Balancing Act

This morning I find myself staring out the window, lost in thought.  On one hand my mind wants to dive deeply into some subject and on the other it doesn't.  I suppose diving is an appropriate thought because the pond is full.  It is on the verge of overflowing.  We have had more rain in the last few days than the country I grew up in receives in a year.

I never should complain of rain because most of my life I have complained that more was needed -- not less.  The crazy thing is that in this country, if it doesn't rain every couple of weeks, we are in a drought.  Where I grew up, I recall a year that we received no significant rainfall for 18 months.  Now that's a drought.

You would think it possible to achieve a happy medium with just the right amount of rain falling at the right time.  I suppose that would be boring because then we couldn't complain.

Now the weather will change, and we will have unbearable heat and humidity.  All of this water trapped in ponds and trees and in the ground will evaporate but not dissipate because the winds will be minimal or non-existent.  It will certainly rain but primarily it will be the sweat drops falling off of me as I go about my outside chores.

It seems we bounce between extremes.  Cool but with drenching rain or miserably hot with clear blue skies.  I know, quit complaining.

Life tends to be that way regarding most things.  It is a cycle from one extreme to another.  We have abundance and we have lack.  The real question is what we do in those times of abundance.  Do we set it aside for the times of lack?  Do we share it?  Do we hoard it?  How do we handle more than we need?

I had the opportunity to visit Africa a couple of times quite a few years ago.  I was impressed yet dismayed that if anyone had more than was necessary to meet their immediate needs, they shared the excess with someone who needed it more.  They gave it away.  Their view was that the future would take care of itself.  Holding onto more than necessary to meet current needs wasn't even a thought.  Meeting the needs of others was always on their mind.

In this country we are more likely to hoard -- accumulate -- let others worry about the needy.  Surely there is a happy medium -- a balance.  Thought for future needs yet generosity toward others.  It should be our role as individuals, not the government's role.

Below is a photo of our pond from yesterday.  Water was still running into it from the rain that had just ceased.  It is full to the point of overflowing.

 Diverted Pathways

If you follow my blog, you have noticed a break for the last few days.  Such breaks can be difficult to recover from because they break the habit of sitting down and writing on a daily basis.  The problem is that life sometimes has plans for us other than what we had in mind.

Such diversions, though often for undesirable reasons, can be a good thing.  They force us to reevaluate purpose and to determine whether the chosen pathways are the correct ones.  They stimulate regions of thought that might otherwise remain untapped.  Being forced to reexamine the "why" of what we do can either cause us to change directions or be affirmed in our choices.

This morning the rain is coming down so hard that I can barely see the other side of the meadow whereas normally, the sun is shining into my window.  I had plans for today that would require me to be outside, but at this moment that seems unlikely to be the case.  It is a minor diversion from my plans, but it is only temporary.

This morning, while looking for an appropriate photo to use in this post I came across one I had taken of a Persian Silk Tree (Albizia julibrissin) growing wild on the back side of the dam for our pond.  It is commonly called a Mimosa tree by most people, but it isn't a true mimosa.  They can be found growing wild throughout the Southeast U.S. but are often planted in more arid places for their showy pink blossoms.  Here they are considered invasive.

I have often wondered what it would be like to live far from where I grew up -- perhaps in another country.  When younger, we considered the possibility of moving to Australia.  At one time Kenya was also under consideration.  The Persian Silk Tree is native to Iran and a few other countries across southern Asia.  Yet here it is in Northeast Texas.  I think that could be considered a diverted pathway, yet it thrives.  I think that's the key; make the best of what comes along and thrive wherever you find yourself.

 Storms

Storms happen.  Sometimes they are expected and sometimes they are not.  Even when expected you never know how severe they might be.

Despite the potential danger or damages they may bring storms are often beneficial.  They bring rain.  That's the easy one to identify as a benefit for someone who grew up in an arid region of the world.  We currently live in an area with around 40 inches of average annual rainfall.  Even there the rain is of benefit as are the winds that might accompany a storm.

I think rain is cleansing.  Heavy rain can wash away accumulated debris, cleanse the dust from the leaves, fill the ponds and streams and otherwise replenish the land.  And of course, it is necessary for life to go on.

In this land of trees where we currently reside, winds which accompany the storms also provide another benefit.  They often clear out dead trees, and they break loose and cause to fall, the deadwood which might be hanging high up in the canopy.  The result can be a nuisance when those limbs fall across the county road or block the driveway but removing them from the canopy is good for the trees.

