Friday, December 3, 2010

Swampy....

I know I am getting a bit repetitive about rain, but the sheep stall has small river running through it. That part of the barn only gets that way once every two years, so it is worth noting that this is the second time in a month. It might have to do with us moving dirt around to make fences for the sheep, but I did check my impromptu rain gauge (bucket on ground near chicken run) and we got about four inches of rain between 5 pm and 5 am.

I remember Chai Chai suggested cinder blocks for the sheep stall awhile back, but I didn't have any spares. It looks like I am heading over to buy some after school.

It is notable that the horses elected to stay out in the pasture last night even though it was bucketing (a step up from pouring - I am going to have to develop 80 different words for rain....).  Usually, they are in by 5 am, because they expect me to feed them, I think the rain had their internal clocks all off, because they stayed out, even though I rattled the buckets.  They must have been deep in the back clump of trees.  It was amusing, because the dogs ran out and started barking, because they enjoy barking at the horses as they come in to eat - but there were no horses to bark at.  They seemed mildly confused, and it reminded me how much animals are creatures of habit, too.

I got some beautiful pictures of my flowers which are completely enjoying this intense rain, followed by some sun - I will have to post them later, because I forgot to bring the camera to work.  Recess if over, so back to work (can you hear the crack of the whip - or possibly the roar of children coming in from recess?)

5 comments:

From Beyond My Kitchen Window said...

Once recess is over and the kids settle down the coughing begins. Between the asthma and the cold air outside the coughing goes on for twenty minutes. That is the only roar I can hear. Sorry about your water and mud difficulties.

Chai Chai said...

With the thin volcanic soil over rock where you live how is it the erosion hasn't taken all your fertile land away?

I guess I am picturing your land gently sloping toward the sea, not true?

NancyDe said...

Actually, Chai Chai, it depends where you are on the Big Island. We happen to have lucked out and got 6-12 feet of dirt over all our land - half a mile down the road, they have mostly rock. The Big Island is huge for an island - the circle island highway is 200 miles: all the other islands could fit on ours. Our land is flat is some areas and some areas are sloped. The pastures, front and back, are mostly flat, but the bit with our house has an incline.

FBMKW, we have been having more stomach issues than coughs this season. Quieter than coughing....As far as mud and rain, it comes with the territory. That doesn't stop me from complaining about it, of course!

Faith said...

Can you dig some French drains around your barns to keep them dry? Mostly labor and little gravel, but it can make a world of difference.

~Faith

NancyDe said...

We have gutters and a run off pond, culverts and a bridge over the low areas....I think just a few times a year, there is just too much rain to deal with for a few days or weeks....just something you deal with like snow in other parts of the country. It doesn't stop me from being worried about hooves during this time, or being totally disgusted at the chicken run two inches deep in mud (at least they have their coop to retreat to!)