Nature always springs to the surface and manages to show what she is.
It is vain to stop or try to drive her back.
She breaks through every obstacle, pushes forward,
and makes herself a way.
Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux
I awoke on Tuesday morning to the sound of pounding rain. The smile on my face was bigger than any that had come for what seemed a very long time before. It had finally arrived. The rain was here and everything was going to be alright.
With a coffee in hand, I sat and watched the rain come down in buckets, huge overflowing, beautiful buckets full of life and renewal. Our cows were standing just on the outside of the tree line in front of the bush, off in the distance. They were washing away the dust that had settled on them after months with no rain. Those once grey coloured cows were now white. They were dancing in the rain, and then I suddenly felt this need to stand up and dance in my kitchen. The celebration of such an important event certainly deserved a dance or two. A couple of fast moving deer appeared to be in a hurry to possibly escape the rain and raced across the field.
The leaves on the black walnut trees behind the house were no longer cupped waiting to catch any wished for drops of rain. They were now flat open, to share the rain that dripped, then poured to the once crisp brown grasses which lay beneath. The earth must have been smiling too. The heavy rain washed the gravel in the lane down into the barnyard and into the waiting fields on either side.
I danced over to look out the front window of the house. There in a field of not cut hay were turkeys. A huge flock of dancing turkeys who were not worried about the rain that pounded down. The world outside was celebrating the fact that life as they knew it was returning back to normal. There would be no more hunting for water for any of them. The tom turkeys proved to be the best dancers in the bunch. With their shiny black dripping wet wings outstretched and flapping in unison, it was quite the sight.
Suddenly, a drenched red squirrel ran across the porch and then stopped to look in the window. We stared at each other for a moment before it ran up the pillar, towards our attic. Although a bit worried about what he was up to, I smiled at him. There were no worries that could take this incredibly happy and grateful moment away from me.
The rain slowed so I dressed quickly and headed outdoors into the world that had been too uncomfortably hot to explore for so long. The rain welcomed me with its soft cool drops of life on my face as I turned my head to the sky and thanked it for finally coming. There were puddles to cross and drops lingered on leaves. There was wildlife in the fields unaware of a wandering girl. They were too interested in their own celebration.
A constant pounding had me look to the fence line and a fence post covered with dripping wet wild grape leaves. An old repaired bluebird house, right in front of our house, that dripped with rain and was covered in moss, hid a surprise.
I had thought that every creature was out to celebrate and now I certainly believed this to be true. Dancing cows, racing deer, dancing turkeys and “where do you think you are going” red squirrels were incredible sights to see on their own. As if that was not enough to have me dancing again, there, along with an abundance of drenched but happy singing birds sat a very special guest.
Over the years on this farm, I have never seen the elusive Pileated Woodpecker anywhere near our house. For years, I have tracked the sounds of the pounding echoes through the trees in the bush wearing snowshoes or my Pink Cadillac boots, during all seasons. I am pretty sure I have only captured a couple of shots with my camera in all those years.
Well, during the celebration of a rainy day I stood there with my camera in the rain and crept up from behind a tree towards the sound of the hammering. He looked to me and me to him. The pounding continued, and I wondered how this could be. A car raced by splashing puddles and frightened the woodpecker away. Two beautiful Pileated Woodpeckers flew high into the air. Two elusive creatures that I have craved to see for years were also celebrating the coming of the rain.
After a time I made my way back to the house. I was soaking wet and extremely happy. I dressed in warm clothes, started a pot of soup and once again sat in front of my window. The rain had slowed down a bit, but apparently, the celebrations were still going on in the incredible world outside my window.
There, on the post leading to the barnyard, sat those two Pileated Woodpeckers who looked very comfortable watching me watch them.
Could life get any better than that? I think not.
It's good to read this... I'm happy the rain finally showed up... it sounds like pure joy for all who shared in it xox ♡
ReplyDeleteI like that shot of the woodpecker on the fence near the wooden post.
ReplyDeleteRain! You beauty! (Australian term, much like Bonza! which means real good mate)
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you all got to be dancing in the rain.
Your opening quote reminds me of a line from a Trisha Yearwood song, "what's meant to be will always find a way"
Hello, so glad you had some much needed rain. I love the Pileated Woodpecker shots. Enjoy your day and the weekend ahead!
ReplyDeletewe're getting good rain here, too. very joyful noise! :) love your pileateds!
ReplyDeleteRain, glorious rain! I'm glad you finally got some.
ReplyDeleteWe finally, like you, got some rain. But not nearly enough to quench the drought.
ReplyDeleteLove the Pileated!!
I'm so glad that you finally got the much needed rain!! Will it make another hay crop possible? Your word pictures are great!