We had quite a storm pass through this week.  The photo below is of some of the limbs that came to the ground.

Storms of other natures come into our lives as well.  We need to focus on the benefits -- the good that results from them -- and not dwell on the temporary inconvenience or pain they may bring.

 Rainy Day

It is sometimes nice to have a rainy day.  We have been spending most mornings out working on our place despite the heat and humidity.  At least the mornings are a little cooler than the afternoons.

A light, steady rain is falling as I sit here with a cup of coffee and express a few random thoughts in this blog.  I must admit that I don't really have anything profound to say, but this morning may be worse than normal.  I am rambling.

I hear birds calling among the trees despite the rain.  Maybe they are happy for the coolness and perhaps needed a shower.  I wonder if I should put soap and a towel out by the bird bath....

There are a Cardinal and a Downey Woodpecker in the Sweetgum Tree just outside my window.  The rain doesn't seem to be bothering them.  In fact, they seem joyful if birds can experience such feelings.

I suppose that is the lesson for the day.  Be joyful in all circumstances.  Sounds Biblical.

It has seen a lot of wear and been with me for many years.  It is getting a little bit scarred and stained, but it keeps the coffee hot.

Raining

This morning we awoke to rain.

Steady, gentle rain.

I love the sound of rain.

It cleanses the air.

It quenches the thirsty ground.

It relieves the heat.

It drips and trickles and splashes.

It washes away the pollen, the dust, the leaves.

It renews us and it soothes us.

It sluices the cares of the moment into the growing stream.

The birds are silent, but when the cloud lifts, they will sing.

Sometimes we need a storm to wash away the debris.

Sometimes we simply need a gentle rain.

The Pond

This blog is a place where I express some small piece of my thoughts as I start my day.  Yesterday I mentioned our Texas Sage (Barometer Plant) and showed a photo of it blooming which is a strong predictor of rain.  It started raining around 4:00 a.m. this morning and was still lightly raining at 8:00.  Ah, if only I could be so accurate in my predictions!

As I look out my window this morning I see our pond in the distance.  It has been mentioned in previous posts and is a comfort to the eye.  This time of year, everything is green and the leaves are becoming fully unfurled on the trees which are abundant on our property.   That abundance occupied much of yesterday as we spent several hours of the day clearing away dead, fallen limbs, tangled vines and unwanted vegetation.  It is a lot of work but is something that I enjoy doing because it is easy to see progress as small pieces of the puzzle begin to show signs of becoming what we want them to be.

The pond on our place is one of those pieces of the puzzle that I haven't yet decided how to handle.  On one hand, I like it as it is.  It has the character of a pond lost in the deep woods of East Texas.  On the other hand, it doesn't teem with life in the way I would expect.  The water is full of tannins from fallen pine needles and trees. We see many turtles perched on the logs which have immersed themselves in the water at the behest of the Texas wind and in the shallows, you can see small fish -- minnows or shad -- darting along as if seeking shelter from something larger.  What we don't see are clear signs of larger fish.  Sometimes a small silvery creature will make a splashing leap above the surface, but it is rare.

In asking a friend what he thought it would cost to clean out the pond and do some rehabilitation, he stated that it was going to cost over $20,000 for his own and thought ours might require an even larger expenditure.  We don't have that kind of money laying around for such a purpose.  There are numerous other things that take a higher priority.  So, for now, I think we will enjoy the pond as it is.

Like so many things in life, we have to weigh the current investments against the expected future benefits.  With a lengthy list of priorities, that can sometimes be a challenge.  In time we will deal with it.

Given the title to this post, you may have expected something more along the lines of what Thoreau would have written.  

"It is life near the bone where it is sweetest." -- Henry David Thoreau

 Forecast

The other day I posted about using native plants in our flower beds around the house.  Texas Sage was the one in the photograph that accompanied the post.  It is known as the Barometer Plant and in South Texas it is known for predicting rain with its blooms.  Well, ours is blooming like crazy even though it has only been planted a short while (photo at bottom of post).

We certainly need the rain, but not as desperately as most of the rest of the state and the Southwestern U.S. in general.  Drought conditions continue and rainfall deficits have left many lakes far below their desired levels.  This condition doesn't bode well for the cities and small communities that depend on those lakes for water.

It also continues to pressure the cattle industry.  High beef prices in the grocery store are directly related to declining numbers of cattle and a growing population that demands high quality protein.  We will not see significant rebuilding of the national cow herd when severe drought limits the availability of suitable forage for grazing.

