Sunday, May 2, 2010

Raining Cats & Dogs

 

Rain and more rain. I think the April showers
have came a little late.
Flood warnings and the electric was off for
three hours. It is so strange that we can get 38 inches
of snow and keep the electricity and then loose it for rain.
But on a brighter note the cistern is getting filled up to
water those plants this summer.

 

RainingCatsDogs

 

 

Rain Cats and Dogs
This phrase's origin is unknown. Possible explanations include: The archaic French catdoupe is a waterfall or cataract, lightning and thunder sounds like that of a cat/dog fight, cats had a big influence on the weather, and the sky dog Odin was attended to by wolves according to Norse Mythology.
Another theory is that in old England, they had hay roofs on their houses and the cats and dogs would sleep on the roof. When it rained, the roofs got slippery and the cats and dogs would slide off of the roofs. There for it was "Raining Cats and Dogs".
This from a website :
"raining cats and dogs" came from the middle ages, when houses had thatched roofs. To keep warm lots of animals would hide in the roofs when it was raining and sometimes fell through the flimsy roofs on to the streets below.
This from another website :
I do believe the idiom "Rain Cats and Dogs" stems from the Norse Mythology. Cats were believed to represent the wind and dogs represented rain. Different animals represented different weather and natural phenomenon
This from another website:
For the Idiom "Rain Cats and Dogs" I have heard one other explanation. In old England when peoples cats and dogs died they would simply through them into the gutter or alley with the garbage. If a strong enough rain came through it would flood the gutters and alleys to the point where all the dead cats and dogs would begin to float down the streets. Therefore very harsh rains were associated with cats and dogs.

 

StelladeOro_Rainbeauty

 

Clematis_CrimsonStar_rain

 

PansyRain_Macro


Now where did I leave that umbrella??

Until Next Time, Lona

34 comments:

Paula said...

Stopping by a little late rfor Fertilizer Friday - loved your flowers on that post! Your blooms are lovely - I know you are really gettign drenched - stay safe! Paual in IDaho

Patsy said...

We have had to much rain,but lots of seeds are up today that the warm sun is shining. Cute about the cats and dogs.
Patsy

Balisha said...

Who knew?? I don't like the idea of dead cats and dogs in the gutter, however.Hope you're having a nice weekend.
Balisha

Rosie Nixon Fluerty said...

That was good Lona - I was always told the meaning of raining cats and dogs was to do with them being washed down the street due to the heavy rain. What a stetch that must have been in those days........ no wonder they held posys of violets up to their noses.


Glad you're getting some welcome rain and it does add another dimension doesn't it to our photos when their just a few drops on the petals.

But did I spy a daylilly out already Lona?

Gail said...

LOna, I saw that the storms had moved your direction~Hoping they disappear and spring gets back to normal. gail

Floridagirl said...

That is very interesting trivia. I love to study the origins or words and expressions. Beautiful flower photos!

Catherine@AGardenerinProgress said...

After reading about the rain there and Tennessee I feel guilty complaining about our rain. Nothing compared to what you all are getting. I hope it dries up soon.
I think I like the one about the animals sliding off the roof than the dead ones washing down the alleys.
Your flower pictures are very pretty!!

Sheila said...

Stay safe and dry!

Liz said...

Hi Lona,

Sorry to hear you have so much rain, but at least the garden will be loving it - maybe?? Although it'll definitley benefit from it over summer.

I hope the weather brightens up for you!

From the Old InkWell said...

Your pics are so pretty! Thanks for your well wishes. I watch the local news and just can't believe the loss!

Wsprsweetly Of Cottages said...

Lona, what beautiful photo's...gorgeous! We have so many of those old quotes and it is amazing how they will last through hundreds of years...
We have heard of the terrible floods in the Eastern part of the country...saw a building floating down the street knocking cars out of the way! Awful!
Stay safe!!
Love,
Mona

Unknown said...

Lucky you - we haven't had rain in weeks and badly need it. The forecasters keep calling for rain, but so far no luck. It's so dry.
nice pics.

Jim Groble said...

It is supposed to rain all week up here. At least the weeds pull out easy in the mud. jim

RURAL said...

