On Saturday Nigel reminded me of the wonderful old Scottish word, "drookit," ostensibly of old Norse origin but still in common use in Scotland (my mother's birthplace, as well as the land where Nigel spent his teen and university years). We were walking back to the car after having spent an hour or so at the Tacoma Home (and Garden) Show, and the rain, omnipresent in winter here in the PNW, was coming down, not in torrents, but more like in pins and needles, and kind of sideways, straight into my face and uncovered hair. I should mention, people seldom bother to carry umbrellas or wear rain gear here in the Seattle-Tacoma area; nothing marks you out more as a tourist or a transplant than trying to protect yourself from the rain. There is no protecting from it. You either live with it, or you go home.
But this time I tried. I actually lifted my coat up to shield my face from the needle-like raindrops that were being driven into it. And when we got into the car with a great heaving sigh of relief, Nigel turned to me and said, "You look drookit."
Like me, my garden is looking fair drookit too. The rain let up for a while on Sunday so I went out and took some photos. By the time you're done looking at them, you might be sick of seeing plants covered in raindrops, but at least you won't be drookit.
Euphorbia 'Ascot Rainbow'
Euphorbia rigida
Unknown Euphorbia seedling
Schefflera delavayi
Schefflera delavayi closeup
Oemleria cerasiformis
Ribes speciosum
Pinus sylvestris 'Nisbet's Gold'
Pinus sylvestris 'Nisbet's Gold'
Eucalyptus
Hey look! I found a flower!
Garrya elliptica dripping with more than water
Panicum virgatum
Tetrapanax
Well and truly battered by winter, but quite a color
Opuntia
For you Doctor Who fans, here is a video of Scottish actress Karen Gillan, speaking Scottish with English subtitles.
For you fans of Outlander, sorry no videos, just a picture.
Try to imagine Jamie Fraser whispering the word "drookit" in your ear.
