Do you remember wearing galoshes as a child? Maybe you call them rain boots, mud boots or rubber boots. I have a strong memory of me wearing mine. I was maybe in the 1st grade and it was actually a whole set. There was the boots, a rain coat and an umbrella. They were all matching, red with little yellow flowers. I wish I had a picture of me wearing it. My brother had a yellow set and we would have to wear them to keep us dry on what I remember was a long walk to school in Richland, Missouri.
No real need for any rain gear here in Las Vegas. If it is actually raining outside you can't find your umbrella if you own one because it was so many months ago that you last used it you will have forgotten where you put it. I also don't own a winter coat. Sweaters and jackets are usually enough to just go from the car to where ever it is you are going.
I looked this up the other night and wasn't really surprised to learn that Las Vegas is the driest city in America. It makes sense because It hardly ever rains here. The weather forecast is always "HOT AND SUNNY". The statistics I saw said that it rains on an average of 26 days per year. They must be counting every sprinkle that falls on the west side of the valley. Did you know that our average rainfall per year is only 4.2 inches? The Las Vegas valley is home to over over 2 million residents and let's not forget the 42 million tourists that drop in each year. Water is a pretty big deal.
Oh and did I mention we are in a horrible drought? It's been going on for over 10 years and the west is in trouble. The rivers and lakes are drying up. Our own Lake Mead is at it's lowest level since it was created. So many states depend on Lake Mead it is scary. I think about this every time I turn my faucet on.
I've lived here for 44 years and have seen lots of flooding and desert rainstorms during that time. Many summers we would have what they call monsoon weather and you would see the rain clouds rolling into the valley every afternoon. The funny thing is that it can be washing cars away on one side of the valley and be as dry as a bone on the other. The streets are covered in months of oil residue and so when you add a little water to that watch out. Driving here in Las Vegas in the rain is a real hazard. No one slows down and there are just tons of accidents.
The flooding used to be so bad back in the 80's. We might get just a fraction of an inch of rain fall but the streets would have rivers flowing down them. The local governments have done a really good job creating detention basins to hold the flood water and a vast network of flood channels so that water runs underground until it gets to the washes and on to Lake Mead.
Mud isn't much of an issue either like I remember growing up in Missouri. The ground is so dry that it soaks it up immediately. Not to mention that everywhere you might need to go is paved in cement or asphalt.
It has only snowed a handful of times in all the years I have lived here. It is truly an event when it does. The town comes to a halt and everyone is outside trying to make a snowman in the skiff of snow that has fallen in their yards.
All this to segue into writing about my newest art series. I'm calling it "Rainy Day Critters" and so far I've just got one piece finished but because I had so much fun drawing this one I'm calling it a collection. I already have the idea in my head for my next drawing.
Isn't this cow just the cutest thing ever? I'm so happy how she turned out. I drew this digitally using my iPad, Apple pencil and the drawing app Procreate.
If you would like a print or a note card of this piece, it is now available for purchase on my website store -
Cow in Galoshes
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