It's hot here in Texas, ladies and gentlemen!

"Yesterday was the 5th consecutive day that the Austin, Texas Bergstrom Airport tied or set a new daily temperature record. On Monday, June 6, the airport hit 103ยฐF, the earliest in the year that location had ever hit 103ยฐ.(Dr. Jeff Masters'WunderBlog, June 8, 2011)

Hot and dry! 

"In Austin, rainfall from October through the end of April was only 5.3 inches, the third driest on record since 1856."(from the LCRA website, latest update May 2011)

And here in the Hollow, with no rain to keep it in its place, caliche dust coats everything… my car, the dogs, the juniper trees lining the road, the few flowers hardy and stubborn and resilient enough to bloom…

Even the sky is a dusty shade of blue.

Our pond is completely dry now. See that white bucket sitting in the middle? It's a souvenir from our upstream neighbor's pond, an in-your-face reminder of a time when water flowed down Long Hollow creek. When the pond is full, that spot is at least 20 feet underwater.

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Hard to imagine, isn't it?

It's also hard to imagine the little waterfall ever roaring like an ocean surf crashing on a beach, so loud you have to raise your voice to be heard way up on our back deck.

The only thing making that much noise in the Hollow lately is the panting of two hot puppy dogs, searching for some cool shade.

Water, Water, where for art thou, Water?



 

 

 

 

 

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19 responses to “The Only Water Around Here is My Sweat!”

  1. Jillsy Girl Avatar

    Holy Crap, Batman! But as the saying goes….What goes around, comes around…and one day you’ll be getting your due water (probably by the bucketful!) Hopefully, it will be one day soon!

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  2. Bella Casa Avatar

    Sounds like you’re living in the desert, Barbara, matter of fact …kinda looks that way too. Maybe you should do a rain dance ๐Ÿ˜‰
    Jan @ BellaCasa

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  3. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    It feels like Iiving in a desert these days! Maybe I'll try that dance tonight!

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  4. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    It feels like Iiving in a desert these days! Maybe I'll try that dance tonight!

    Like

  5. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    I'm sure we will – it seems we just go from one extreme to another. Last year we had a drought, and then within a week, we had a flood. I'd sure like to stay in the middle a little bit more!

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  6. beth Avatar

    i think people like me wonder how you survive summer, the same way people like you wonder how we survive winter ๐Ÿ™‚

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  7. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    I'm beginning to wonder how we survive summer, too!

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  8. brian miller Avatar

    same temp here yesterday only wet…soaking wet humid…i was being boiled alive…5 or 6 out of the last 10 days here over 100…ack…and its not even summer yet…

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  9. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    Brian, you just reminded me it could be worse. At least it's not humid right now (I grew up outside of Houston – I know humid! ugh!) Thank you! And I'm sorry ๐Ÿ˜ฆ

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  10. walker Avatar

    We’re having similar weather in Va. and it’s a bit scary to contemplate after a winter and spring of horrid weather stories. We should all be doing rain dances!

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  11. Catherine Avatar

    Crossing my fingers and sending good thoughts that rain will come your way Barbara!
    xo Catherine

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  12. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    Hasn't it been crazy everywhere this past year? And looks like the crazy will continue. Yes, let's all start dancing!

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  13. Shrinky Avatar

    That photograph says it all, goodness, it does look parched and dry! I sure hope your rains come soon, it can’t be much fun right now.

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  14. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    It's still fun to walk through the woods – first thing in the morning and just before sunset ๐Ÿ™‚ At least it's not humid right now!

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  15. Gail Avatar

    It IS unbearable! Every year as summer approaches Dallas I threaten to move. Far, far away! Yet,I know I can’t. It’s just me shaking my little fist at the demonic flames that engulf Texas in particular. Torments me every year. So sorry about your pond, though! That must be hard to see. Hope it gets better for both of us soon. ๐Ÿ™‚

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  16. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    I know we won't move either, so I just try to be grateful we don't have the humidity we had in Houston – and not quite as many mosquitoes. It helps. The funny thing is we can be this dry one week and the next week it rains so much the ponds are flooding. That's what happened last year. Whatever happened to the middle road??
    Hope you're doing well!

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  17. Juana Avatar

    I can’t believe the dryness of your pond. It’s so sad! Your dogs must be missing it too, I remember photos of them enjoying the water. I hope it rains for you soon… very soon!!
    We are having a record breaking heat wave for June, also. But on top of it, it’s so HUMID. YUK!

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  18. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    I'm so sorry for your humidity! That's one thing I'm grateful for… the humidity isn't too bad. Not as dry as Phoenix, but much better than Houston!

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