Yesterday's sky was unrelentingly sullen, threatening rain, good cause for celebration, in fact.  The day before we had just returned from our ravine ramble when the heavens opened up and the area was inundated with badly-needed rain.  In the early evening yesterday the rain finally pelted the landscape, turning it from arid to temporarily sodden, brightening all growing things with intense colour.

We had decided after our ravine walk yesterday to drive over to Byward Market, to visit the magazine shop that usually carries a full range of magazines covering every aspect of human interest - including my husband's intense interest in art.  And so we did, enjoying the drive along the Eastern Parkway, as we always do, passing the Aeronautical Museum, seeing small craft in the air, just under the cloud cover.

We were able to secure a good parking spot, not that far a walk up to Byward Market.  On the way, stopping at a jewellery stall, curious about the wares; nickel-silver heavily embossed, set with turquoise and lapis lazuli which the vendor told us were hand-made pieces from Afghanistan.  I don't wear that kind of jewellery but our daughter does and I enquired about the pricing, sorry immediately afterward that I had, because I asked just to satisfy curiosity, and the vendor responded in the hopes of a sale.  I felt dreadfully guilty and made my excuses, walking on.

At the magazine shop which we hardly recognized, having walked right past it because it had been altered with an entirely newly-installed exterior, matching in transformative quality the interior which had also been modernized and upgraded.  The proprietor proudly acknowledged the difference, a huge smile creasing his always-friendly face, when we remarked on the difference.

The Market was crowded with sight-seers and market-goers, people browsing among the many stalls selling hand-made and/or imported goods of all kinds from clothing to jewellery, bedding plants to cut flowers, and above all, seasonal and imported fresh fruits and vegetables, a more colourful array seldom seen anywhere.

We made our way to my husband's favourite cheese shop which always boasted a wide selection of cheeses from around the world, as well as domestic varieties.  And there he satisfied his needs of the moment, before we exited and made our way through the thongs of people, happy to be in that crowded, colourful environment.