I am concerned that many people both within and outside the cattle industry will seek to blame the problem on something other than the weather.  Generally, it is the beef packers who are saddled with fault when it comes to beef prices.  It is simple economics surrounding supply and demand with production constraints affecting both sides of the equation.  Most don't see it that way and will call for government intervention.  Such intervention will be directed at the packers because they are everyone's favored whipping boy.  It should instead be directed at urban sprawl which is removing suitable grazing land at a pace faster than drought.  The politics don't work so instead of fixing the problem, government intervention will likely only make it worse.

Oil prices are another issue which is constraining not only to cattle production but to almost every industry.  The blame will fall squarely on the current administration and their actions in Iran which have temporarily caused supply disruptions.  This is one where political pressure again will dictate how and when we withdraw from that action rather than suffering the short-term pain in order to receive the long-term gain of curbing the radicalized regime which has long declared "Death to America."

There are many other issues that we currently face, and everyone has their opinion on how they will turn out.  We all have a "forecast" for the future, and it is based on our personal experience, education, and otherwise gained knowledge.  It's too bad that none of it is as reliable as our little Texas Sage, the Barometer Plant.

We had to cage the sage in order to protect it from rabbits as well as a dog that thinks the flower bed is his napping ground.  Pardon the rusty T-post -- I believe in endless recycling.

Sunshine and Allergies

Clear skies this morning,
Brightest of blue,
It is so good to finally see you!

It has been a wet Spring which followed a wet Fall.  Our ground is saturated and there is water standing in any low place.  When I drive across the pasture it sounds like I am driving through water!

I really don't mean to complain about the rain.  It has been wonderful after the dry spell we had last summer.  The grasses and clovers have grown like crazy and the cattle are all slick and fat.  Hopefully, it will be a good summer with enough rain to keep the pastures green and growing.

The crazy growth of everything this Spring has been hard on me, though.  When I walk out the back door the pollen from all the trees, grasses and weeds literally coats everything that I see.  It is as though someone dusted everything with a fine, yellowish-green powder.  I'm definitely doing my part to support the antihistamine and facial tissue manufacturers.  It's almost as bad as running a shredder through a patch of blooming careless weeds on a tractor without a cab (something I did growing up).

I've fought allergies all of my life.  It just seems normal to me, but it has never been much fun.  In some ways I envy those who don't have to deal with such on a daily basis.  I actually don't understand how anyone would not have allergies to air full of pollen.  Genetics is an interesting thing....

The sun shining down
On this brand new day
Inviting the birds to come out and play.

Sleeping to the Rain

Lying in my bed I hear
The sounds of gentle rain
Falling
Falling

I drift into light sleep
To the steady, rhythmic
Falling
Falling

Drops upon the roof
And my mind drifts
Falling
Falling

Into the swirling pool
Of thoughts that lead me
Falling
Falling

Deeper to the edge
Where sleep beckons
Falling
Falling

Crack!
Boom!
Jolt!
Awake!

Lying in my bed I hear
The sounds of gentle rain
Falling
Falling....

Winter Rain

A soft gray glowing dome
Of reflected light
Before the dawn,
Without a sight
Of bursting colors,
Day is creeping upward
Tentatively
As though reluctant
To reveal the dreariness
Of expected winter rain.

A Cold Rain and Muddy Cattle

Yesterday there were lots of photos across social media of snow -- especially from those of my acquaintance in the area where I grew up.  Most of them were of scenes around their homes with snow piled on cars or in the yard, but some were from the farmers and ranchers who were out working in it, feeding cattle, or other livestock.

I remember feeding cattle in the snow a few times.  I also remember getting stuck in drifts and the wind blowing the snow to the point you couldn't see.  I remember having to walk to a phone to get someone with a tractor to help me get unstuck.  I remember breaking ice so thick you needed an axe or, a sledgehammer to get through it.  It isn't much fun for the folks having to take care of the animals in such weather.

Grandpa always told me that he'd rather deal with a snow storm than a cold rain.  His reason was that the cattle would form a crust of snow on their hair that acted like additional insulation for them.  They might look like they were freezing, but it probably wasn't nearly as bad as it looked -- especially if they could find some shelter out of the wind.

While the snow fell in the western part of the state, we got cold rain.  The temperatures hovered in the upper 30's to low 40's and a steady light rain fell for almost 3 full days.  On top of the already saturated ground, the additional moisture turned the land to the consistency of cake batter.  It isn't much fun feeding hay in those conditions.

