hoffywhf
- Aug 7, 2011
- 2 min read

Rainy Weekend

It was a really pleasant weekend with off and on rain on both Saturday and Sunday. During this time of year we always appreciate any and all rain that we get. For most of the southeast rain can be hit or miss from mid June through mid September. The pastures can look like springtime and be overrun with grass at this time of the year (as they are this year), or things can be looking pretty dry. Even in a dry year though the pastures have good grass, it just does not look like perpetual springtime. So far this year our pastures have been blessed with plenty of moisture. It will be time to do a third cutting of hay and another round of bush hogging in the pastures soon. No complaints here.

One year I will never forget is 2007. In 2007 Tennessee, and all of the southeast, experienced a record setting drought. 2007 set the record as the driest year ever recorded for Tennessee in 117 years of weather records. I hope to never live through setting such a record again. By mid-July we were having hay shipped in from out west and paying outrageous prices for it. The creeks were dry, ponds shrank to the size of puddles, and wells ran dry. Cattle were sold off in record numbers to the point where many livestock auctions were turning cattle away.

2007 is a year that is forever emblazoned in my memory and no doubt the memory of any farmer in the southeast. We got through it and the horses stuffed their faces with outrageously expensive hay instead of grass.

When I look at what is happening in parts of Texas and Oklahoma right now it makes our drought of 2007 look like nothing. I simply cannot imagine living through their current nightmare. In addition to the drought some areas are also dealing with day after day after day of 100+ degree temperatures.

As we enjoyed some down time during the rain this weekend I was more appreciative than normal for our rain, thinking about how badly other parts of the country need moisture. 2007 scarred me enough that I still am unable to take rain for granted anymore. When you live in an area that normally has abundant rainfall (no one ever gave a passing thought to their well going dry prior to 2007) and then you experience the opposite it does change your perspective on many things. I hope our friends in Texas and Oklahoma get some relief very soon.

____________________________________

Renny and Sebastian

B-Rad, Alex, Darby and Sam

Silky is napping, Missy and MyLight are hanging out nearby, Cuffie is under the tree, Fonzi is hanging out behind the fence and Silver is rolling. A busy picture!