Sunday, August 21, 2011

Rain, Rain, come this way....

   Just in case you haven't guessed by now, I live the Texas, the east Texas Piney Woods to be exact. It is a great area with lots of trees and creeks and wildlife. But what we don't have, at least not this year, is RAIN. We are in the worst drought since they started keeping records in 1895. This has caused the trees, plants, and grasses to dry out. That in turn has caused numerous wild fires. Luckily for us they haven't gotten too close to our house. Though the state has lost about 3.4 million acres to wildfire so far, and they are still happening.

   Since I have to cart water from the well to the garden, I have just about given up on it producing much this year. I am going to put in a fall garden and hope for the best. It is still hurricane season you know. Maybe we will get part of a nice tropical depression. No, I don't want another hurricane. We are still trying to clean up after the last one.

   I was looking on google to see if I could find some good news about the weather. One of the things I did find is Rain Turtles.

Created by Pamela Jo

   According to Wikipedia...


   A rain turtle is a ritual believed to bring about rain, especially in periods of drought. The practice is commonly considered to be of Native American origin. To perform the ceremony, one uses a stick to draw a turtle facing West in the sand or dirt of an area in need of rain. The stick is then driven into the ground so that it remains protruding from the turtle's back. The time required for the action to take effect varies from one account to another, ranging from occurring instantaneously to taking several days.
The practice has become somewhat common with surveyors, hunters, ranchers, gardeners and other people working outdoors, particularly in the Western United States.[1] Some people that work outside and rely on favorable work conditions might draw this, in hopes that it will rain and will get them out of work. Getting caught doing this at a job site might result in the person that drew it to get into trouble.


   Oh and just in case you are wondering, my computer desk faces south, so the above turtle is facing West.  I'm hoping for quick results (I wonder if their is a Rain Rabbit?)




   I had to add this video just so I could remember what rain sounded like.

   I miss rainy weather...


And now I would like to end this post with a simple prayer for some much needed rain...


“God, you send rains in season. It is a season of need in Texas. Send more rain to that parched land and more again across all the thirsty southern states. Find a small and willing cloud sitting bored over some vacant part of the Caribbean, and give it a push toward Houston. Make a Hurricane, perhaps, not strong enough to destroy, but filled with warmed moisture and send it North. We ask you for rain. Let the drought unite many millions to ask you for help. We trust in you. You made the world to need the waters of heaven. You made the world to need the waters of life. You are the source of rain. We ask you. Let it rain. In Jesus name.”


Posted by Mark Herringshaw 






 
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5 comments:

Laura Eno said...

If I could figure out a way to ship it, I would send you some of my daily rain from Florida!
Thanks for the info on the turtles. I hadn't heard of them before.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

May the rain turtle work! If it doesn't, start trying all the animals. Hope you don't get a hurricane - that much rain would wash everything away.

Theres just life said...

Laura, I told my brother to bring some with him when he moved back to Texas from Tampa/St Pete, but with all the new security regulations he couldn't get more than a couple of ounces in the small bottle.

Alex, I think I'm going to move on through the animal kingdom like you suggested.

Unknown said...

Howdy, neighbor! I live in Brenham, TX! We've been bone dry here, too. It's so sad. My roses are the only thing surviving, because I keep them watered. I have to. So, in regards to the drought, I'm with ya, sister!

Cindy Thrasher said...

I live in Fort Worth, and it is, obviously, very dry here too. Dry dry dry dry. The Turtle solution certainly couldn't hurt. BTW, I am a fellow campaigner and I'm looking forward to getting to know you!