What would you say you cannot live without? Top of my list is water. Wind is next on the list. Strange as that may sound. Life on a homestead, especially following a long drought, teaches you the value of water. I'm embarrassed to admit it was not even a consideration before our self-sufficient journey began. The trauma of suffering really teaches us both endurance as well as gratitude of life's basics. Last week the overflowing valley dam was opened for another flood irrigation. Once again we have regular lei water (flood irrigation) watering our thirsty lands. The blessing of the water is more precious than gold. For the last couple days we have braved the heat to run down to the fields and dunk ourselves in the flooding channels. In this heat we could stay in the flow all day!
Recently I wrote my celebratory post about the valley dam that is full and overflowing for the first time since Jan 2014. My cup runneth over has taken on a new and literal meaning for those of us who survived the long drought.
FarmerBuckaroo is on the water committee and has been managing the repair of the valley irrigation channels since winter. The last month the strong flow of the flooding dam is testing all those months and months of work and excavating.
We, of course, tested the water in a very personal way. We went to swim in it! The cool water has refreshed both land and people.
Despite the wonderful sight and musical sound of flowing water the evidence of what did not survive the drought is everywhere. It will take long to clear.
But the joy of new life brightens the gloomy rememberance - as does the joyful squeals of splashing children.
The roots of the trees are a promise of survival. They make unusual steps into the water. How deep the roots run. And how thirstily they are now able to drink of the life giving water. Like the tree roots the Buckaroo roots are long and run very deep. They will also form steps for others to step into the flow of the life giving Water! May others soon drink of the waters. And more than that! Dance in the refreshing flow.
