Oh thanks so much for this comment, Bethel. Some years in California we have been on our knees for rain, but the past two years have been great. In fact it is raining right now with a very dark sky. (8:00am and we have the lights on in the kitchen...)
Floodgate is open prayers answered but what comes down must go up to evaporate. The cycle continues. Prayers will continue. Appears a caveat’s attached to tend to the earth mother of life that can still punish her naughty children.
The last three years we have had an unprecedented number of storms. The reservoirs ( at least in Central California) look promising! It does our hearts good to see levels so high. However our aquifers are still losing volume every year. I believe 80% of our water goes to agriculture.
Wish I could send you some of our rain. Its scheduled for all of next week. No garden work can be done. Thankfully the daffodills do like it, so ok. Found some micro tiny white daisies yesterday. Five of them fit on my fingernail with plenty of airspace between. Mosses are blooming with red on stems, Spring Beauties between the concrete steps, Pink lilies by the thousand plan to take over the whole place sometime in June. Charlie is purple now, DANdelions starting brilliant yellow already. )))) Farmers waiting for planting till the machinery can get in the fields. Snow for thursday. drats. Cats eager for the mice that will come out of the fields. Only four elderly cats this year. So I hope they can keep up.
Sounds like the quintessential SPRING. Everything trying to wake up. My poem was a little ironic. We have had far more rain than we need this winter. Everything is soggy mud. Is NOTHING predictable any more?
So darned wet in Santa Cruz this winter. I am looking for just three sunny days so I can set in my new geraniums! Thanks James Ron. You are right, of course, we need all we can get.
You have done a tremendously fine job of weaving reality with blessings. How particularly appropriate on this "Holy" weekend (intentionally or otherwise).
Hah! Yes, Mark. I was just sitting at the window wondering if this year's rain will ever stop. It has been pouring for weeks, with thunder storms again last night. So unusual for us. Bring it on!
Indeed, California rain can get pretty intense. I thought our Boulder Creek house would be destroyed by a falling redwood whose roots let go of the water-soaked earth. Instead, a wildfire wiped it clean from the ground. So strange to google the address and see pictures of where it used to stand. We buried our dog, Bosco, in that bare backyard and raised chickens that he killed. Lots of memories on that scoured soil. I wonder if ghosts wander there?
Oh, these red-wooded Santa Cruz mountains, a beautiful and perilous place to stake a claim. I am very sorry you had to experience that loss. What one thing did that loss teach you about yourself, Sue?
It wasn't much of a loss by the time it happened. We were long gone and living in Minden ... a time space of over 25 years. Distant yet good (and not so good) memories. We started homeschooling Val there in a wonderful program that has, apparently, evolved/devolved into a charter school. That alone taught us how we want to educate the grands. While Val respects the schools and teachers in Stagecoach, NV, she's leery of the kids whose parents are basically methheads. Talk about a perilous place to stake a claim. OY!
Lovely thoughtful piece Sharron. Having family in CA, I know how important every drop is. In the summer down here, we get fierce thunderstorms several times a week. If you happen to be driving you pretty much have to pull over.
Oh thanks so much for this comment, Bethel. Some years in California we have been on our knees for rain, but the past two years have been great. In fact it is raining right now with a very dark sky. (8:00am and we have the lights on in the kitchen...)
Floodgate is open prayers answered but what comes down must go up to evaporate. The cycle continues. Prayers will continue. Appears a caveat’s attached to tend to the earth mother of life that can still punish her naughty children.
Lovely, Richard. I hope to see more of these writings posted on Richard's Substack soon!
California seems to getting more rain since I’ve left. Which is good. Drought restrictions in Southern California were getting to be a pain.
The last three years we have had an unprecedented number of storms. The reservoirs ( at least in Central California) look promising! It does our hearts good to see levels so high. However our aquifers are still losing volume every year. I believe 80% of our water goes to agriculture.
You have ginger hair like me. :).
Yes. It is an old photo, Olga. My hair is now nearly white. Sigh
It's strange how those of us who receive rain often, don't like it. But those who do not, pray for it often and appreciate it when it comes.