ReplyDeleteHell Buttons!:) What a wonderful noise the rain makes when it falls after a drought. I'm glad that the much needed rain made your day, and the Pileated Woodpeckers paid you a visit. Nice sighting and captures!:)
ReplyDeleteBetter that they peck at the fence than your house.
ReplyDeleteHow awesome! So glad you got some much needed rain. Sounds like all the critters were happy about it too. - And Wow the Pileated Woodpeckers are amazing. What a great treat you shared with us.
ReplyDeleteOh wow. Love those woodpeckers. And isn't the scent of lifegiving rain WONDERFUL?
ReplyDeleteRain and woodpeckers. That is excellent!
ReplyDeleteoooohh those pleated's are splendid!! send some rain our way, we really need it!!!
ReplyDeleteGrinning ear to ear for you!
ReplyDeleteI'm so thankful we finally got rain! Those birds are fantastic aren't they?
ReplyDeletePileated Woodpeckers . . .
ReplyDeleteWhat a treat . . .
Great pictures . . .
Thank goodness for your rain!
A heavy rain after a long dry period brings joy to everything.
ReplyDeleteSmiles all around!
ReplyDeleteWhat a joyful post! So glad you, your farm and all of the critters got some much needed rain.
ReplyDeleteIt's wonderful to enjoy these ordinary times. And the woodpeckers are amazing! Life is good...indeed! Hugs!
ReplyDeleteI'm happy for you. I know in your world, like mine, rain is more than just conversation. It is the life blood of the farm. Blessings to you sweet friend. Soak up that rain!!!
ReplyDeleteB,
ReplyDeleteI'm always in ah reading your posts. Good thing you received rain, were expecting some this weekend.
Love the rain, hate having to cut grass because it keeps growing like crazy. Which means cutting every 2nd day.
Enjoy the water, and the views of clean critters from all the rain.
Hugs,
Sandy
Hooray! I have to admit that I did a happy dance in my kitchen, too, when the rain finally came. Nice photographs of the pileated woodpecker. We have a group of them in the woods around, but I rarely catch a glimpse.
ReplyDeleteAh buttons you write with such eloquence---I do enjoy. I can almost feel the cooling rain and see your happy dance. We haven't had any rain here for quite some time and we are in wet western Washington. It has been in the 80s. How can that be one wonders but it happens and then the rains will begin and our gardens will lift their collective heads and drink with joy. I miss the rain when it is away.
ReplyDeleteFunny I just caught a shot of a Pileated also yesterday---pounding on a post and right after taking the image of he went never to be seen again.
Take care
MB
I too loved it when the palliated woodpeckers arrived at our former home but was just as happy to see them leave as they do a lot of damage. Still they are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteSounds wonderful! We still need rain...all the storms went around us so we only got a small amount...:)And you are right, it renews everything!...:)JP
ReplyDeleteGreat post. I loved your photo's. The fences and woodpecker were cool. I linked a special photo today at Good Fences. It was nice meeting you.
ReplyDeleteNice to see that rain photo!
ReplyDeleteThose woodpeckers look massive!! Love them. I would love to see those birds out of my window!
ReplyDeleteHow beautiful is the sound of rain after a dry spell. Nothing is more sweeter.
ReplyDeleteSo good to hear a happy post. All Hail the Rain! I'm hoping for some to water my garden. The sky is cloudy and I hear thunder but will it produce anything??
ReplyDeleteBeautiful descriptions of a wonderful morning. This rain was especially welcome but I think there will be others that will see your animals scurrying and dancing, and maybe have you dancing too.
ReplyDeleteWe're always waiting for rain, celebrating rain or wishing/praying it gone, eh Grace? A first, and probably only, cutting of hay was put up dry...thank God...and the animals have fodder for winter. Every now and again a pilated woodpecker comes to the house and amuses me...a gift!
ReplyDeleteNo dance I, but dance I would if some rain would come my way here in this dry and dusty place. I'm so happy for you, for the cows, and all the other critters in your world.
ReplyDeleteI meant to say, no dancer I. I know one should look over things before hitting the publish button, but, oh well....
ReplyDeleteGood to hear you got some rain! Those Pileated Woodpeckers are so huge...we have two that had a baby..no photo yet! :)
ReplyDeletei am so happy you finally got your rain, and wow, an extra bonus, 2 woodpeckers!!
ReplyDeleteIt is wonderful to get a good rain when you need it. We've been SO hot here in the South this summer that every shower was cause to celebrate! Sandra
ReplyDeleteSo thankful for rain! And a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers, too! Life is wonderful. Always full of gifts.
ReplyDelete