Found this pretty African violet, that looks and smells like a rose, at a local cafe set inside a gorgeous garden center. They had every kind of citrus tree imaginable, and espaliered apple and pear trees, too. One whole section had a dozen different kinds of lavender. I might go back and pick up more of these little beauties, whose edges are limned with just a little bit of bright yellow. My friend Susan and I picked one of the rainiest days here to go sip a latté while looking out over the hills. A perfectly dark gray sky refused to yield up a rainbow, when the sun streamed against it at just the right angle, but the angles and the light were fascinating.

Today's rainstorm however, did surrender this afternoon with a lovely full rainbow, starting right outside my window. Alas, it did not sustain for long. Unfortunately, instead of bringing the usual warm, humid winds with it, this Pineapple Express jet stream went way north before coming down, catching just enough Arctic air. Brrr...