It's hard on the cattle.  The rain soaks into their hair and they are wet to the skin.  Fortunately, there has been almost no wind to accompany the rain, but it is obvious that the cattle are feeling it.  They gather around the hay bales with less than their normal enthusiasm and stand all humped up.  I'm just thankful calving season hasn't started yet.  We are still about a month away from the beginning of that.

The hay lot is a muddy mess as is the trap where we feed.  Water is standing in many places.  Fortunately, the mud isn't too deep.  The topsoil is thin and a layer of clay lies under it.  That adds to the soupiness of the topsoil because the water is unable to percolate quickly into the ground, but instead sits on top of that clay layer for days.

Sigh, I guess we will be dealing with the mud for awhile.  I know, I shouldn't complain.  It seems like only a short time ago I was complaining about drought....

Driving in the Rain

Driving in the rain
Is not my favorite thing to do;
I prefer to do my driving
When the sky is bright and blue.

It makes the cars behave
In unexpected ways
And trucks ahead subject you
To constant water sprays.

It makes the pavement slick
So sometimes you hydroplane
And the slapping of the wiper blades
Can drive you near insane.

So when it is a rainy day
I like to stay at home
And try to handle business
From my high-tech cellphone.

Conflicting Attitudes

In the stillness of the morning
I watch the gentle rain
As it falls upon this city
Where I find myself again.

After days in a hotel room
It will good to be back home;
I have need to check the cattle
To make sure they did not roam.

And there's other chores awaiting
My attention there you see
That no one else will do
So, they wait there just for me.

I guess it's good to feel I'm needed
And I don't give a hoot
When I find my sock gets muddy
In a worn-out holey boot

Because I'm thankful for the rain
And how it helps the grass to grow
So, there's feed for all the cattle
And perhaps the creek will flow

And wash out all the dead tree branches
That have fallen from the drought,
But, I worry about the fence
And how they just might take it out!

So, I'm ready to get home
And check the fence there at the gap
Then count the cattle as they're grazing
Hoping there's been no mishap

But, instead of being worried
I will think on gratitude
For this gentle rain a falling
And adjust my attitude.

The Gentle Sound of Rain

This morning I awoke
To the quiet sound of rain
Upon this dry and dusty arid plain

It brought a gentle comfort
As I lay there in my bed
Thinking how it brought a peace into my head

I thought how only yesterday
The dust arose like smoke
And clogged the air I breathed and made me choke

And I remembered cattle coughing
Standing still beneath the shade
The few and scraggly trees and bushes made

But, the simple sound of moisture
Falling gently from the sky
Promised their relief was surely nigh

In my head I thanked my Maker
For the blessings He bestows
Then quietly rose and slipped into my clothes

And walked to the window
To look out upon the rain
Falling gently on this sun-scorched weary plain

The Scent of Rain

Once again, the rains have passed us by.  Each day for the last several the National Weather Service has shown us to have a significant chance of rain.  Heavy showers have fallen in many places around us, but we received only 1/10 of an inch.  It is dry.

First a hint of puffy white

Appears up in the sky

Then slowly grows and grows and grows

Until it fills the eye.

The promise of the quenching drops

Wafts across the land

On gentle breezes flowing by

This parched and weary strand.

The leaden gray with streaks of light

Approaches from the west

With winds that cool the sultry land

And promise moist rest.

The sand that stings flows ever higher,

The cattle turn their back,

The storm clouds flow across the land,

The sky turns nearly black.

But, soon it passes on its way

Its promise hoped in vain

Leaving nothing here behind

Except a scent of rain.

I'm Out of Superlatives

In normal years it is only the crop farmers that pray for rain.  In a drought year the ranchers also pray for rain to fill the tanks (ponds for all you non-Texans).  In a severe drought the ranchers pray for rain so the grass will grow.  In extreme drought the ranchers pray for rain to put out the fires that are racing across the land.  I don't know what superlative to attach to this year's drought, even the town folk are praying for rain!

Maybe some of those prayers are working.  Blessed drops of water are falling on my roof as I type this.  Praise be to God who brings the rain in its season.

"I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees their fruit." __ Leviticus 26:4

Keep on prayin' folks, it seems to be doing some good.

Chris

Healing Reign

I had resolved a few weeks ago to quit writing about the extreme heat and wind.  I'm breaking my resolution.  At 3:53 p.m today it was 110 degrees in Amarillo with winds at 21 gusting to 31 and relative humidity of 4%.  I'm seriously considering a trip to Phoenix to cool off.  It is miserable outside.

