"Self-sufficiency does not mean 'going back' to the acceptance of a lower standard of living. On the contrary, it is the striving for a higher standard of living, for food that is organically grown and good, for the good life in pleasant surroundings... and for the satisfaction that comes from doing difficult and intricate jobs well and successfully." John Seymour ~ Self Sufficiency 2003

Wednesday, 15 August 2012

Good things are coming...

Forgive my whinging of the past few blog postings.  My spirits have been lifted by a sign from the heavens :)

 We've had hectic gale force winds, snow, hail and rain.  And then some more.  And then even more.  This is a pic of our rain gauge after just one night's gift.
A full rain gauge - what a pleasure :)
Our farm roads have been washed away.  Even good sized stones have been pushed along the road with the force of the water.
The power of water...
Great  "donga's" (ditches) have been carved in the "road", and those with 4 X 4's have been the luckiest, for they can comfortably continue to use the "roads".
Hmmm... slap bang
in the middle of the
track
I made RMan drive - I wasn't prepared to risk slipping into any of these holes...
Not easy negotiating these newly-formed
ditches
But, at the end of the day, Mother Nature does her best to uplift spirits - views like this can banish even the most despondent feelings.  And explain exactly why the cold and wet was necessary :)
The beauty of where we live
And, just to confirm Gaia's intention, this was waiting for us when we came back home after a shopping trip...
View from the gate...
Whichever side the view was taken, the rainbow landed firmly on the house / garage in progress :)
View from the (sodden) driveway
A sign from above?  I like to think so :)
Posted by Dani at 10:40:00
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26 comments:

  1. Sue15 August 2012 at 11:55

    Great photos, especially the bottom one. I can't get over what a lovely setting your home is in. Heavenly!

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    1. Dani15 August 2012 at 17:35

      Sue - Thank you - yes, we are fortunate, aren't we. I am thankful every single day :)

      Delete
  2. FlowerLady Lorraine15 August 2012 at 13:26

    What a wonderful blessing to see and you were able to capture it.

    What a fantastic place to call home.

    FlowerLady

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    1. Dani15 August 2012 at 17:36

      FlowerLady - We think so too :) Yeah, as case of in the right place, at the right time... :)

      Delete
  3. Mrs. Mac15 August 2012 at 13:34

    I could almost smell the good earth after the rain from just looking at the photographs. You do live in such a beautiful area of our world. The rainbow is God's promise .. and it seems to have landed upon your homestead/farm. You are blessed.

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    1. Dani15 August 2012 at 17:38

      Mrs Mac - I know I'm blessed. God is taking care of us :) Very grateful and very aware - and very thankful :)

      Delete
  4. garden girl in SA15 August 2012 at 19:38

    A sign! Oh yes definitely!

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  5. kymber15 August 2012 at 21:52

    Dani - we feel very much like you...sooo grateful to be in such a beautiful, healthy, wonderful place. i love your new home and i am so glad that you have found it.

    your entire post made me think of Genesis 9:13, one of the most beautiful lines in the OT. i am not sure which version is most appropriate for you - but my favourite translation is the New Living Translation which says:

    "I have placed my rainbow in the clouds. It is the sign of my covenant with you and with all the earth."

    (other translations can be found here: http://bible.cc/genesis/9-13.htm)

    many good things are coming for you, not because of luck but because of good choices. your friend,
    kymber

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    Replies
    1. Dani16 August 2012 at 09:07

      kymber - I love that translation. Unfortunately only have a NT with me at the mo' - my (large) OT & NT is packed in a box. So I'll check up what my version says once it's unpacked.

      Thank you - and I wish you rainbows above too :)

      Delete
  6. tffnguy15 August 2012 at 22:34

    Glad things are starting to get better for you'll. Sure hope that keeps up.

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  7. Energiser Bunny16 August 2012 at 10:07

    What a fabulous pic Dani - could be one for the wall maybe?

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  8. DFW17 August 2012 at 01:54

    Beautiful! Enjoy the beauty and be greatful for the rain, ruts & all.

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  9. Dani17 August 2012 at 10:00

    DFW - Oh I am. It's just that every now and then one needs a reminder to be grateful for what was just a passing discomfort - and the remaining snow and rainbows were just that :)

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  10. Diana Studer17 August 2012 at 13:26

    Brave woman. I'm not trying to grow our food, so I dug my heels in and insisted on a tarred road (we live in town) to our entrance gate. We have a buried drainage pipe and 3 swales which solves the stormwater problem on our gravel driveway - unless there are all out floods.

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  11. Dani17 August 2012 at 13:31

    Diana - I don't feel brave, and I've been whinging too much. However, with that said, I LOVE where we are, and find the "minor inconveniences" a fair substitute for what we now have :)

    Don't think even swales would've coped with the downfalls we've experienced in the past few weeks... The water is literally oozing out of the ground at the edges to the dirt track we call a road LOL

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  12. Diana Studer19 August 2012 at 11:44

    in time, you'll need a plan, to keep the road accessible in winter. Step by step you'll get there.

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    1. Dani19 August 2012 at 17:31

      Diana - we already have the process in motion. All we need is the municipality to "lend" us their vehicles - we have sourced the shale to line the road with. That's ALL we need...

      Delete
  13. Diana Studer20 August 2012 at 11:17

    https://plus.google.com/u/1/109783903175191665261/posts/Rjo56mxNcfP
    This is about solar cooking, with a few more links in the comments.

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  14. Dani20 August 2012 at 11:33

    Thanks, Diana. See she's using a parabolic cooker. I haven't tried one of those - mainly because I reckon it's too windy where I am LOL

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  15. 1st Man22 August 2012 at 05:51

    Your house/property is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. But then again, you knew that already. And so did we! Love it!! :-)

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  16. Dani22 August 2012 at 09:08

    1st Man - LOL - Yup, reckon it is... :) Thanks

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  17. Jody24 August 2012 at 03:04

    Such an amazing moment. There's no stillness quite like the stillness in the air after a big storm.

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    1. Dani25 August 2012 at 12:38

      Jody - You're so right. The absolute stillness is like a breath of fresh air :)

      Delete

Thank you for taking the time to comment - it makes my day and removes the "loneliness' of sitting at my screen blogging supposedly to myself ;) I try and reply as quickly as possible so please forgive me if sometimes my response is delayed.

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