November 1, 2024
Yes, the warm weather has been lovely, and the foliage was gorgeous - but we really need some rain! Lots and lots of gentle rain.
From the ridge we can see smoke from brushfires, some of which have been burning for days. And below the ridge, the brook which flows alongside our pasture is completely dry. We moved the sheep to a lower field which for now has a watering hole, but without rain, it’s just a matter of days before that dries up as well.
For years we’ve had one invasive pest after another killing our trees, first the hemlocks, then the pines, and most recently, our ash trees. We are now a forest fire just waiting to happen - as the sound of crunching leaves and dry twigs underfoot constantly reminds me.
We need rain, lots of rain – gentle rain.
The kind that starts out slowly and stays all night.
The kind that soaks the leaf litter and settles down into the soil.
Enough rain to give the plants some hope, and to quench their thirsty souls.
We need a nice, gentle, soaking rain - the kind that encourages earthworms to come out and play.
And when that rain finally comes, you’ll know exactly where to find me. I’ll be sitting on the rock at the edge of our brook waiting. Watching it fill up and flow again.