Thursday, July 23, 2009

The Sweet Sound of A Froggy Seranade

Oh happy day! After too many parched days and many petitions, our prayers have been answered! Yesterday we awoke to find this:


4" in one rain! That's not something you see every day around these parts and it's a huge cause for celebration! It seems the rain covered a good part of the country so be prepared for rain posts from many of us. When you ranch, rain is a big deal and every drop counts!

DD and I spent much of the morning splashing through the mud and the muck and wading in the newly replenished dirt tank. After more than a year, it's refreshing to see it holding water once again. DH couldn't even get around the ranch because the roads were too wet. We were also out of electricity until sometime about mid morning so he couldn't even work in the shop so he headed to town to run errands and fill a cart at the local Home Depot. None of us enjoy making trips into town, but if you have to go because you've had too much rain, that's a good problem to have. Actually though, there is no such thing as "too much" rain around here. We just don't want to tear up the roads too much. DH was able to check one more rain gauge at Antelope and he poured out 5.1" there. Needless to say, we are ecstatic! And so very thankful for this perfectly timed blessing!


It's always a good day when it is one spent with a good friend:


It was so nice and cool and crisp out - a welcome reprieve from the 100+ degrees we have been experiencing these past few weeks.


DD and I spent all morning outside, behind our cameras. It's been too long since we enjoyed a morning like that. It felt good to spend time enjoying the view from the lens again. DD has a wonderful eye and she captured some amazing shots and this one, which leads me to the 'frog' portion of my post, is one of my favorites.





Isn't he cute? I swear he's grinning! Yes, I know these are not frogs, but 'toad' seranade just didn't have the right ring to it so I am taking creative liberties.


When we receive a gully washer like we did yesterday, the peace and quiet disappears. It is instantaneously replaced by the sound of 1000's of toads croaking. It's another one of God's perfectly designed mysteries about how these critters can live underground in the desert for years on end, without nary a sign of their existence, and then suddenly pop up when the rains arrive. And they literally do pop up within an hour of the rain's arrival. The sound is defeaning and you literally have to yell to be heard above it, but it's a beautiful sound and last night I enjoyed being lulled to sleep by their symphany. They'll be around for a few days and then disappear as suddenly as they arrived.


I wanted to share a few more shots I took yesterday. The horses always make for fun photo subjects, as does DD, who takes after her mom when it comes to getting in position to capture that perfect shot:





The horses were feeling quite frisky after the rain. A good roll in the cool dirt always makes one's spirits soar:




As does a dunk:


This old tree is one of my favorite spots to snap shots.




Cooperative subjects. On the count of three...drink.



I think she got the shot:


But I'm thinking she should have pulled on waders instead of irrigation boots:


And I love this one:


The horses took their time and leisurly meandered across the expanse of water, towards the
pens to partake of a late breakfast:







I miss ya'll when I'm away. Hope all is well with y'all. Things have been crazy, busy around here, but I hope to check in more often. No promises though, the remaining days of summer seem to be slipping away all too quickly. I'd like to throw a rope around them and dig in my heels to slow them down, but if I did that today, I'd probably just end up being covered in mud...which come to think of it...that's not such a bad thing!

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Praise GOD! We had a nice gully washer a couple weeks ago, it's nice and green(ish) out there right now. And we had the frogs too! They were SOOOOO loud! It's starting to dry out again though, we sure could use some more. Thanks for the great pictures! I was just thinking I need to go out and have a photographing afternoon. Don't wash away!

Anonymous said...

We ended up with about 3.5! It was such a blessing, things are looking mighty bad.
Those frogs are sure a wonderment!

Ranch Wife said...

BK - thanks for stopping by! I'd love to take a peek at your blogging world - I'll send you a request along with prayers for more rain.

Jennifer - I'm so glad y'all had a good rain too! Here's to a wet fall for all of us!

little apple tally said...

I'm curious! Do you all have flood gates or water gaps, whatever you call them, the fence in the bottom of a draw or creek or stream? Do they wash out with such rains down there like they do up here in Kansas? Or is your range land so unfenced that you don't have to worry about such things?
After a big fast rain up here, we all head to the pastures to check the damage done to those pesky places.

Ranch wife said...

Cool pictures. And yes the frogs/toads have been singing their happy song here as well.

We ended up with around inches as well. DH is tickled pink as it has given him time to catch up on some leather work.

I even got to do some quilting the last two days....Yeah for rain!

~M~

Ranch wife said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Paula said...

Wowee! 4 inches in one night! That is a huge blessing! Nothing like a toad lullaby! We have them here but not quite that shade of green. Yours are almost a yellow-green! Guess they needed some rain! That DD is something else. What a sweet spirit she has!

Life around here has been crazy too! Glad you found a moment for some blog time!

Blessings~
P.

cheryl said...

Absolutely LOVE the picture of the "frog" what a cute little feller!

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Sure, what is your email and I will get you added as a reader. Glad somebody is interested ;)

Farmchick said...

Wonderful news that you got some much needed rain! Praise the Lord! I really enjoyed your post and all your pictures too. We had some rain the other day which was needed also. Our crops are looking great so far. Hope you can stop by for a visit soon. Have a great day!

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