One of the changes that one must undergo when one (or all!) move from the city to the bush is being very much closer to nature… and by extention, the weather.
Sure the air is cleaner, the atmosphere clearer and the colours truer.
That’s all sweet. Money for jam.
…
But in many ways, this proximity to Mother Nature can be a little, well, unsettling.
Like when
snakes don’t stay nicely out of sight.
Or when the tank runs dry.
…
As we packed for our big move from the ‘burbs of BrisVegas 18 months ago (where water was very strictly regulated with the drought finally making its impact felt on city slickers) I had one friend come up to me with a question. Totally straight-faced, she said: ‘So, what are your water restrictions out there?’.
Ummmm.
Simple. No-one reads our water meter and bothers to fine us.
This is what happens: I use too much water. It runs out. Tap turns, nothing happens. No washing up. No showers. No washing clothes. And then I do what any self-respecting country girl would do in the same situation:
Hit the panic button!
Yeaaaargghhh! Then I gather myself. Then I brace myself and call SSB.
And he frowns at my wastage (I can feel it over the two-way!). And I lower my head in shame as he pumps from any spare storage tanks we have (I am lucky we are not in a real drought at present!). It’s only happened twice. But that’s two times too many. Water is gold here.
…
All in all, failing to pace water usage (and running out) is one of life’s less pleasant feelings. You soon learn to be judicious with your showers – long ones are fine when it’s raining heavily. Otherwise, short and snappy is the preferred option.
…
Really though, Mother Nature has been reasonably kind to us lately.
It’s been wintery, enough for big jackets and fires but not freezing.
The rain has been light, not flooding but strangely regular.
And fogs have been a habitual part of our day.
Which is scenic and beauteous from the front door of the Granite Glen house.
But kinda freaky and a little dangerous for those driving through it!
It can be clear one second… and then in an instant:
White mist takes over…
(See the dramatic change from the right to the left of this image?)
And as is normal for me, when I took this photo, I was in a hurry to get somewhere. Running late to get TLW to Kindy, actually.
But I’m always somehow able to justify stopping for a sec to get a photo. Must drive everyone else nuts! (Just hope they ain’t drivin’ behind me in the fog!).
And tonight, for some reason, I am bracing myself for a change.
For an onslaught of ice-laden mornings.
For cold southerly winds to burn the cheeks of all who venture out.
For fogs to enclose us all and cause havoc on our windy dirt roads.
The chill is in the air outside… and I am uneasy.
I know you are there, Mother Nature.
Please be gentle!
…
What is your weather doing to your life at the moment?
DO TELL…
6 Comments
Andrea
I couldn’t imagine having to watch my water! I would freak out too if I would turn on the tap and then nada!! I love the fog rolling in. Here in Louisiana, you can see the fronts moving in. It’s crazy. Here it is 95 degrees by 9am and very very humid, like 90%. We get afternoon showers that just up the heat and humidity. Awh….it’s just plain hot here.
Love your photos!!!
oceans5
Beautiful photos. Right now our weather is trying to kill me with heat. It is unbelievably miserable here. We have been spending a lot of time in the pool. I LOVE cold and rainy weather. If it could be fall/winter 365 days a year I would be thrilled. LOL.
I am really enjoying your blog. I came from Raising Country Kids. I have been going through your archives. You can expect me back often. 🙂
Karen
Hot and humid here! But, I remember living in the bush in Africa, and things would be fine; then, fog would roll in, accompanied by a sandstorm, and you wouldn’t be able to see your hand three inches in front of your face.
Leslie who used to live out West
On the electric blanket, sipping hot tea. I’m making digital scrapbook pictures for my family. I publish them with blurb.com I have made a whole bunch now.
Well, it’s such fun for me when I get someone to play the game. 🙂
I’ll have R is for Roma as I lived there for four years in the 70s.
dykewife
like you, i live in an area where water is gold…my province is still dependent a fair bit on agriculture, mostly grain as opposed to livestock. this year we’ve been getting a reasonable amount of rain so the drought of the past 10 years or so has eased up some, but the south west of the province is still on the dry side.
we’re the opposite for winds here. the chill and cold comes from the north while the warmth and heat comes from south and west. the weather has been uncharacteristically cool of late. i prefer that actually. i intensely dislike sweating.
all this will change in late august as fall begins to make its presence known with winter following close behind in november. for now i’m happy for the green grass, the pretty flowers and the temps of 25C.
debby
We had three dry days. Now it’s raining. We do not have to worry about water, this is for sure. The rain has mosquitoes popping out all over, and I am busy. And tired. The nice days are so few and far in between that farmers are having trouble getting their hay in. Last night, we were at my sister and brother-in-law get their hay in. We’ll get more tonight. A couple weeks without rain would be a blessing.
So raining, hot, humid…eeyuuuuck.