Praying for Rain~

 Today, the promised rains - have started with a misty drizzle.  We're well over 2" below normal for the year & ended last year in a deficit. The numbers are sobering.  The forecast is for three days of possible precipitation adding up to hopefully .5".  We need five times that amount just to catch up.  

February 20, 2026

The only real snow we had this winter was four inches in February.  Since then, we've only received a dusting with almost no moisture content.  With the moles digging from below & the squirrels digging from the above, as dry as the ground is I can only hope the plants survive.

March 15, 2026 - The Lowlands~

It's been so very dry, it's almost hurtful to be outside for any length of time.  My eyes dry out, my skin feels like I live in the Sahara.  The storms will start across the middle of the country, then split to the north & to the south.  They have missed us, Nebraska & most of the Midwest.

Photo by PR Newswire~

The photos & story's coming out of Nebraska are so horrifying scary.  The scope of the disaster will be felt for many years.  Third & fourth generation ranches, burnt to ash.  Our area has had a Red Flag Warning in place for weeks & weeks. With the winds blowing up to 40 mph gusts almost every day.  20 mph winds have become our new norm.  Many of our local volunteer Fire Departments have gone to help in Nebraska.

3/31/26 The Marsh

Even the lowest area of our property is dry, normally the grass here is emerald, green.  Some years, there were large pools of standing water.  I've been watering all the trees, shrubs & flowers we've planted since last fall.  Our local water bill has climbed, due to new housing developments & the resulting need for a larger sewer treatment plant.

April 1, 2026 - Nika's tree~

This afternoon, we've received .01 of moisture so far.  The air smells so fresh & is charged with negative ions.  To be rid of the dust is wonderful.  When I spoke to Butch this afternoon, he'd driven in pouring rain from the Iowa state line at Walcott 337-miles to Greenfield, IN just east of Indianapolis.  I told him to fill a trailer & bring some back with him!