Thursday, May 26, 2011

The horse and the oats .









Back from a 24 hour trip to Germany and Switzerland to find that water rationing has been imposed. Initially , we're supposed to cut down on our usage by 20% . Already, the local farmers are having to cull cattle because of the shortage of silage . This years wheat harvest looks to be nothing short of a disaster with yields forecast to fall by upto 40% . The melon growers , probably the major source of income around here , are finding that their 2011 crop is ready a full six weeks early . This mean that they have to compete with the cheaper , early season , imports from Spain and Morocco . We'll try to keep our newly planted lavender beds going but the lawn and some of the recently installed trees look like they're goners . Can it really be the driest year since 1947 ?

After his early morning croissant run, Wilf spends much of his morning asleep in the shade of the cherry trees in the orchard . Sometimes he savages his toy but most of the time he uses it as a pillow . Then the old fellow rouses himself for lunch before passing his afternoon dozing on the cool kitchen floor. As he might say , " It's not the horse that pulls the cart , but the oats " .

14 comments:

  1. Familiar surroundings make for an easy sleep! Good boy Wilf!

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  2. This scientific household is thinking that it's sunlight, oxygen and, yes, water, that ultimately pulls the cart.... Hope you get some rain soon.

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  3. I had no idea that you were so dry there. I remember when the county I live in rationed water a few years ago. It can be difficult to make cut backs when you're so used to having all you need. Even though we've had so much rain this year and my rain barrel is full I worry that our summer will dry one for us as well.

    The news is filled here this morning with the report of Monsieur Strauss-Kahn new 'house' in Tribeca where he'll be for his house arrest. Costing about $50,000 a month the swank townhouse was once listed at just under $14 million, has about 6,000 square feet, and is said to have a state-of-the-art in-home theater, gym, spa steam bath and bar. I guess there won't be a 'shortage' of things for him to do.

    **Kim at Golden Pines (problems posting comment)

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  4. Beautiful pics......Wilfie looks content!
    xoxo

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  5. Droughts are always sad business! We have the opposite problem here. The rain just won't stop!

    Does Wilf still like the toy that makes all the noises, or did it find it's way to a secure drawer for the sake of your sanity?

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  6. Happy to see Wilf looking his usual handsome, happy self. We have more moisture than we need this year here in Montana and there's worry about serious flooding but I have to say it's lovely to see evrything so green and lush. I wish I could send some of this moisture over to your neck of the woods.

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  7. Very, very wise - I try that with all my animals!
    Hugs to polar bear from Southern Italy Susanne, Daisy and Foxiie

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  8. good morning from oklahoma. we were in a drought that brought wild fires from dry lightning. then two days ago we finally got rain... which conveniently wrapped killer tornados within its bounty. mother nature at her most deadly benevolence! still...i agree with wilf, life is good. each day a gift. here's hoping you get rain soon. (without the tornado) tj

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  9. Is there any way you could buy water? We don't know if this will work for you, but a delivery of non- potable/ reclaimed water for irrigation could be used to soak the just planted tress. When we had rationing several years ago, our old community had done this as had numerous home owners with very costly, freshly planted landscaping. Not cheap but very effective. During this time there was a certain company who would come and top off your pool with fresh water but it was too costly.

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  10. One can definitely see Wilf has his priorities straight; once again his common sense is also wisdom. Pure pleasure to watch as Wilf does what comes naturally. DBH

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  11. Trying to comment from my office computer to see if it will not be rejected. Love the 2nd photo of Wilf! So cute! Sorry about the water issues. Weather in Anchorage is spectacular!! But we too could use a bit of rain.

    Ina in Alaska

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  12. Wish that we could send you some of the rain we have been getting. Hopefully your drought will end soon. Hugs for Wilf.

    Blessings and Love,
    Janelle and Maggie Mae

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  13. Wish I could send you some of our rain. We even had snow mixed with rain yesterday. I hope your drought ends soon.

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