What a interesting post, raining cat's and dogs. I prefer the one about the slippery roofs, poor kitties.

Great photos.

Jen

Rose said...

I've always wondered where this phrase originated--I think I like the idea of the dogs and cats on the roof best of all:) You must have gotten the storms I saw on the Weather Channel; fortunately, we were on the edge of the bad weather and just got enough rain to keep the garden watered.

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Lona girl .. send it over here !!! We are going to have dry alert conditions here even with the bit of rain we have been having .. so I am happy to share girl : )
Your blooms look so pretty with rain drops on them : )
Joy
PS .. OOPS ! .. if it is raining here that means the landsacping is pushed back for a few days .. wwaaahhhhhhh !! hahaha

Brenda Pruitt said...

Well, of course I've heard that phrase for years. And never gave it a thought where it actually came from. How interesting! You learn something new every day on blogs!
Brenda

Roses and Lilacs said...

Hi Lona, some of those ideas about the old phrase are pretty grim.

We could use a lot of that rain up here. It misses us and all goes farther south. The television news was full of awful photos of the Nashville area floods this morning.
Marnie

Green thumb said...

We haven't had any rains since a pretty long time and the summers are oppressive. Wish some of your clouds will come this way.
Loved those interesting bits of information.

Bonnie said...

Please send the rain our way. We need it. It has been cold and windy here. Highs today low 50's. Love the cats and dogs!

Unknown said...

Sorry about all the rain you guys are getting. I agree with Catherine after reading yours and Tinas and all the other places that are getting it - guilt for complaining!
Your flowers look like they've come through it all very well. Love the pictures with raindrops on them.

Debby said...

I was worried about you. The news said there was alot of flooding your way. I hope no damage was done. We loose power for everything. One week when those hurricane winds blew by a couple years ago. A week with the ice storm. I hadn't realized how much rain we had until I made an emergency run out later last night. I can't believe how things are growing. Your banner is beautiful.

Sharon Lovejoy said...

Lona,

I loved learning the different origins of this familiar old phrase.

Thank you,

Sharon Lovejoy Writes from Sunflower House and a Little Green Island

Noelle Johnson said...

Hi Lona,

You know, I have never thought about where that phrase came from? I wonder how many other phrases we use that we really do not understand?

Laurrie said...

I've always wondered..... fascinating!

Adrienne Zwart said...

I loved the rain-kissed flower photos, Lona. Hope your sun starts shining soon.

O.I.M said...

thanks for dropping by my blog and giving me a tip on my mystery tulip. glad you are getting some rain...it has been a very, very dry spring for us.
irena

Stella said...

It's always interesting to explore the origin of old phrases isn't it. Your photos are beautiful with the raindrops clinging to them. Great shots.

Gatsbys Gardens said...

I hope eerything is okay by you. We have had some rain but nothing like what is going on south of us.

Eileen

Christine B. said...

I was wondering where all the rain went to.... Today was so warm we got to eat outside for the first time this year, hurrah! Of course, the mosquitos were like heat-seeking missiles. The only cats and dogs seen around here were on walks or the prowl.

Christine in Alaska

Autumn Belle said...

I like your story while looking at the beautiful pictures. Finally, I know how the phrase' "Raining cats and dogs" originate. I used to wonder about it and now the puzzle is solved :)

Anonymous said...

Hi Lona~~ Never mind cats and dogs...how 'bout pigs and horses? It's the ficklest of times around here. Sun one minute, torrents five seconds later. Actually it's pretty typical weather for May in these parts. Never a dull moment, that's for sure.

Sorry about your power being out but hopefully, like you said, you'll have plenty of water for keeping the plants hydrated this summer. There are silver linings.

IlonaGarden said...

Interesting trivia... and I always enjoy your beautiful pictures. what a contrast between the snow photos of not so very long ago and the rainkissed ones of this post!

It certainly IS Ohio.

Anonymous said...

I'm so glad it rained on our garden while we are here in Florida on vacation! I always worry about my "babies". I've never grown poppies before, and I'm enjoying the crinkly paper blossoms, like one of my broomstick skirts!