It's raining, It's (almost) pouring...

 

It seems that the rainy season has arrived early this year.  On Oct 10 it poured when we were in Lusaka.  Yesterday we had our first rain here and it is thundering and raining as I type.  Usually folks say that the rains begin Nov 15.  Last year the rains came late and stopped earlier than usual.  So we don't know quite what to expect.  It is a lovely smell when it is raining.  The ground is so hard that it doesn't really penetrate for a while, but I'm sure it is helpful in digging and preparing for planting the maize.  One very amazing thing is that trees begin to really turn green in anticipation of the rains.  So for the last month, there are more leaves on the trees and new shoots.  How is that possible for trees and bushes that have not had any moisture since last February?