I have been wasting a lot of time watching tv, playing video games, etc. but I find myself paying more attention to the weather, the sky, the stars, and foliage. Tonight the weirdest storm came. Thunder and lightning – and YEAH rain! I know it might sound strange but a couple of nights ago I was thinking how great it would be to smell the rain and to hear the rain. LOL slim chance in June since it has been in the upper 80’s lately. Woo Hoo it is raining!! And there is thunder and lots and lots of lightning – I do not remember this much lighting let alone at this time of the year.
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The weather chart showed over 1,200 lightning strikes in the foothills at 11pm. Now it here. I was headed out to try and get a shot of the lighting but it was way to close so I went back in. It is the cloud to ground type so I played chicken and have been watching it out the upstairs window while Catfish and Annie huddle for reassurance that all is well.
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So I am enjoying the smells that usually come with a first rain. The strange odor off the road, the clean smell as the rain hits the green leaves and soaks the grass and wet the soil. I wonder what microbe’s or bacteria or old rubber?? cause the smell? So I looked it up.
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The smell is given off by Streptomyces (also called actinomycetes) bacteria. When it is dry actinomycetes produce spores that are released on contact with moisture. Wow now that cool to know. So I do not actually smell the rain but the spores – emm. I think I like my the air smells clean and fresh version better than the spore deal.
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Well back to reading with the window wide open so I can smell the fresh rain air.
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