So it did indeed rain yesterday. Real, honest-to-goodness lightning forked down out of the sky for most of the afternoon. The paper today said that it hasn't rained here on this particular date since 1948. I love a good storm, as long as it doesn't render whole cities uninhabitable. Poor gulf coast. First Katrina, and now it looks like Rita is going to hammer Texas. I can't help but think about all of the people from New Orleans who got shuttled off to Houston. Now there's a voluntary evacuation happening there. They must feel cursed. Jen's dad and stepmom, who live in Houston, have headed north to stay with his parents, just to be safe...

It makes our little downpour seem like nothing.

Jen's birthday was today. She's 35. Happy birthday, Jen!

Enjoy the photos. I'm constantly thinking about how fortunate I am to have a job where I can take pictures like this. The first photo is of rain pounding the roof of the old cabins, which are slated to be torn down soon to make way for the new lodge. The second is of a Big Leaf Maple leaf, held up to the sun. The third is of Bay Laurel leaves, limned with light.