We weren’t able to sit on the patio enjoying the view much this year as there was rain almost every day. The base of the furled patio umbrella formed the perfect birdbath, giving us a close view of the birds’ ablutions. However, as the area was moving towards water rationing, we welcomed each day of rain and enjoyed to the fullest the few hours and few days where the sun shone brightly…or even the times we saw some patches of blue sky. 🙂
Just a little sculpture in a field
Up early, we breakfast with the bikers, then get on our way. The speed limit in South Dakota is 75, so the van flies along at a steady 80, eating up the miles. South Dakota is flat but beautiful, misty this morning after last night’s rain. There are rolls of hay everywhere and the bright stubble from the baled hay stands in sharp contrast to the sky and the deep green of the soybean fields. The corn is suffering; the dry-land corn is truly dry and looks crinkly. Even corn that’s been irrigated doesn’t have as many ears per stalk. Many fields look ready for harvest but it’s much too early. This bodes ill not only for farmers but for everyone, since corn is a part of so many products. Many spots usually filled with water are either just cracked earth or have only a little water in them. Fields of sunflowers give a Provencal look to some areas. Their bright yellow faces turned toward the sun, they appear to contradict the dryness surrounding them. (more…)
Degrees
Hot.
Dry.
Relentless sun.
……A watering ban?? What about my flowers & lawn?!!
….The AC runs constantly. What about my electric bill?
….Pivot’s still bringing up water from the well but the crops are struggling. What if the well runs dry? How will we pay the mortgage, buy our food, feed our animals? We could lose the farm.
….We trek to the well again but there are so many people, so little clean water. The children cry from thirst, though we give them all we can. What if the well runs dry? What about our children? What about us?
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To read all the stories generated by this prompt, click on this link to go to the Friday Fictioneers’ site on Madison Woods’ blog: http://madison-woods.com/index-of-stories/072712-2/
Here’s the link to the blog and I’ll make the other one live as soon as it is: http://madison-woods.com/photo-prompt-for-the-fridayfictioneers-5/
Do visit! You’ll be amazed at the talent and variety on display in a mere 100 (+/-) words. And be sure to leave a comment or a “like” if you enjoy what you read. It’s always appreciated by the writer.
This, that and the other thing 