Pray for Rain

In Texas, as in many parts of the US and the world, we are having a drought.  No rain for a long time and none in sight.  The farmers are in trouble and the firefighters are exhausted.  All of our reservoirs are either mud puddles or dust bowls. About 70 percent of Texas rangeland and pastures are classified as in very poor condition, which means there has been complete or near complete crop failure or there’s no food for grazing livestock. The crop and livestock losses could be the worst the state has seen (AP-Lubbock, TX). Cotton, Corn and Beef are the biggest hit and with Texas as a world provider of these, the results will be devastating. And, get this, Black Bears are coming into townships and raiding everything from dumpsters to bird feeders in far west Texas and northern New Mexico.

We are praying for rain.  I've never received so many e-mails from my friends and acquaintances calling for rain prayers.  The Comanche Nation (native Americans from the Comancheria tribe) are having rain dances.

I didn't realize that there is actually an Intensity Scale for drought conditions.  I knew there was one for rain-fall because I grew up on the Gulf Coast of the US. 

This is what it looks like:


Texas is the 2nd largest state in the US, 2nd only to Alaska (which resides in the great white north, north of Canada).  But the interesting thing is, Texas has no natural lakes.  That's it, zero, nada, none...all of the water we use is dammed from rivers and made into reservoirs. Texas is the only state that was a republic before joining the union; the only state that can fly its flag as high as the US flag; and the only state that can legally secede from the union. Famous Kentuckians/Tennesseans like Jim Bowie and Davey Crockett died here in San Antonio at the Alamo fighting Mexico for Texas freedom in 1836. Unfortunately, they lost. Only women and a slave named Joe survived and were set free by Santa Anna, the Mexican general.

(in case you're interested in the Alamo: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Alamo)

Forecast, 109F:

Oh and I forgot to mention, the water we do get tastes like mud and algae...eek! So when they say "water rationing", we say, "ok."

So please, pray for rain.  I'm going to start a new knit lace shawl. Wish me luck...