Like a walk through the country side living on a small farm is full of daily surprises, sometimes wonderful and amazing, and other times puzzling and sad. I hope you will walk with me as I live out my dream of living on this tiny farm. You will come to know the dogs, cats, Shetland sheep and chickens that make up this farm and what goes into keeping them happy and healthy. Come and join the journey with me.

Thursday, August 07, 2008

So Ends the Heat Wave.....

This immense thunderhead, heralding the arrival of a dramatic weather change,moved slowly across the sky, reminding me of a huge ship, lifting itself through heavy waves.
As the thunderhead covered the sky, these finger like tendrils reached eagerly up from a lower cloud formation.




These three pictures were taken as the sun was claimed by the storm clouds. It was an incredibly beautiful display.

After another oppressive day, I was slow to get the sheep out on pasture. When I finally went outside, I could here massive rumblings from the North East. The rumbles of thunder were almost constant and sounded very ominous. I knew we were expected to get unsettled weather, but since it was in the north east I wasn't very concerned. Then I noticed this big white thunderhead, slowly advancing across the sky, moving in a south westerly direction! Normally storms come in from the south west. On the few occasions they have backtracked and came in from the north east, it hasn't been pleasant, and this proved no exception.

The constant rumbling was very eerie, but the clouds were slow moving. I was able to get all the chores done and the sheep in, before it started to lightly rain.

Then it poured. And poured. We got right at 3 inches, which we really needed. It was a very long and disturbing night, with high winds, hard rain, and very close and sustained lightning. I didn't sleep much at all. I expected damage this morning, but from the best I can tell, the little farm escaped. On the drive to work, the road was littered with leaves and tree debris. Just to the North of us, there is a swathe where 'something' went through, destroying a barn, taking down several large oak trees, and completely tipping over a shed. What was really creepy about the downed trees were that they lay in opposite directions from each other--- I would think ruling out a 'straight' wind.

The temperatures are more stable at high 80s and hopefully the rain will give the pastures and gardens a boost. Oh, and that second cutting hay I'm holding out for. ;-)

4 comments:

Pat in east TN said...

Beautiful, and interesting, pictures, and I'm glad you got some rain and relief from the heat, but my gosh, does anyone have 'normal' weather anymore?

Vicki Lane said...

Gorgeous series of pictures (and some pretty fine prose, too). What a blessing the rain and cool can be! I'm sure your critters are a lot happier.

Tammy said...

I don't know if we ever had 'normal' weather, but it sure does seem to be intensifying. However my Mom tells stories from when she was a kid, and it was just as bad or worse at times. Thank you Vicki! The rain and cooler weather sure do rejuvenate a body.
Tammy

Michelle said...

We wouldn't know what to do with three inches of rain at once, especially in the summer! But I'd like to TRY to cope with such an occurrence; sure would give all our plant life a boost. However, I'll take dry over humid any day....