I walked outside earlier to take care of a couple of things that needed done and decided to beat a retreat back in the house.  I don't think I left any skin, but, in a matter of minutes I probably lost 3 lbs. through evaporation!  I think it would be a cinch making jerky out there.  Just hang it on the fence for a couple of hours......

I was thinking earlier that it was probably a lot like this during the dust bowl.  There were a couple of differences then; the air was filled with blowing dirt because of poor farming practices and they didn't have air conditioning.  I'm wondering if maybe we shouldn't do some plowing to increase the particulate matter in the air so maybe a raindrop would have a chance of forming!  Well, with 4% humidity that's not likely.  Especially when you consider the dew point is at 20 F.  I don't think it's going to form any dew tonight let alone a raindrop.

Water restrictions are becoming common across the area.  So far most cities and towns are at stage one.  It won't be long until they move to stage 2 though if the weather doesn't break soon.  That will mean mandatory restrictions. 

Floods in the north, tornadoes across the eastern half of the nation, unprecedented drought in Texas and other parts of the Southwest; sounds a bit apocalyptic doesn't it?  Perhaps it is a sign that God wants us to turn to Him for relief.  I know that in this part of the world the prayers are going up pretty regularly.  The problem is, it is mostly prayers for rain, not a true healing of this land.  Maybe God would listen more if we didn't look to Him as a "Genie" to grant our wishes and instead saw Him as the sovereign Creator that He is.  We need to seek forgiveness and healing, not just rain.  That will come when we fall to our knees before Him and submit to His reign -- not our own.

Chris

A Hint of Moisture

There was the smell of rain
On the air last night
And a touch of cooler weather

The promised moisture
Only came near
But, left us dry as ever

And today again
The wind does blow,
The sun is bright as ever

But, finally now
We've had a glimpse
Of perhaps some better weather

Fertile Fields

Whew, home! I just got home from a big swing up through the Plains. I had a couple of things to attend to in Western Kansas and a meeting in Nebraska. Lots of miles -- but they seem to have been productive. I won't really know for some time though. Part of it was planting seeds. The ground seemed to be pretty fertile though.

Speaking of fertile ground, the crops in Nebraska looked fantastic. The corn looked great and the soybeans were picture perfect. The pastures were green and the cows were slick and fat and all seemed to have a calf by their side. It certainly was a pleasant sight for the eyes. There was even water in the creeks! Sorry -- I'm not used to seeing that in the Texas Panhandle.

We did get some good rains here this past week and weekend. You could almost hear a slurping sound coming from the ground as it greedily sucked in the much-needed moisture. It came at a good time for a neighbor of mine who had sowed some late hay grazer. It was beginning to shrivel but it jumped a couple of feet within 5 days of the first rain. It's amazing how the crops respond when they get what they need.

It has been a cool summer here -- unlike our Spring. We seemed to have gotten all of our really hot, hot weather back in June. It has been pleasant since other than a dry 2-3 weeks in July and the first week of August. If this is Global Warming, I think I'm for it!

"I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees of the field their fruit." __Leviticus 26:4

August Storms

The golden grasses
Crackle under foot
As dusty odors
Rise from my passing.

Even the insects
Are silently waiting
As the tiny dot of promise
Builds on the horizon.

A gentle breeze stirs
The drooping leaves
Of plants not native
To the arid clime.

Hope springs
In the blossoming white puffs
That appear mysteriously
In the blueness of the sky.

Gathering,
The whiteness turns gray
And then the deepest blue
As it hangs curtains on the horizon.

The breeze strengthens
And even the hard stems
Of golden grasses
Begin to shiver with excitement.

As the curtain approaches
A brown smudge appears
Rising against the darkness,
Swelling to a rolling wall.

The odor of dust
Permeates the rising wind
And the first stinging particles
Assail upturned faces

As dollops of moisture
Splash muddy blotches
On greedy surfaces
That quickly absorb.

Brown gives way
To greens and whites
On the backdrop
Of deepest blue-black.

Whack!
Whack, whack!
Pingggggg!
Run!

Peas and marbles
Golf balls and baseballs,
The roar grows
And overwhelms.

The horizon moves nearer
As objects fade
Beneath the torrent
Rolling across the plains.

Prayers answered.
More prayers said.
Fear and thanksgiving
Together swell.

Renewal
Comes
With
Trial.