We just want balance, don't we, Lique. Just enough to survive and flourish. And how is it where YOU live?
It's raining now. Hmmm... :-/
And where is that?
Detroit, Michigan!
Home of the Motown Sound!
Fast cars!
and
Great Food!
I spent three days there in my youth. That city was JUMPING!
Not so much now. :-(
Wish I could send you some of our rain. Its scheduled for all of next week. No garden work can be done. Thankfully the daffodills do like it, so ok. Found some micro tiny white daisies yesterday. Five of them fit on my fingernail with plenty of airspace between. Mosses are blooming with red on stems, Spring Beauties between the concrete steps, Pink lilies by the thousand plan to take over the whole place sometime in June. Charlie is purple now, DANdelions starting brilliant yellow already. )))) Farmers waiting for planting till the machinery can get in the fields. Snow for thursday. drats. Cats eager for the mice that will come out of the fields. Only four elderly cats this year. So I hope they can keep up.
Sounds like the quintessential SPRING. Everything trying to wake up. My poem was a little ironic. We have had far more rain than we need this winter. Everything is soggy mud. Is NOTHING predictable any more?
Rain started slow this rain season, but has caught up.Two good years back to back. We needed it. Now, for warmer weather! Very nice, Sharron!
So darned wet in Santa Cruz this winter. I am looking for just three sunny days so I can set in my new geraniums! Thanks James Ron. You are right, of course, we need all we can get.
Love the life-giving water, but am aware it can be deadly, too.
Thank you. More and more it is so unpredictable... we rarely have rain this late in the season.
You have done a tremendously fine job of weaving reality with blessings. How particularly appropriate on this "Holy" weekend (intentionally or otherwise).
Hah! Yes, Mark. I was just sitting at the window wondering if this year's rain will ever stop. It has been pouring for weeks, with thunder storms again last night. So unusual for us. Bring it on!
I'm sure it's so refreshing on many levels - YEA!
Beautiful Sharon. And I'm always learning from you.
Thank you, Buzz. I am honored that you and Mary Ann are such loyal followers of
🌿 Leaves. Lovely to hear from you, my friend. As for Utah- I imagine you are enjoying all this plentiful rain with us.
We sure are. I'm so happy for California, and for us.
Here, we wait for rain to wash the green blanket of pine pollen away.
Oh yes, that too. It is the acacia that gets up our noses this time of year. With a good rain the gutters run yellow with damped down pollen.
Living in that state has been perilous ever since the Spanish first came there many centuries ago.
How so, David? What are you considering in particular? I am curious.
I was thinking of the geography and the climate, as you were.
So like... floods, fire, drought, earthquakes, politics? I see your point. Home sweet home.
Indeed, California rain can get pretty intense. I thought our Boulder Creek house would be destroyed by a falling redwood whose roots let go of the water-soaked earth. Instead, a wildfire wiped it clean from the ground. So strange to google the address and see pictures of where it used to stand. We buried our dog, Bosco, in that bare backyard and raised chickens that he killed. Lots of memories on that scoured soil. I wonder if ghosts wander there?
Oh, these red-wooded Santa Cruz mountains, a beautiful and perilous place to stake a claim. I am very sorry you had to experience that loss. What one thing did that loss teach you about yourself, Sue?
It wasn't much of a loss by the time it happened. We were long gone and living in Minden ... a time space of over 25 years. Distant yet good (and not so good) memories. We started homeschooling Val there in a wonderful program that has, apparently, evolved/devolved into a charter school. That alone taught us how we want to educate the grands. While Val respects the schools and teachers in Stagecoach, NV, she's leery of the kids whose parents are basically methheads. Talk about a perilous place to stake a claim. OY!
"Leery" is a good quality in a mom, right?
Lovely thoughtful piece Sharron. Having family in CA, I know how important every drop is. In the summer down here, we get fierce thunderstorms several times a week. If you happen to be driving you pretty much have to pull over.
Thunderstorms several times a week? In summer? I had no idea.
Yes, tropical weather patterns. Afternoon boomers abound! The dogs hate it.