There’s simply no exaggerating how much I love rain on The Mountain. I love the sound it makes on the cabin’s metal roof. I love the heavy, dense, cool air it leaves behind. I love the depth and darkness it imparts to the saturated woods.
It was 3am Saturday morning when Miss Smudge registered her request for a trip outside. I complied. When we came back in, I pulled up weather radar on my phone.
We’d had a good bit of rain already, which (in a stroke of luck) had subsided to a gentle shower while the Heeler and I were out. That map, however, was a vivid promise that serious thunderstorms were inbound, and with them heavy downpours.
And indeed, thunder soon boomed over the valley. We got absolutely drenched. Lacking a rain gauge these days, I’d guess that we got a couple of inches. Maybe more.
Later, though the morning sky brightened, rain continued. I launched another map to see if wet weather overnight affected state Forestry’s assessment of wildfire danger.
It had. All of Arkansas was at “high” risk as late as Friday, but by early Saturday most of the state had been reduced to “moderate.” Burn bans were still in effect in 55 counties (including Marion), and a 16-county swath (including Marion) remained at “high” risk.
Smudge and I had business to conduct in Yellville — Harps, post office, smoke shop. We were on our way before 8:30am.
The high ground where I make my home, visible in the distance from the post office, still was socked-in by dark clouds.
Smudge has her routine, which I no longer try to mess with — she gets down on the floor when I leave the truck, and she quickly hops back onto the seat when I return.
It’s what she does to feel safe. I let her be the dog she is.
The afternoon was cool, bright and pleasant. Skies cleared, eventually. Marion County lifted its burn ban after Forestry reduced the wildfire danger.
Life is good.
Take care of yourselves, Patriots. Stay calm. Stay sharp. Stay free.
#WiseUp #LibertyOrDeath #Ungovernable