"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands........" 1 Thessalonians 4:11

Friday, April 8, 2011

The sand has been blowing across the vacant cotton fields

this past week. The dry, hot, west Texas heat makes the wind feel like a blow dryer as the sand stings and covers everything that walks into it's path.

It's times like these, when I am thankful for the the woods that surround the house .They serve as a wonderful barrier from the dirt of the cotton fields that run along the back of our property.

This past winter, the woods stood silent and bare...............the trees curled and curved

in their frozen slumber. The arrival of spring has awakened them...............and they actually look as if they are reaching up and stretching out their curled limbs . The silence has been replaced with the constant chatter and singing of the many different birds that are coming to visit the grounds. Some are here to stay for the summer................some will leave in just a matter of days as they travel on to their final destinations. The ground that surrounds the farm, as you can see, is still yellow and dry.............no rain has graced the prairies..........yet. I still have hope...........and faith, as I look out across the clear blue sky, that maybe a cloud will form and bring this parched piece of heaven some relief.............soon. How about you? Are you awakened by the melody of a visiting songbird? Is the wind howling at your door? I would love to hear!

17 comments:

peggy said...

I hope you get your rain soon. It's raining this morning in Michigan. I have been a few days cut off from my blogger friends by computer problems. It was so good to be able to see you this morning. It's so beautiful where you live.

Debbie said...

Wish we could share this rain with you. Texas wouldn't be Texas if they had consistent moisture. It's a wonderful and beautiful land of extremes and contrasts. I lived there 40 years and didn't get to visit even a fraction of it. Wish I had every day for the next 20 just to see Texas and visit all my childhood memories. But with the cost of gas, I guess I'll pull out my pictures and do a little jog down memory lane. (I remember the dust).

Cora from Hidden Riches said...

Such a beautiful post! Isn't it just the greatest thing when winter is past and the trees start popping out green???!!! This year seems especially wonderful, and I, too, love hearing the birds as they return, start building nests, etc. Loved your post before this, too, with the pictures of the little orchard trees. I could kick myself for not planting fruit trees earlier --- like 16 years ago when we first moved here. What was I thinking???? We've had a lot of rain lately --- I'm praying you will soon get yours!

Michaele said...

The trees are looking really nice. We aren't dry here, but have had the wind.

Gingerbreadshouse7 said...

My mom was born in Texas, and from what I hear it was tough going with the land..she even rode a pony to school which amazes me being a City girl :o)

Elaine/Muddling Through said...

It's awfully dry here, too, Kathleen. I've been doing a lot of watering. I so don't want to see my water bill! BTW, I love that picture of the baby ducks in your sidebar, just so sweet!

grammy said...

love those curvy branches... graced with the green of Spring. Every leaf is hard won for them (o:

Unknown said...

We are having rain today & tomorrow ... we so enjoyed our Nov. travels in TX to see the beautiful landscapes ... somewhat similar to OK. Love spring when all the plants are 'reaching' up to the Heavens as they come forth.

TY for your sweet comment today. We are tickled PINK with our first great-kid-ling's arrival.

Have a beautiful weekend.
TTFN ~
Hugs,
Marydon

Tammy@Simple Southern Happiness said...

Will it remain like that, no cotton growing? It sad to look across the empty fields.

But looks like spring is blooming there, that is a plus.

Sue said...

Beautiful post Kathleen, and Yes I am enjoying the songbirds that have come back for the summer. I even at my first humming bird today.
Hope you do get the rain.
Sue

Kerri said...

I am in Oregon and we are having a day of sun after weeks of nothing but rain. But I am also waiting for a rain of a different kind. Wish we could send you some puddles. :)

Connie said...

We had a great deal of rain here this morning, Kathleen. I would have been glad to share it with you. I hope you get rain soon. Have a nice weekend! :)

American Home said...

Thank you for stopping by the American Home. I completely agree with you about the rain. We are parched here as well and have had severe wildfires. I enjoy so much reading your words...
God bless you today and may the rains soon come.

LindaSue said...

looks a little like spring here in North Texas but wind is blowing and one of the driest springs in decades - our mesquites have been "out" for a while so I'm confident we are past potential freezes.

Brenda Kay Ledford said...

Kathleen,
I sure hope you get some rain soon and get relief from the heat and dust blowing from the vacant cotton fields. I've heard it gets really hot down in Texas.
Your trees are taking on a pretty spring glow.
Have a blessed weekend.

Anonymous said...

It is pouring rain here today which is rare. Our morning songbirds are Mockingbirds and I never tire of their greeting.

Jody Blue said...

The birds are back and singing here. Our rhubarb is up about 3 inches. You fight the dust war, I fight the mud war:)