Blogger has been "down".

 Apologies that we never did get to finish yesterday's blog!  The system has been "down" for repairs and maintenance so no bloggers were blogging for the last while.  Hopefully everything is now fixed and running normally, if not better!  Some friends have reported the loss of one or two blogs and we've lost the last couple of days .... sorry about that ... not my fault!  I'll do another posting to add some pictures that were on the missing blogs ... but there may not be time to do much commentary.

Torrential showers today have both freshened the ground and made this poor rose bud bend over with the weight.  I do hope it is able to shed the heavy load and perk back up.  The more open buds don't seem to have suffered in this way ... maybe they're just a little less fragile?

However the water droplets make the most interesting patterns and I could take dozens of pictures.  Today was very restrained and only half a dozen shots were snatched between showers.

There's a great crop of buttercups in the (still untended) flower bed!  But the bright colour makes it slightly more difficult to get a good picture.  There's not so much reflection from a dandelion.  I suppose this is why we used to hold buttercups under each other's chins to see if the person liked butter.  Inevitably you'll get a yellow reflection from the shiny surface!

The abundant rain is a wonderful image of God who refreshes the people of God, constantly washing away all the dust that clings and providing nourishment for our souls.  Of course, we've got to be out in the "rain" to reap the benefits!  to reflect on the scriptures and on the unlimited love of God is good for one's soul ... it revitalises and renews ... it brings healing and growth!

Thanks be to you, O Lord Jesus Christ,
for all the benefits that you have given us,
for all the pains and insults
which you have borne for us.
O most merciful Redeemer, Friend and Brother,
may we know you more clearly,
love you more dearly,
and follow you more nearly,
now and for evermore.  Amen.

Celebrating Common Prayer.