Hopes For Rain...

Rain. My plants need rain. I'd say a good soaking once a week for what remains of our 52 weeks ought do it for them. This wish of mine, however, does not correspond to the Italian climate. Nope. The rains rain in Italy in the Fall & Winter. Then, n'er a drop for the rest of the year. Well, baring some freak 30 minute thunderstorm in August. But then, that's it!!! This year, no rain, except in localized spots like down in the Big City of Aulla which, tragically, got doused with way more than the local Mother Earth could tolerate. They are still cleaning up the place still to this day!!!

Every day, I consult the local weather report for some hint of imminent cattivo tempo = pioggia = rain. Nothing to report, except Blue Skies & Heat. 

One evening, a couple of weeks ago, stationed at the dining table of My Dear English Friends in Codiponte, a delicious array of foods prepared & spread before me, their nicely chilled home-made white wine glistening in the goblet at My Table Place,  and accompanied by two lively personalities with lovely accents beside me, the conversation swerved to the weather. My part of the confab was to bitch/moan/wail about NO RAIN!!! MY POOR PLANTS!!! AND, THE GRASS!!! etc. They chimed in too.  

Now, since we are rapidly approaching My Favourite Holiday of the Year, Easter, when there is normally a dip in the temperature coupled with a threat of O2, the Cook of the Household mentioned a local Ol' Wives Tale. Here it is...
if Palm Sunday is lovely, Easter will be miserably wet... I had previously thought just COLD... 

and, visa-versa...

if it is stormy on Palm Sunday, it will be glorious on Easter.

I left the dinner soon after the grappa was served to consult the weather oracles on the Internet. On that particular night, the local weather report predicted a dreadfully dull Palm Sunday. Lots of grey clouds and a mild... very mild... threat of water droplets. OK. I won't quibble when the rains come, I just want enough water for my plants. 

Since that dinner, twice, sometimes thrice a day, I have returned to meteoapuane.it for the latest Bollettino Meteo. The forecast has changed!!! Palm Sunday is destined to be wonderfully Warm & Sunny... temps in the high 70s, not a cloud in sight, nearly Beach Weather, Friends... while Easter is due to have consistently heavy rains AND snow!!!... even at the lower elevations. Now, now, now... let's not exaggerate with the snow, signori... per favore. Just the rains are fine. A good soaking, Thank you. Gads.