word for it. Old people are more interesting than I had ever imagined.