Washing a car, hanging laundry outside -

these are some of the modern "rain dances" we do; and we know they work. That is in a normal summer. As we found out, on drought summer these tricks don't necessarily help. You might, however, try one of the following:

• prepare a poolside party for your colleagues (for a 15-minute drizzle)
• invite your relatives of three hours away over for grape harvest (for an early morning pre-picking shower)
• sit outside and watch a bread dough rise (for an overnight one-inch thunderstorm).

The drought has diminished this year's crops they say but what has survived tastes wonderful. We've tried local sweet corn, tomatoes, peaches, Mom's peppers, Grandma's zucchini - it's all been great. We've splurged on roasted corn soup, chicken mole, edamame salad, and everything grilled - every dish tastier than the previous one. It's been a constant feast. Alone worth traveling those 4500 miles.