Natural fireworks

Mother Nature decided to start the fireworks show a little early at Casa Monzeglio.  As we made final preparations for a Fourth of July family barbeque, the thunder started.  The lightning was impossible to see through the sheets of water pounding the yard.  We received nearly  3 inches of rain in less than a half hour.  Of course after we moved the dinner indoors, the sun made a mocking appearance.  It is disheartening to even look at the garden at this point.  Most of the back gardens are too soggy to even step into for the time being.  More on that next week.  As far as celebrating the fourth, as the divine Mrs. M put it, we may not be the vibrant democracy we might wish for, but we are still grateful we are Americans.