Off the Anvil

j.a. kendrick

We are finally off the anvil of pounding summer heat. After nearly five months without rain in searing heat, the recent rains have cooled the scorched earth and the forest seems less tense. The trees bristle in the cool showers and shrubs slurp up the liquid, relaxing as they languish into Fall. Even the creek giggles as it swirls, replenished, over the long-dry stones of its banks. Our forest farm seems to have awakened after its long somnambulance. Watching with dread as the sun moves across the sky bringing another day of unrelenting heat, seems so far in the past. Cloud covered peaks seem to lazily nestle under their blanket of fog, unready to start a new day…after all it has only been three days since relief came to us.

Lovely, luscious rain, life’s blood to the forest community of plants and animals, seems a very refreshing dessert after so long a period of fasting. Our little canyon seemed a tomb during the blazing summer heat, with creatures furred and feathered taking refuge to survive and plants withering in its glare. Today our aviary is alive with the sounds of the many species of birds flitting, flying and throatily singing their songs of happiness as they hunt for now-hidden insects in the treed canopy of the forest.  Bright shoots of grass have invited deer to the meadow to taste their tender sweetness and squirrels dance across the oak branches in search of an acorn or two to stash in their winter cupboards.  Even the weeds look green and pretty with the dust washed off their faces.

Our own footsteps, which sent up puffs of dust just last week, now make a pleasant squishing sound as we take a leisurely walk under the dripping trees. It is amazing that something so simple can make life so wonderful. Funny how being deprived of something always makes you appreciative of the return of whatever it may be.  Back to the basic necessities- water is life and we are once again living!