PORCH PONDERINGS

Another Dry Day

Well now this is just wrong! I'm sitting on my porch after an afternoon at the museum. The wind picked up, the sky clouded up, the thunder started, and POOF! We had maybe 10 drops of rain. Seriously. Any rain that fell is now gone. Evaporated just that quickly. Amazing.

We had no rain the entire month of July here in Roundup. There was rain all around us, but never here. It was like we are in a bubble or something. Very strange. So the forecast is dire. No hay, no food for animals. The rivers are low. People are tired of the heat. I know I can't think straight, so annoyed by all the hot weather. And now there is smoke in the air from wildfires all around. Today was the first day we really noticed a smell from them.

I drove back from Musselshell on Wednesday after play practice and saw four deer. Glad to say I hit none of them. The last one I saw could have been an elk, it was that big. It was a buck, with antlers still in velvet. It came right beside the car, got ready to cross in front from the right to the left. I slammed on the brakes, honked the horn, and he veered off at the last minute. Gracious. My heart still pounded for an hour after that. I say a prayer before I drive out there and before I drive home that the deer stay away. And that I am safe.

Has anyone watched 'The Queen's Gambit'? I have to say I am enjoying this tale of chess. Interesting storyline. I'm also reading an autobiography, 'Born with Teeth', by Kate Mulgrew. She was on 'Ryan's Hope' way back when and then on a 'Star Trek' series as Captain Janeway. A great actress with a very interesting life story.

So as we head into the historically dry month of August, remember Montana. Pray for us. Pray for rain.