(Photo by Marlboro Man.)
We were able to get a big portion of the ranch burned in March, which meant everywhere we turned for the following two weeks, all we could see was black and charred earth.
But there’s always a flip side. Following the burn, it started raining. And raining and raining and raining. And now the ranch is covered with a blanket of the brightest green grass I’ve ever seen. Not only that, but our ponds are fuller than full. Overflowing! If we ever dared to allow ourselves to utter the words “it’s a little too much rain,” this would be the time we would say it. But we wouldn’t dare utter those words.
The blessing of abundant rains after spring burning (well, abundant rains in the spring period) is not lost on me. We’ve had years where we’ve taken a chance and burned more of the ranch than normal, then waited for rain that seemed to never come. When that happens, you start the summer at a deficit and the grass never seems to be able to reach its full potential…or worse, by July everything’s starting to dry up and the ponds are starting to look worryingly low. Those are scary times because you don’t know the future, you don’t see an end, and you’re completely at the mercy of the weather.
I have observed through the years that people in agriculture are, generally speaking, people of faith. And it’s because so much is out of our control. The weather, the markets, the…weather. And the weather! So when you have a season like this one, when the balance seems just right, you know it’s a time to rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice, give thanks, and sing!
(And give the dogs and cars a bath. They are covered in mud.)
(Never mind. What would be the point?)
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