There’s nothing like a drizzly, wet day outside to truly feel like spring. The pitter-patter of raindrops, the puddles to splash through, and the sight of someone scurrying along under an umbrella are all beloved signs of the season. I love a beautiful spring day when the sun is shining as much as anyone else but I also treasure a rainy day in spring, both for the fact that the rain is providing much-needed water for all of the plants trying to take root at this time of year and for the rainy day’s invitation to slow down a little bit.
We haven’t had very many rainy days yet this spring and we certainly need them at the moment! With a few days of rain forecasted this week, I’m preparing to savor the rainy weather as much as I can. While I’ll mainly be busy at work for this round, I’m daydreaming about how I would spend a relaxing rainy day were my calendar a little less full. If you find yourself magically free of obligations with rainfall in the forecast anytime soon, I hope you can take a little inspiration from these rainy day itineraries. Or, if like me this isn’t in the near future for you, you can always engage in a little seasonal daydreaming with me.
My ideal rainy day starts with a little excursion to a museum, the perfect escape when the weather is less than welcoming outside. You can walk through peaceful galleries for an hour or two, soaking up some beauty or engaging with a thought-provoking exhibition. It’s so easy to only explore museums when you are on a trip; don’t sleep on any of the local spots near you and even if you have been there before exhibitions change regularly so it’s worth another visit.
After a relaxing walk around a museum, head to a local bookstore (or a favorite library branch!) for a browsing session. Take your time and try to challenge yourself to pick something up that you have never heard before; bookseller’s picks are lovely for this!
New read in tow, wrap up the afternoon tucked away at a cozy coffee shop with a warming drink. In an ideal world, you’d claim a window seat to watch the raindrops fall while sipping something delicious and digging in to your new book. Peak rainy day coziness!
Thunderstorms (as long as you are able to be safely indoors) are the ultimate invitation to batten down the hatches, curl up in a blanket, and watch the storm roll through your window. First things first, light up a few candles (yes to be ready if the power goes out but also ambiance) and turn on the radio. I love tuning into the radio while at home in a storm and picturing all the other people at home tuning into their radio and remembering that we’re all part of a community. (Plus radios in a storm = safety!)
Mood set and safety measures in place, a rainy evening is the perfect time to cook up something warm and nourishing, like a hotdish or lasagna or a big pot of soup. Something that will fill up your space with a cozy smell and be absolutely delicious.
Finally, as long as the power is on, tuck into a nostalgic movie to wait out the storm. Here are a few favorites that would fit the spring, rainy night mood for me:
Now and Then - This classic from my childhood focuses on a group of four 12-year-old girls. There is an iconic scene in a rainstorm where the elderly neighbor saves one of the girls from being swept away in a flood.
Amelie - Set in Paris, featuring crème brûlée and imagination and all about deciding to make a little more happiness in the world. A lovely, hopeful watch for spring!
My Neighbor Totoro - Escape into Miyazaki’s imaginative world. It’s especially perfect for a rainy day as umbrellas serve multiple plot points in this film and a pivotal scene takes place when Mei and Satsuki are waiting at a bus stop in the rain.
Notting Hill or You’ve Got Mail - Classic 90s rom-coms are always a favorite spring re-watch for me!
The Parent Trap - This is leaning into summer territory but perfect for a late spring/early summer watch! It’s also ideal for a rainy night: in the ending sequence, Elizabeth and Annie depart California in a heavy downpour. They land in London and slosh through puddle-filled streets, pulling up at their home only to find Nick and Hallie beat them there.
And of course, keep a book and a flashlight on standby in case the power goes out mid-film!
If the rainfall is not too hard, grab your umbrella and a pal and take a short walk to a cozy cafe for a meal tucked safely away from the rain. As long as you aren’t going to far, a short stroll through the rain can be a lovely way to spend a spring afternoon - better yet if the end destination is an inviting restaurant where you can linger a while, chatting over dessert and coffee. Friendship and rain and a nourishing meal, does spring get any better than that?
🍲: On this week’s seasonal menu - Spring Pea Risotto from the same lovely seasonal cookbook I mentioned in last week’s post. Slowly cooking my way through the spring section during my library borrowing period. (This one might become a regular seasonal re-borrow or perhaps need a permanent spot on my cookbook shelf!)
📚: I just finished up a hug of a book that was perfect for spring: What you are looking for is in the library. It contains five chapters, each a short story about someone struggling through a life transition and finding just what they need after visiting the library at their neighborhood Community House. The characters are all deeply likeable, at a variety of ages and stages, and each looking for a sense of purpose and meaning. If you want something comforting, stress-free, and perfectly set of the cherry blossom season in a Tokyo neighborhood, put this one on hold at the library. (The atmosphere definitely reminded me of another spring favorite.)
🦆: I was on baby duck (and baby turtle!) watch at my local neighborhood ponds this week and it brought a heavy dose of delight to a mid-week morning walk! Take your time walking around any ponds or lakes in your area and see if you can spy a trail of baby ducklings paddling along in a line behind their mama. Peak spring!
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seasonal things. is where I send out weekly notes about how to make the most of each season. From nudges to notice the tiny signs of the season to favorite seasonal books to inspiration for eating seasonally, all the posts I share are simple, accessible ways to embrace the time of year we find ourselves in. Paying attention to the subtle shifts outside and changing my meals and music and books along with the time of year has brought joy and calm to my life. I hope these short weekly notes bring a dose of seasonal joy and calm to you. Thanks so much for reading!
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