April 16, 2010. Canyon Lake, Texas. Rain.

We were marooned and we loved it. Wednesday evening the rain began and kept coming, all night and all next day and all night Thursday. At times the rain fell heavily and at other times with just a drizzle, so we did the only sensible thing for a person to do, that is, stay at home. All day we stayed in the Top House, reading and watching the sight and sound of the rain. The computer worked well, until about ten o'clock at night, when the Internet was disconnected. The rain drops were so large and heavy that the satellite connection was broken. It is the only time we have spent that much time actually in the house. Fortunately, it is a nice place to stay, with views in four directions.

This morning when chatting with Karen, a friend down the road, she told of their inability to return home last night, as the road was covered with two feet of water. They ended up staying for the night at their friends, who they had dinner with in Kerrville. So we thought we were staying at home by choice, but really we were marooned on our own ranch and we could not have driven to town if we had wanted. Fortunately, we were high and dry.

This weather for the Hill Country is most unusual. Mostly the sun is shining and the grass is brown. Local people love to hear that the rain is coming. At no time do you hear any complaints about the rain. Today every creek has water running, when mainly they are dry. Every pond is full. But the most amazing sight is the green, which is everywhere. Our pastures have green grass in abundance. Starting in December, the drought of three years ended, and now the rains have come, which every one loves. When you read the stories of times past and hear of the six or eight year droughts you can not imagine how they survived, as after three years of dry weather we were sick of brown. Now, everything is green and the cattle are happy. We know this will not last.